Warri Delineation Crisis Deepens as Ijaw Communities Shut Down Major Oil Facilities, Halt Over 400,000 Barrels Daily Output

By Francis Sadhere, Warri

Tension has escalated in the oil-rich Warri South West axis of Delta State as hundreds of Ijaw protesters from communities across Gbaramatu Kingdom on Monday shut down several strategic oil flow stations, disrupting crude oil production estimated at more than 400,000 barrels per day.

The protesters said the action would continue indefinitely until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) implements the recently concluded ward delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency.

The shutdown comes barely days after Ijaw and Urhobo groups issued a joint warning that oil production across the region could be brought to a standstill if INEC failed to implement the final delineation report arising from the Supreme Court-ordered exercise.

Women, youths, elders and community leaders from several riverine communities occupied key oil installations and blocked access to major flow stations, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Implement Warri Delineation Report Now,” “No Implementation, No Production,” and “Respect Supreme Court Judgment.”

Among the facilities affected by the protest are the Abiteye Flow Station in Kenyagbene, Otunana Flow Station, Jones Creek Flow Station, Egwa I Flow Station, Odidi I and II Flow Stations, Batan Flow Station, Ogbanabou Flow Station and Egwa II Flow Station.

Industry observers warn that the shutdown, if sustained, could significantly impact Nigeria’s daily crude oil output and further strain government revenue at a time when the country is seeking to boost production and stabilize earnings.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Chief Mrs. Maria Ebike accused INEC of deliberately delaying the implementation of a process that had already been concluded after extensive consultations and stakeholder engagements.

According to her, the ward delineation exercise was designed to correct long-standing concerns over political representation and ensure fairness among communities within the Warri Federal Constituency.

“We have exercised patience and followed every lawful process. The delineation exercise has been completed and the report submitted. What remains is implementation. Until that happens, oil production in our communities cannot continue as usual,” she declared.

Also addressing protesters, opinion leader Mrs. Fanty Goodness Owotorufa insisted that the communities remained peaceful but resolute in their demand for the implementation of the Supreme Court-backed delineation exercise.

“INEC has completed the assignment given to it by the Supreme Court. The report has been presented to stakeholders. What we are demanding is simple — implementation. We are not here to create unrest; we are here to ensure that justice is done,” she said.

Former Secretary of Benikrukru Community, Dr. Paul Boyitie, accused INEC of stalling the implementation of its own report despite completing the delineation process and presenting the final outcome to stakeholders in Asaba on May 20, 2026.

Boyitie recalled that the Supreme Court in 2022 directed INEC to conduct a fresh ward and polling unit delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency, a process that was subsequently carried out before the final report was unveiled.

“The report clearly identified the wards occupied by the Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities. Stakeholders participated fully, objections were entertained, and the final report was presented.

“The question remains: why is INEC refusing to implement its own report? We cannot continue to contribute enormously to the nation’s economy while remaining politically disadvantaged in our own homeland,” he said.

He warned that the affected communities possessed the capacity to sustain the shutdown if their demands continued to be ignored.

At the Otunana Flow Station, protesters maintained a similar stance.

Speaking for Kokodiagbene Community, Mrs. Edith Odafe said the action was aimed solely at compelling authorities to implement the wards and state constituencies approved and announced by INEC.

“The exercise was conducted peacefully and transparently. The result was presented to all stakeholders. We have come here to insist that what has already been approved must now be implemented,” she stated.

Another community representative, Mrs. Gladys Kele, said residents were determined to defend what they described as their legitimate political rights.

“We are not looking for conflict. We only want what belongs to us. The approved wards should be implemented and nobody should deny us our rights,” she said.

The protesters insisted that the demonstration remained peaceful but vowed not to vacate the facilities until concrete steps are taken to enforce the delineation framework.

Sources within the affected communities confirmed that activities at several oil installations were disrupted as residents occupied strategic operational points and prevented normal production activities.

The development has heightened concerns among stakeholders in the petroleum industry over the possibility of prolonged disruptions to crude oil production if the dispute remains unresolved.

As pressure mounts, calls have intensified for the Federal Government, INEC, security agencies and other critical stakeholders to urgently intervene and prevent the situation from degenerating into a wider crisis capable of threatening peace and economic activities in the Niger Delta.

As of press time, neither INEC nor the affected oil companies had issued official statements on the shutdown, while security operatives were reportedly monitoring developments across the impacted facilities.

The latest action marks a dramatic escalation in the long-running battle over political representation, electoral boundaries and resource control in Warri Federal Constituency — a dispute that has increasingly assumed both political and economic dimensions with implications extending far beyond Delta State.