The Ijaws that are residing in Warri and its environs in Delta State have been advised to be cautious in their movements, especially to territories occupied by their neighbours, the Itsekiri ethnic group, who are very much upset with the recent report released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the ward delineation exercise in the Warri Federal Constituency.

In another development, in a video making its round on social media, a prominent Itsekiri leader, Evang. Michael Diden, popularly known as Ejele, has warned of dire consequences if the Ijaws stray into Itsekiri territories.

According to Ejele, who was a former chairman of the Governing Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, and is the General Overseer of Mega Praise Church of Christ in the State, in the video, an alleged that the Ijaws are invading Itsekiri territories under the guise of Tantita pipeline surveillance and called on his people to defend themselves.

To many political pundits, the warning from the Itsekiri leader is not unconnected with the recent outcome of the report on INEC ward delineation exercise that has seemed to swing political control from the Itsekiri to the Ijaw ethnic group.

As the tension in Warri and environs is gradually brimming, it is hoped that the government and other influential leaders will wade into the development, which, if not handled promptly, might degenerate into an open ethnic crisis.

Recall that INEC, through its National Commissioner overseeing Cross River, Delta, and Edo States, Professor Rhoda Gumus, who represented the Commission's Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had released the conclusion of the ward delineation exercise.

The report shows that in Warri South-West LGA comprising 19 wards, the Ijaw dominates with 14 wards while the Itsekiri own 5 wards; in Warri South LGA consisting of 20 wards, the Ijaw occupying 3 wards, the Itsekiri 8 wards, and the Urhobo 9 wards; and in Warri North LGA comprising 18 wards, the Ijaw has 10 wards while the Itsekiri holds 8 wards.

The report was received by ethnic nationalities of the three groups in the Warri Federal Constituency who are Chief Victor Okumagba (Urhobo), Dr Andrew Igban (Itsekiri), and Dr Joe Bisina (Ijaw).

A Supreme Court verdict had compelled INEC to undertake a fresh ward delineation exercise in the Warri Federal Constituency to reflect the reality on ground. 

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