By Adekusibe Ademola
September 17, 2025
The Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths (UIY) have strongly condemned the recent attacks on Ekurede Itsekiri Community in Warri South Local Government Area, describing them as provocative, unlawful, and part of a recurring pattern of aggression aimed at dispossessing the Itsekiri of their ancestral lands.
In a statement issued after the incident, the youth body expressed outrage over what it termed “a calculated campaign of provocation” by Ogbe-Ijoh elements, who they accused of erecting unauthorized banners and attempting to distort the history and ownership of Itsekiri communities despite several subsisting court rulings affirming Itsekiri rights.
“This is not an isolated case. What happened at Ekurede and even at the Warri South Secretariat is part of a deliberate strategy to undermine the Itsekiri people, provoke unrest, and impose false narratives on our land. We will not allow it,” the statement read.
The youths stressed that the Itsekiri people have always been committed to peaceful coexistence but will not tolerate attempts to erase their cultural identity or legitimate ownership of Warri territories. They called on security agencies to act decisively in curbing further provocations, warning that silence and inaction could embolden those intent on destabilizing the area.
“For centuries, Warri has been the heart of Itsekiri heritage. No amount of violence, intimidation, or propaganda can rewrite that history. We are peace-loving, but we are also resolute in defending our ancestral land and dignity,” the group added.
The Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths urged government authorities at all levels to recognize the repeated violations and take urgent measures to prevent further escalation, insisting that peace cannot thrive where one group is constantly subjected to aggression and historical falsehoods.
