By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
IN a bold intervention aimed at restoring harmony in Warri, the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) has inaugurated a strategic peacebuilding committee comprising indigenes and residents, alongside a series of engagement programmes designed to strengthen unity among the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo ethnic groups.
The initiative, which held its maiden peace-building meeting on Thursday, signaled a united front to prevent future conflicts and rebuild trust. Speaking at the event, CEPEJ National Coordinator, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, emphasised that sustainable peace requires deliberate efforts to de-escalate tensions and promote neutrality.
Mulade, who charged the new executives to remain committed to fairness and inclusivity, also made a passionate appeal to traditional and political leaders to support peaceful coexistence. He took a firm stance against those who benefit from ethnic crises, appealing to them to redirect their resources toward creating employment opportunities for youths.
“No amount of crisis can displace the Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo from Warri,” Mulade stated. “Conflict only leads to needless loss of lives, while peace creates opportunities for all.”
The newly inaugurated seven-member executive committee is led by Mr. Chuks Awogu as Chairman, with Toriitseju Igbiaye, Eburu Emuaghogho, and Erediegha Precious serving as Co-Chairpersons. Comrade Hilda Amogha will serve as Spokesperson, while Mrs. Hajara Abubakar takes on the role of Secretary.
CEPEJ also unveiled a structured roadmap of capacity-building programmes, including stakeholder training, community engagements, advocacy campaigns, and inter-ethnic familiarization visits. According to Mulade, these initiatives are designed to entrench dialogue and mutual understanding among Warri’s diverse populations.
Earlier, CEPEJ Administrative Manager Tina Agidi outlined the meeting’s agenda, while Senior Programme Officer Samuel Ideh reminded participants of Warri’s long-standing history of inter-ethnic unity, noting that peaceful collaboration remains beneficial to all residents.
With the committee now in place and a clear roadmap for engagement, CEPEJ’s latest intervention is being viewed as a critical step toward dousing tensions and building a foundation for lasting peace in the oil-rich city.
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