(DDM) – Tension is rising in Warri, Delta State, as rival youth groups trade accusations over the defacing of royal celebration banners belonging to the Ogbe-Ijoh kingdom.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC) has formally appealed to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to intervene before the situation degenerates into violence.
The incident reportedly occurred ahead of the 10th Coronation Anniversary of HRM Couple Mackson Oromoni Monbene III, the Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom.
According to eyewitnesses, banners mounted in strategic parts of Warri were torn down or defaced, sparking outrage within the Ijaw community.
Bene Mamamu, President of the NDYC, strongly condemned the act, describing it as provocative and deeply insulting to the cultural identity of the Ogbe-Ijoh people.
He warned that such actions, if unchecked, could reignite ethnic hostilities between the Ijaw and Itsekiri, two groups with a long history of communal clashes in the Niger Delta.
Mamamu stressed that the banners were more than just decorations, calling them “symbols of history, pride, and continuity” for the Ogbe-Ijoh kingdom.
He appealed to federal and state security agencies to investigate and punish those responsible, warning that Ijaw youths may not remain calm if further provocations occur.
Observers note that the Ijaw-Itsekiri conflict, dating back to the 1990s, has left deep scars in Delta State, with repeated flare-ups over land ownership, political dominance, and cultural recognition.
During past clashes, communities in Warri South-West and Warri North witnessed deadly violence that disrupted oil production and strained security agencies.
Mamamu said Nigeria cannot afford a return to such bloodshed, particularly at a time when the Niger Delta is seeking sustainable peace and development.
He commended the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and NSA Ribadu for ongoing security reforms, but urged stronger preventive measures in flashpoint areas.
Community leaders have also begun appealing for calm, calling on both Ijaw and Itsekiri youths to avoid confrontation and allow dialogue to prevail.
Meanwhile, security sources in Warri confirmed increased patrols around Ogbe-Ijoh and neighbouring Itsekiri communities to prevent escalation.
Analysts believe the situation provides a test case for the federal government’s new emphasis on early intervention in communal disputes before they explode into wider conflicts.
For many residents, the fate of Ogbe-Ijoh’s royal anniversary celebrations will serve as a barometer of peace and coexistence in Warri in the coming weeks.
The post Ijaw youths cry foul as king’s banners vandalized in Warri tension
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first appeared on Diaspora Digital Media DDM.
