CEPEJ Launches Multi-stakeholder Peace Dialogue To De-escalate Recurring Tensions Among Delta Ethnic Communities

A popular human rights group in the South South region, the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) on Tuesday launched a high-level multi-stakeholder roundtable dialogue among the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic communities in Delta State with a view to de-escalating the recurring tensions among these ethnic communities and strengthen peaceful coexistence among their people.

In attendance at the peace dialogue held at King George Hall, Warri South Local Government Area was a wide spectrum of stakeholders, comprising community leaders, security agencies, civil society organisations and representatives of the various ethnic nationalities resident across Delta State.

Communities represented included Okere Urhobo Community, Itsekiri Community, Agbarha-Warri Community and Ogbe-Ijaw, among others. 

Representatives of the Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba communities resident in Delta State were equally present.

The two-hour session which focused on "rebuilding trust, promoting unity and preventing conflict through sustained engagement" also had in attendance security and civil society leaders, including ASP Hezekiah Okpabi (representing ‘B’ Division, Warri), Prof. Andrew Agboro, Chairman, Delta State Civil Society Organisations, Sylvester Okoh, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Warri Peace Community Support Initiative, and ASP Obehi Idiake, Station Officer, ‘A’ Division, Warri. 

Addressing the gathering, the CEPEJ National Coordinator and Ibe-Sorimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, noted that "the peace initiative aligns with CEPEJ’s sustained advocacy for durable peace and stability in Warri and neighbouring areas".

Mulade stressed the need to consolidate the existing harmony in Warri and its environs just as he expressed appreciation to market women and representatives of non-indigenes including the Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Kogi and Igala communities for their participation.

He said, “Warri Ijaw and Itsekiri are one. We have lived in peace even before now. Warri is our own, and the essence of peace is to consolidate and strengthen it".

Mulade lauded the participants for their commitment and called for continued collaboration to ensure a peaceful and inclusive Warri.

The event featured a keynote address by Austin Onuoha, Adjunct Faculty, National Peace Academy, Abuja, who urged all ethnic groups to "embrace unity and collective responsibility as the foundation for lasting peace in Warri".

A major highlight of the engagement was the inauguration of a 20-member Peace Committee, drawn from the various ethnic nationalities in Warri. 

The committee, according to Mulade, is "mandated to deepen stakeholder engagement, sustain dialogue and reinforce peaceful practices across communities". 

The committee will operate for one year and is scheduled to be dissolved on February 24, 2027.