WARRI — The National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Advocates for Peace, Development and Economic Justice (NDAPDEJ), Comrade Freeborn Abraye, has issued a fiery ultimatum to the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of several prominent Itsekiri leaders.
The demand follows an alleged public confession regarding the possession of firearms intended for ethnic violence in the region.
According to Comrade Abraye, the controversy stems from a video circulating widely on Facebook, captured during an Itsekiri national press conference addressing the highly contentious Warri federal constituency delineation exercise.
During the broadcast, Alex Eyengho, speaking as a spokesperson for the Itsekiri delegates, reportedly stated openly that “arms dey and tools dey,” (meaning guns and ammunition are available in their custody).
The NDAPDEJ leader said that this statement is a direct, public admission of stockpiling weapons to launch unprovoked attacks against neighboring Ijaw and Urhobo communities in the Warri Federal Constituency.
“This is not just political rhetoric; it is a clear, unambiguous confessional statement,” Abraye stated. “When community leaders publicly boast about having the ‘tools’ to kill, maim, and cause chaos, the government cannot afford to look the other way.”
The advocacy group did not mince words in its message to the state executive, placing the responsibility for maintaining order squarely on the shoulders of Governor Oborevwori. Comrade Abraye warned that a failure to act swiftly against those named—including Alex Eyengho, Robinson Ariyo, and Chief Mene—would severely damage the administration’s credibility.
Abraye asserted that if the Governor fails to order the immediate arrest and investigation of these leaders, he risks being viewed by the public as “an accomplice and a coward” who is incapable of defending the citizens of Delta State from targeted violence.
Beyond the state government, NDAPDEJ is calling on all federal and state security apparatuses—including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS)—to treat the video broadcast as a matter of urgent national security.
The group urges authorities to:
- Investigate the footage and the context of the statements thoroughly.
- Locate and seize the alleged stockpiled weapons (“tools”) referenced in the press conference.
- Bring all implicated individuals to book to prevent a resurgence of the historic communal clashes that have previously devastated the Warri axis.
As tensions build over the electoral and land delineation boundaries in Warri, civil society groups warn that unchecked statements from high-profile leaders could serve as a trigger for fresh violence in the Niger Delta. The Delta State Government and security agencies have yet to issue an official response to NDAPDEJ’s petition.
