The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Western Zone, has accused the Warri Area Command of allegedly colluding with Itsekiri youths to oppress the Ijaw people and undermine peace in the oil-rich city. The allegation follows the removal of banners bearing the image of HRM King Couple Oromoni, the Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, which were reportedly torn down by Itsekiri youths accompanied by police officers. The development triggered protests, as Ijaw youths stormed the Area Command demanding the banners’ immediate retrieval and replacement. In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Nicholas Tamaradenyefa Igarama; Secretary, Ebi Joshua Olowolayemo; and Information Officer, Comrade Tare Magbei, the IYC accused the police of siding with the Itsekiri to provoke unrest in Warri. The group alleged that the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and Warri South Council Chairman, Isaac Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, masterminded the act as part of a “decoy to cause war.” “This condemnable act, orchestrated under the orders of Itsekiri leadership and executed by Warri South Council Chairman Wayemi Agas, is a direct provocation and an insult to the Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom,” the IYC said. The council described the removal of the Pere’s image as a violation of the fragile peace in the region and warned that the Ijaw people’s commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness. “We call on the Delta State Government, security agencies, and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene before the situation escalates. Any further attempt to desecrate the image or authority of our king will be met with stiff resistance,” the statement read. The IYC further demanded a public apology from those involved and a firm assurance from the Warri Area Command that such “partiality and connivance” would not recur.