A prominent Itsekiri leader and human rights advocate, Comrade Omolubi Newuwumi, has raised an alarm over what he described as sustained threats and systemic marginalization of the Itsekiri people. He called on the Federal Government, international community, and the United Kingdom to urgently intervene before the situation escalates further.
Speaking with journalists, Omolubi lamented that despite the historical contributions of the Itsekiris to Nigeria’s unity and anti-colonial struggle, the ethnic group remains one of the most oppressed in the country.
“The Itsekiris are the most oppressed tribe in Nigeria,” he declared, “despite all we have done to support this country’s growth and development.”
Omolubi traced the root of the current crisis to historical and ongoing tensions in the Niger Delta, noting that the Itsekiri Kingdom — with its rich cultural heritage and significant role in Nigeria’s socio-economic fabric — is now facing existential threats from neighboring ethnic groups allegedly encroaching on its ancestral lands.
“The recent threats by the Ijaw people are a continuation of an old pattern of intimidation,” he said. “And because of the absence of rule of law in Nigeria, these aggressors now feel emboldened to violate our rights without consequences.”
He decried the lack of effective representation and advocacy on behalf of the Itsekiri people, stating that political solutions often favor stronger ethnic groups at the expense of others.
“We don’t have people who are truly taking these matters to the authorities,” he said. “What we see is political horse-trading — robbing Peter to pay Paul — and this continues because there is no rule of law in this country.”
According to Omolubi, a critical challenge remains the disconnect between wealthy Itsekiris and the struggle for ethnic justice.
“Those of us who feel the pain and have the will to fight for the Itsekiri people lack the financial means,” he lamented. “Meanwhile, our millionaires and billionaires are disconnected from the struggle. They have the means but not the interest or awareness to protect our people and our lands.”
He also challenged the foundation of Nigeria’s geopolitical structure, saying the British colonial authorities should be held accountable for not clearly demarcating indigenous land ownership before the 1914 amalgamation.
“The federating units we call Nigeria were put together by the British,” he stated. “They must come and clarify: who were the true owners of these lands before the amalgamation? Who did their colonial findings identify as the rightful inhabitants of these areas?”
He cited four communities — Utonila, Tebu, Jakpa, and Usoh — as ancestral Itsekiri homelands now under threat, accusing both Nigerian and colonial authorities of enabling continued exploitation.
“There’s a saying that ‘if it’s not a treasure, it cannot be found.’ These foreigners crossed oceans looking for treasure and they found it in our communities — and yet we have nothing to show for it,” he said.
As part of the way forward, Omolubi recommended pursuing international legal redress. He urged the Itsekiri nation to engage international legal experts and possibly seek justice from the British Government, arguing that Itsekiri sovereignty was historically tied to the British Crown, not the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He further called for the Itsekiri people to initiate lawsuits against the Federal, State, and Local Governments, demanding recognition of their indigenous land rights and reparations for decades of economic and political marginalization.
On the issue of resource control, Omolubi pointed out the irony of a nation deriving massive revenues from the Niger Delta while neglecting the very communities from which the wealth is sourced.
“The Federal Government makes billions from oil in our lands, yet our people live in poverty and fear,” he said. “We are not the reason for Nigeria’s economic collapse. We are the victims — marginalized, exploited, and silenced.”
Chief Omolubi Newuwumi emphasized that his appeal is not merely a protest, but a desperate cry for justice, dignity, and protection.
“This is a call to recognize our humanity,” he concluded. “We are not asking for what is not ours. We are asking to live in peace on our own land.”