24TH Wednesday, June 25, 2026,
Residents of Uvwie Kingdom, largely women from the Erovie, Ugbomro, and Iteriegbe communities, held a peaceful demonstration to oppose the scheduled visit of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, to Ogbunuowhoru also called Ugbolokposo, an Itsekiri settlement located within Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.
The demonstrators carried placards bearing messages such as _“Uvwie rejects the visit of Olu of Warri,” “We only have one king in Uvwie,”_ and _“Ogbunuowhoru is in Uvwie Kingdom.”_
They marched and danced in procession from Effurun Market to Erovie community, which shares a boundary with the Itsekiri community the Olu is expected to visit on Thursday, June 26, 2026.
Addressing journalists during the protest, community leaders and representatives voiced strong objections to the planned visit.
Those who spoke included Chief Ese Okwofaraye, President General of Ugbomro community; Chief Tom Eyejewefe, JP, President General of Erovie; and Elizabeth Ejedegba, who spoke on behalf of the women.
The protesters argued that traditional protocol demands that the Olu of Warri should first pay a courtesy visit to the Ovie of Uvwie, HRM Dr. Emmanuel Sideso, JP, OON, Abe I, before entering any community within Uvwie Kingdom.
They described the decision to visit Ogbunuowhoru without prior notice or consultation with the Ovie as disrespectful and “a slap in the face” to the Uvwie traditional institution.
They maintained that Ogbunuowhoru falls under the jurisdiction of the Ovie of Uvwie, asserting that the residents of the area are Itsekiri settlers who originally came to the location for fishing activities many years ago.
The protesters called on Ogiame Atuwatse III to cancel the planned visit and “do the needful” by formally notifying the Ovie of Uvwie.
They warned that proceeding without such recognition could trigger tension or clashes between communities.
