Itsekiri demand Warri State, oppose Ijaw’s Toru-Ebe proposal

July 06, 2025

The Itsekiri people of Warri Kingdom in Delta State have formally requested the Nigerian Senate to establish a Warri State with its capital in Warri township.

This demand was made during the South-South Zonal Public Hearing on constitutional amendment in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.

The Itsekiri Leaders of Thought argue that state creation should prioritize ethnic and linguistic affinity over landmass or population.

They express concerns about long-standing political marginalization, citing their significant contribution to Nigeria’s oil and gas resources yet limited representation in government.

They strongly oppose the Ijaw ethnic group’s proposal for a Toru-Ebe State, which they claim includes ancestral lands belonging to the Itsekiri, Ilaje of Ondo State, and Binis of Edo State.

“There is no way a state created for customary tenants can control the landlords’ land,” they assert.

“The land belongs to the customary landlords, not the tenants.”

The Itsekiri demand a constitutional clause to safeguard minority ethnic groups, similar to provisions in the defunct Midwestern Nigeria Constitution.

“If minority protection is not guaranteed, then we are calling for the creation of Warri State,” comprising Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South West LGAs.

The memorandum was jointly signed by leaders of the Itsekiri, Ilaje, and Bini ethnic nationalities, all of whom express strong objection to the Ijaw-led state proposal, arguing it undermines the identity and history of other Niger Delta communities.