In response to alleged eviction of the Ijaws from some sub-settlements around Warri in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State by some elements of the Itsekiri, the Fiyewei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area, has cautioned against such acts which he said goes against the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that guarantees "freedom of speech and freedom of association" of citizens of the country.

Chief Gbenekama, who addressed members of the press on Monday (June 16, 2025) at his Ekpan residence on the latest development, stated that the eviction is coming on the heels of the Ijaws, particularly those of Ikantu and Ijaghala (Zou-ala uba) expressing their rights to freedom of speech through the affirmation of their heritage to the Gbaramatu people.

"We have it on good record and indeed, people have called the leadership of the Gbaramatu kingdom that they are been threatened. Some sub-communities in Warri, some villages around Warri have been threatening our brothers and sisters because they have gone to reaffirm their ancestral roots as Ijaw people and Gbaramatu people.

"So, some of them are threatened with evacuation from those adjoining villages in Warri, that since they are Ijaw people, they can no longer live among them. But I know that there is no law in this country that says you cannot live among other nationalities. There is freedom of speech and freedom of association in this country," Gbenekama added.

The Fiyewei appealed to those that are involved in such acts to desist in the interest of peace as their kith and kin also dwell in other people's territories and they have not been asked to leave, but however warned that any attack on the Ijaws will come with consequences as the gods of the land will fight for the people.

"We want to plead with those that are threatening our brothers from Ijaghala, Opa, and Ikantu specially, and every other Gbaramatu person and Ijaw person as the case may be. We want to plead with them to stop what they are doing. Most of these so-called Itsekiri elements are living in Urhobo land and Ijaw land. If these persons also threaten them, there will be no peace in this part of the country.

"As I have said earlier that nobody will touch the hair of an Ijaw man especially as it relates to the present situation in the Warri Federal Constituency. Nobody that threatens or touches the hair of an Ijaw man will go scot-free. We are aware of the tactics that have been adopted. Some years past, one of our very industrious sons was kidnapped and murdered in Tebujor. Let it not repeat itself again," he warned. 

The Gbaramatu leader therefore called on the government to ensure the security of the Ijaws for the sake of peace in the Constituency while reiterating that the Ijaws will not fight or expel anyone willing to dwell peacefully from among them, but re-echord his earlier position that the Gbaramatu people will not cede an inch of their lands to strangers.

He said, "We are not even talking about death. The threats alone is enough for law enforcement agencies to take action. So, we are calling on the state and the federal government to please protect the lives and properties of Ikantu and Zou-ala uba people, Gbaramatu people and Ijaw nation at large.

"We have stated earlier that we will not fight anybody, we are not going to expel anybody from our communities. So nobody should try it, to torment our people. The mere fact that they are making these threats is enough torment," Gbenekama stressed.

The Fiyewei also renewed his call on the Department of Security Services, DSS, to bring to book those that were recently implicated, particularly a prominent traditional ruler, in the importation of arms he alleged were to attack the Ijaw people; and to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to complete the fresh delineation of wards exercise in the Constituency as its delay is not in the interest of peace.

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