Warri crisis: Ijaw, Urhobo leaders order protesters to vacate oil facilities after Tinubu, Tompolo intervene

Ijaw and Urhobo leaders in Delta State's Warri Federal Constituency have told protesters to leave oil and gas facilities and unblock the Escravos River. The order came after President Bola Tinubu, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and former Niger Delta militant leader Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) stepped in to calm the crisis.

The protests started on Monday. They were triggered by anger over INEC's fresh ward and polling unit delineation — a redistribution of electoral wards and polling units ordered by the Supreme Court. Demonstrations spread across Warri North, Warri South, and Warri West local government areas. Protesters occupied oil and gas facilities and blocked parts of the Escravos River, threatening crude oil production.

On June 8, Governor Oborevwori called an emergency meeting in Asaba with Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo representatives. The next day, Tompolo met leaders of the three ethnic groups in Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, and urged restraint to protect oil and gas infrastructure.

Then on Thursday, President Tinubu convened a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with representatives of the three nationalities. According to a statement signed by prominent Ijaw and Urhobo leaders — including Godspower Gbenekama, Victor Okumagba, Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, and Westham Adehor — the president called for compromise and understanding.

"At the meeting, Mr President called for compromise, understanding and the need for the Ijaws, Itsekiris and Urhobos to live together as Nigerians," the statement said.

Tinubu also directed stakeholders to work out a power-sharing arrangement that ensures an equitable distribution of political positions across the three local government areas. He appealed to community leaders to prevail on protesters to end the demonstrations.

In response, the Ijaw and Urhobo leaders said: "We, the leaders of Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities of Warri Federal Constituency, after consultation with other stakeholders, hereby call on protesting women, youths and other stakeholders to demobilise and vacate all oil and gas facilities occupied in different parts of the constituency and the Escravos River."

They described the decision as a mark of respect for the president and a chance to resolve outstanding issues from the delineation exercise. They thanked Tinubu, Oborevwori, and Tompolo for their timely interventions.

The dispute has heightened ethnic tensions among Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo communities in the oil-rich area. Before the leaders' appeal, Tompolo had urged calm and warned against disrupting critical national assets. The Presidency also denied allegations that Tinubu interfered in INEC's delineation exercise.

Thursday's appeal signals that stakeholders may be moving toward a negotiated settlement after days of protests that drew national attention and raised concerns about the security of strategic oil and gas infrastructure. It's not yet clear how quickly protesters will comply, but the leaders' call is a key step toward de-escalation.