Tension is spreading across the Itsekiri Nation following the police summons of several influential chiefs over a communal crisis linked to the killing of Emiko Onuwaje in Ogidigben, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The Nigeria Police Force, Zone 5 Command Headquarters in Benin City, has invited key Itsekiri leaders for questioning as investigations deepen into the violence that erupted after Onuwaje was murdered on December 20, 2025. The development has unsettled communities across the Ugborodo and Ogidigben axis, an area already strained by long-running disputes.
A police invitation letter dated January 12, 2026, and signed by the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 5, Salman Dogo Garba, directed Chief Ayirimi Emami, former Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom and a prominent APC figure, to report to the command on Wednesday, January 14, at 10 a.m. The letter stated that the meeting would take place at the Office of the Officer in Charge of the Anti-Vice Section and requested that he attend alongside Hon. Chief Thomas Ereyitomi.
According to the letter, the police are investigating allegations of conspiracy, arson, incitement of communal conflict, and actions likely to cause a breach of public peace. Sources familiar with the probe confirmed that similar invitations have been extended to other notable figures, including Ojoye Oma Eyewuoma, Chief Eugene Ikomi, Chief John Daje, and more than a dozen others. The scale of the summons has intensified anxiety within Itsekiri communities, with residents describing the situation as one of the most serious internal crises in recent years.
The current unrest traces back to the killing of Emiko Onuwaje, a youth described by community leaders as peaceful and well regarded. He was reportedly attacked during a clash involving youths from Ugborodo and neighboring Ogidigben. Accounts from Ugborodo allege that Onuwaje was assaulted by armed men while heading toward what was said to be a peaceful engagement near a Shell Petroleum Development Company facility. The killing has drawn widespread condemnation, with claims that it involved gunfire and extreme violence.
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Community bodies such as the Ugborodo Community Management Committee and the Itsekiri National Youth Council have demanded swift arrests, prosecution of those responsible, and a transparent investigation. They have also alleged that some suspects connected to influential figures fled Ogidigben shortly after the incident to avoid arrest. Counter-narratives from within Ogidigben have rejected claims of forced displacement, insisting that those implicated left voluntarily to escape justice.
Ayirimi has publicly denounced the murder and called on security agencies to act without fear or favour. He has alleged that powerful interests are working behind the scenes to protect those involved. The Ugborodo Community Management Committee has gone further by petitioning the Department of State Services, the National Security Adviser, and the Chief of Defence Staff, warning that the crisis could escalate into a broader security threat if left unchecked.
The police action comes amid deep-rooted tensions in the oil-producing Ugborodo and Ogidigben corridor, where disputes over land ownership, youth leadership, and historical rivalries within the Itsekiri Kingdom have lingered for years. Recent exchanges of accusations among prominent leaders have heightened fears of renewed violence.
Community elders and opinion leaders are now urging calm, appealing to all parties to cooperate fully with investigators and allow the law to take its course. With the invited chiefs expected at the Zone 5 Command Headquarters, many believe the outcome of the police interviews will shape whether the crisis cools or spirals further.
Security agencies are said to be on alert across affected communities to prevent any breakdown of law and order. Residents remain anxious as they await official statements from the police and key stakeholders.
