By Mudiaga Affe
Several Itsekiri indigenes, including the old and young, have stormed the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police Zone 5 in Benin City, Edo State, where they protested continued police involvement in the crisis rocking the Olu of Warri stool.

They requested that the police should allow all the chiefs to go back to Warri and resolve the issues amicably.

The Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Johnson Atserunleghe, and the embattled Ologbotsere of Warri, Chief Ayiri Emami, had been regular visitors to the Zone 5 Police Command in the past few weeks over the invasion of the palace of the Olu of Warri.

Following the demise of the immediate past Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, in December 2020, the palace was reportedly invaded and the 400-year-old crown and the symbol of the Itsekiri monarchy were declared missing.

The demise had created a succession tussle which eventually produced Prince Tsola Emiko as the chosen Olu-elect (Omoba) in Warri.

Olu of Warri Stool: Itsekiri people storm Zone 5 Police command

But in a peaceful protest in Benin City on Friday with several placards and inscriptions, the protesters said the continued insistence that police should resolve the issue was a let-down on the custom and tradition of Itsekiri.

One of the leaders of the protesters, David Iwere said, “We are here as Itsekiri we are tired of our matter being in the media all the time, what is happening in Itsekiri has never happened before we are here to appeal to the AIG to send all the chiefs home and give them a time to come back and report the settlement they have made.

Another protester, Mrs. Okhere Amaju said, “We are here as a group, we want peace, we are tired of crisis we have come to appeal that they should take the matter back home and we can settle ourselves. Itsekiri issue is not for the police we are a people with culture and tradition, we need to go and resolve our issues at home. We need peace in Itsekiri”

Corroborating the position, Samuel Khalil appealed to all the chiefs and the ruling house to give peace a chance while on his part, Scott Anwani said “We have gone round to most of the chiefs in Warri kingdom and other stakeholders who are involved in all these issues. We have met one on one letting them know why we must ensure that there is peace in the Itsekiri nation.

“They are our leaders, we are not supposed to be divided; the Ologbotshere, the Iyatsere, the Uji, Uwangue, the ruling house, the chiefs, they should all come to a round table and resolve this matter and make peace so that we can be happy.”

In his response, the Zone 5 Police Public Relations Officer, Tijani Momoh said the request of the demonstrators would be conveyed to the AIG and whatever directive he gives would be communicated to them.