….calls for investigation alleged torture of three Itsekiri youths at Oporoza
The last has not been heard on the INEC delineation in the Warri Federal Constituency as the Itsekiri Rebirth Forum ( IRF) of Warri North Local Government has rejected the equal delineation between the Itsekiris’ and Ijaws’ of the area.
The group has called on INEC not to implement it as it is fundamentally flawed.
Addressing the media on Monday August 3 at Obitugbo, the ancient and ancestral town hall in Warri North Local Government Area, Hon. David Edun on behalf of IRF, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oboevwori, National Security Advisor, Nuhu Ribadu, DG of the DSS and the Inspector General of Police to urgently institute an independent and thorough investigation into the alleged incidents of kidnapping, unlawful detention and torture of Itsekiri citizens in many of its communities in Oporoza an Ijaw enclave.
According to the group if such allegations are confirmed, it constitutes grave violations of the fundamental rights of citizens as guaranteed in the 1999 constitution, as amended , of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Furthermore , the group express its disappointment with certain individuals who were purported to have spoken on behalf of the Itsekiris’ people inatters relating to ward dilenation without consulting the communities they represent.
‘ The Itsekiri people of Warri North did not mandate anyone to negotiate or enter into agreements on thos sensitive issue ,withy broad consultation and the consent of the affected communities/ wards’. Said the group.
Below is full text of the press statement:
PRESS CONFERENCE BY WARRI NORTH ITSEKIRI REBIRTH FORUM ON THE PROPOSED 10/10 WARD DELINEATION MATRIX FOR ITSEKIRI AND IJAW IN WARRI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA:
A CALL ON INEC NOT TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSAL
Good morning, distinguished members of the press, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the members of the Warri North Itsekiri Rebirth Forum, I warmly welcome you all and sincerely appreciate your presence here today. Thank you for honouring our invitation despite your busy schedules. The media plays a vital role in informing the public, promoting transparency, and strengthening our democracy. We commend your commitment to truth, fairness, and responsible journalism. Africans& Diaspora
We have invited you here today to address an issue of profound importance to the political future of the Itsekiri people of Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Our objective is to present our position, highlight our concerns, and call on the appropriate authorities to uphold justice, fairness, and the rule of law.
Today, 3rd August 2026, stakeholders from various Itsekiri communities/wards under the umbrella of the Warri North Itsekiri Rebirth Forum, have gathered here at the Obitugbo ancient and ancestral town hall to express our total rejection of the proposed ward delineation matrix allocating ten (10) wards each to the Itsekiris and the Ijaws in Warri North Local Government Area. History
We believe that this proposal is fundamentally flawed and does not reflect the demographic and electoral realities of Warri North Local Government Area
We therefore reject it in its entirety and call on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC not to implement what we consider an unjust arrangement capable of undermining the political rights and democratic aspirations of the Itsekiri people.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is expected to be an impartial institution that inspires public confidence through fairness, transparency, and strict adherence to the Constitution and electoral laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to INEC’s own 2023 Register of Voters, the Itsekiri people of Warri North have 6 wards with a total of 134 polling units and 75,912 registered voters, while the Ijaw have a total of 4 wards with 58 polling units and 34,480 registered voters. Thus, the Itsekiri have the highest number of registered voters, exceeding the Ijaws by 41,432.
It therefore raises serious questions as to how the Commission arrived at an equal allocation of ten wards each for both ethnic groups.
We respectfully urge INEC to explain the methodology used and to review the proposed delineation to ensure that it reflects verifiable facts, constitutional principles, and its own official records.
We also want to put the distinguished members of the National Assembly to carefully scrutinise the proposed ward delineation before any legislative action is taken. As custodians of Nigeria’s laws, members of the National Assembly, have constitutional responsibilities to ensure that every process complies with the principles of equity, justice, and democratic representation.
Furthermore, we wish to express our disappointment with certain individuals who have purported to speak on behalf of the Itsekiri people in matters relating to ward delineation, without consulting the communities they claim to represent.
The Itsekiri people of Warri North did not mandate anyone to negotiate or enter into agreements on this sensitive issue, without broad consultation and the consent of the affected communities/wards.
Consequently, any understanding or agreement allegedly reached without such a mandate cannot be regarded as binding on the Itsekiri people of Warri North LGA. History
We are equally concerned that meetings reportedly held with various stakeholders, including federal authorities, were not followed by any meaningful briefing to the people.
In view of these developments, stakeholders of the Warri North Itsekiri Rebirth Forum hereby declare that we no longer recognise those individuals as representatives of the collective interest of the Itsekiri people of Warri North. Indigenous
We therefore urge government institutions at all levels to engage directly with credible representatives, who genuinely enjoy the confidence of the people.
Finally, we wish to state in the clearest possible terms that the Itsekiri Rebirth Forum rejects the proposed ward delineation exercise for Warri North in its present form.
We call on INEC to revisit the exercise in accordance with constitutional provisions, verifiable demographic data, and the principles of fairness, equity, and justice.
We appreciate the efforts of Mr. President, the Federal Government, the Delta State Government, and all well-meaning Nigerians, who continue to seek a peaceful and just resolution of the issues surrounding the ward delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency.
We also wish to express our grave concern over reports and complaints from numerous Itsekiri communities, alleging incidents of kidnapping and unlawful detention, in which victims were allegedly taken to Oporoza and subjected to intimidation and torture, because they refused to align themselves with the interests of certain individuals.
These allegations are extremely serious and, if established, constitute grave violations of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
We therefore call on the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Executive Governor of Delta State, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police to immediately institute an independent and thorough investigation into these allegations and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice in accordance with the law.
We respectfully urge the Federal Government not to overlook these complaints, because history has shown that when allegations of intimidation, violence, and lawlessness are ignored at their early stages, they can escalate into broader threats to peace, security, and national stability.
Many of the security challenges confronting Nigeria today developed because the excesses of certain individuals were not checked at their formative stages.
Preventing such situations through prompt, impartial, and lawful intervention is essential to protecting lives, preserving public confidence in our institutions, and safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy.
We also express our profound gratitude to members of the press and media organisations, who have remained committed to objective reporting and professional journalism despite enormous pressures.
Your dedication to truth and justice strengthens our democracy and gives hope to the ordinary citizens.
May God bless you all.
And may God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria