Leaders of Obitugbo, an Itsekiri community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, warned that inflammatory remarks from some individuals in the neighbouring Oghara community are jeopardising long‑standing peace. The dispute, which began as a land‑ownership claim, has now sparked fears of unrest between Itsekiri and Urhobo residents who have coexisted for generations.
"We are not looking for a fight," said Mr Joseph Taye Akuyoma, chairman of the Obitugbo Community Management Committee. "We are peace‑loving people. But we cannot stand by while calls are made for outsiders to mobilise against us. Our children are afraid. Our elders are troubled."
Dr Chris Eburajolo, chairman of the Koko Community Management Authority, confirmed that Obitugbo's boundaries are clearly defined, while Comrade Akra Utien Daniel of Ajagbodudu urged respect for history and borders.
Mr Dandy Adagba, secretary of the committee, stressed that "Stability is everything. If tension explodes into conflict, investors will flee. The school won't come. Our young people will suffer. That cannot happen."
Pa Broderick Utienyin, an elder committee member, appealed for security deployment and a dialogue table, saying, "This land is our identity. We will protect it, but we want to protect it in peace."
No violence has been reported, but the community fears that continued rhetoric could derail the proposed University of Warri and other development projects.
The most striking element is the urgent appeal to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to intervene before rhetoric escalates into violence. The community's leaders are not merely voicing grievances; they are warning that the dispute threatens a major development—the University of Warri—that could reshape local livelihoods.
Underlying the tension is a historic pattern of land‑related friction between Itsekiri and Urhobo groups, now amplified by social media. While Obitugbo has traditionally resolved disputes through official channels, the current online flare‑up indicates a shift toward more volatile, unmediated communication that can quickly inflame old sensitivities.
If the situation deteriorates, the immediate impact will fall on Obitugbo's farmers, traders and youths who anticipate jobs and educational opportunities from the university. Investors may pull back, and the promised infrastructure could stall, leaving the community in prolonged economic stagnation.
This episode mirrors a broader trend in the Niger Delta where development projects are repeatedly jeopardised by localized land disputes, underscoring the need for proactive conflict‑prevention mechanisms in future state‑led initiatives.
