The Ijaw people of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom, Delta state, have insisted that they are aboriginal inhabitants of Warri South Local Government Area, warning “naysayers” against false narratives about their non-existence in the area.

The development is on the backdrop of the recently released delineation report on Warri Federal Constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

At a press briefing held at Main Market, Warri, Saturday, the group noted that the exercise “to a very large extent reflects the reality on the ground and we commend the Commission for doing a very thorough job.”

Women and youths from the community who gathered at the venue bore placards with inscriptions such as “Ogbe-Ijoh Is Part of Warri South”, “Stop Denying Our Existence”, “Ijaws Are Indigenous To Warri”, and “INEC Should Not Bow To Pressure.”

Addressing reporters on behalf of the community, Ijaw Focal Person on the delineation, Hon. Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, rejected claims allegedly being circulated by some Itsekiri interests that the Ogbe-Ijoh people were not part of Warri South LGA.

“If there is any evidence of Ijaw ownership and existence in Warri South LGA, there cannot be any better evidence than our physical presence herein in Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Urban Community to address. (The Nation)