‘You don’t own Warri south, south-west’ — Itsekiri group counters Ogbe Ijoh people

The Itsekiri Interest Group (IIG) has faulted claims by Ogbe Ijoh tribe of Ijaw in Delta state that they are indigenous people of Warri south and Warri south-west.

In a statement on Monday by Gbubemi Awala, its chairman; and Weyinmi Yalaju, its secretary; the group claimed the areas belong to the Itsekiris of Ugbori, Pessu and Kpisan communities.

It added that the original inhabitants of the areas fled during the peak of the Warri crisis.

The group also provided what they claimed to be “historical facts and legal references” to buttress its argument.

“The Ijaw settlements at present day Miller water side, Dore Numa Market (now corrupted to Ogbe Ijoh Market) and the water side of Main Market were formerly owned by Itsekiris of Ugbori, Pessu and Kpisan communities respectively,” it read.

“These houses were abandoned during the peak of the Warri crisis and these abandoned buildings were taken over by Ijaw migrants from Bayelsa, Rivers and Ijaw areas of Delta State.”

According to the statement, “the conflict resolution panel that was set up by former governor James Ibori, who paid compensation to illegal occupants of the abandoned buildings in the areas to encourage the original owners to return and to mobilise the illegal occupants to evict the properties.”

It added that “despite being paid, however, the occupants have remained to this day and have continued to expand and name deserted Itsekiri communities with Ijaw names.”

The group also cited the case of Eyin Pessu, Akowe Apoh (Itsekiris), and the Olu of Warri versus Brigbo and others (suit W116/56).

It said in the case, Obaseki, the judge, ruled in favour of the Itsekiris in the declaration of title over Aruteghan Creek together with all the surrounding lands, as well as a joinder by the Ijaws of Ogbe Ijoh consigning 3.1 hectares of Okere (Itsekiri) lands in the Warri high court that was dismissed in 2013 by Marshall Umukoro.

The group added that Umukoro had in the judgement banned the Ijaws of Ogbe Ijoh from contesting any lands in Warri federal constituency.