The Warri Crisis was a series of conflicts in Delta State, Nigeria between 1997 and 2003 between the Itsekiri, the Ijaw ethnic groups.
[6] Human Rights Watch determined that "although the violence has both ethnic and political dimensions, it is essentially a fight over the oil money.
[9] The intention of the reorganization process was to create a better indirect rule system that was based on what the British colonial officers at the time referred to as "native authority", however, the result of the reorganization in the Warri Province was a zero-sum ethic consolidation, as the more ethinically discrete a governing unit was the more access it had to state resources from tax revenues.
[6] The Itsekiri also established control of land through early legal documents during the British Empire.
The Warri division contained numerous Urhobo and Ijaw communities that were not under Itsekiri control or influence).
Oil money also feeds the arms trade and the further militarisation of all aspects of civic and corporate behavior.
[8] Many services traditionally provided by governments, such as local security, are delegated to the oil companies with little accountability.
[14] Riots ensued, hundreds died, and six Shell Nigeria (SPDC) installations were taken over, leading to a drop in oil production.
Hundreds of people were killed over a period of several months in early 2003 when conflict broke out between Itsekiris and Urhobos during primary elections for state and federal governments.
They urged state and federal governments to act on recommendations and reports the agencies had been furnished from reputable commissions.