We Are Ijaw, Not Itsekiri, Delta Community Declares Ancestral Identity

By; PETER UTEBOR, Asaba

Amid a backdrop of recurring identity disputes in the Niger Delta, the Ijaghala (Zou-Ala Uba) community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State has made a passionate plea to Nigeria and the world: “We are not Itsekiri. We are Ijaw by origin, blood and heritage.”

As identity-related tensions persist in the oil-rich Niger Delta, the Ijaghala Community’s bold declaration adds a new layer to the complex interplay of history, ethnicity, and territorial rights in the region. For Ijaghala, this is more than a press conference it is a reclaiming of identity.

At a press conference held on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Egbegha Town Hall, leaders and indigenes of Ijaghala gathered to confront what they describe as the continued misrepresentation of their ethnic identity, which they say has distorted history and caused deep tensions within their ancestral homeland in Gbaramatu Kingdom.

The community’s position was made clear by Chief Sam Eyengho, the Tieyemienwei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, who addressed journalists on behalf of elders, women, and youth leaders. He said the confusion over their ethnic roots stems from historical intermarriages but insisted that such affiliations do not change ancestry.

“Ijaghala, also known as Zou-Ala Uba, existed before Ugborodo. It was a thriving fishing and palm wine tapping camp for our Ijaw ancestors long before other nearby communities were formed,” Chief Eyengho said. “Our founding ancestor, Egbegha, permanently settled here and lived until old age before being buried in Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom. That is our history, and it cannot be rewritten.”

He explained that while Egbegha took a wife from Ugborodo and their children grew up speaking the Itsekiri dialect due to maternal influence, the core ancestry of the community remained rooted in the Ijaw nation. Over generations, this language crossover has caused confusion some of which, the community says, has been manipulated to erode their Ijaw heritage.

“Language does not define lineage. Our bloodline, our culture, our traditional allegiance all point to Gbaramatu and the larger Ijaw nation,” said Mr. Wilson Abeson, the community’s youth president.

The press conference also referenced an earlier public declaration made by the community elders in a national newspaper back in 2008, reaffirming Ijaghala’s identity as an Ijaw settlement. They expressed frustration that some descendants of Egbegha and Egogo continue to “alienate their paternal ancestral land by aligning with Ugborodo,” a practice the leaders say threatens peace and cohesion in the region.

Mrs. Grace Remere Lukundritse, a respected voice among the women, called for unity and truth. “Our children deserve clarity. They deserve to know where they truly come from. Let no one sell their birthright because of temporary convenience or confusion.”

The leaders called on the Delta State Government, the Federal Government, and international stakeholders to take note of the community’s official stance. They declared their undivided loyalty to His Royal Majesty Oboro Gbaram II, Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, affirming their place within the kingdom’s traditional system.

“As a people, we will continue to defend our roots, protect our history, and preserve the legacy of our forefathers,” said Mrs. Mary Dsangbajumi, one of the signatories.