BUSTED: N12Million Allegedly Exchange Hands In Chevron’s Trunkline Attack As Ugborodo Youth Slams Edema Over Use Of Olu Of Warri Insignia

Indications have emerged that the recent attack on Chevron Nigeria Limited Dibi/Olero/Abiteye trunkline in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta state, may have been sponsored as security agencies intensified investigation.

This is coming as dependable security sources revealed that over N12 Million was allegedly collected by a group of individuals from an undisclosed source few days before the incident.

Sources said that security agencies are beaming their searchlight on one particular person who alleged to have masterminded the attack to gain recognition and pave the way for the award of the pipeline repair job to his company.

The latest development is coming amidst spontaneous reactions by some Itsekiri community who are up in arms against one Prince Oritsetimeyin Edema, who is being accused of impersonating the Olu of Warri and speaking on behalf of the entire Itsekiri kingdom without authorization over the incident.

Oritsetimeyin Edema, in a paid publication using the Olu of Warri insignia, reportedly justified why some Itsekiri community are against Chevron and its JV partners over reported unemployment issues.

But miffed by this, the Ugborodo Community Youth Development Body, vehemently condemned Prince Edema’s actions, describing them as “thoughtless, ill-conceived, and disrespectful.”

The group has also urged all International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the area to disregard any correspondence from said Edema regarding employment and other issues.

At the heart of the controversy is Edema’s purported claim to be the “Sole Representative and Liaison to NNPCL and JIV Partners” of the Olu of Warri.

However, the Ugborodo Community Youth Development Body, in a statement signed by Mr. Wilson Ejeh (, President) and David Mamah (Public Relations Officer), and made available to newsmen, on Tuesday, pointed out that Edema’s appointment is limited to NNPCL and does not extend to JV Partners.

“We, the Ugborodo Community Youth Body, write to express our utmost displeasure and embarrassment over the recent actions of one Prince Oritsetimeyin Edema, who claims to be “Sole Representative and Liaison to NNPCL and JIV Partners”, of our esteemed monarch, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri.

They contended that the use of the insignia is fueling insinuation making the round about the people who sponsored the devastating attack on oil facilities in Itsekiri land.

“His use of the Olu of Warri insignia is tantamount to the desecration of the Olu’s stool, it is reckless and unacceptable.

“This is a prerogative allowable only to His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, as our paramount ruler.

“This action is unprecedented in the annals of history of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality. Prince Edema has no locus to exercise such reckless discretion, and his claims of speaking for the oil-producing communities in the 3 (three) Warri Local Government Areas of Delta State, are uncouth and not agreeable to the Itsekiri people.

“Prince Edema cannot speak for us, and his appointment as Liaison Officer by the Olu does not give him the license to speak for the entire Itsekiri Kingdom.

“Prince Edema’s appointment is limited to NNPCL and not JV Partners, as he claimed.

“Furthermore, his letter of appointment by our revered monarch does not state that he was appointed as spokesman of the various Itsekiri communities in the 3 Warri LGAs. This is a clear case of impersonation”.

The group has also accused Prince Edema of attempting to justify the actions of economic saboteurs who attacked the Dibi/Olero/Abiteye Trunkline.

“His write-up is a pointer to the fact that either he knows those responsible for the heinous action or he is sympathetic to their wrong course”.

While calling on the respected royal father to review Edema’s terms of engagement “before he further embarrasses the revered stool and sons and daughters of Iwereland”, the group called on the security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“We condemn the action and we make bold to demand that the criminals should not escape justice. No one should be allowed to hide under the cloak of demanding employment slots from IOCs to embark on collateral damage of the nation’s economic assets”.

Reacting to the attack, Itsekiri National Youth Council Adviser, Oghomienor Emiko, in a strong terms condemned the vandalization of Chevron facility, saying that Itsekiris are not known for attacks on oil pipelines.

“Whenever we have issues with the IOCs, we have our peace way of approaching them. Before we even embark on these protect, security agencies will be notified and written to. So if they are linking the pipeline burst to my tribe I urged the federal government and security agencies to fish out anybody that is involved and deal with the person according to the law.

On the use of Olu of Warri insignia, the youth leader expressed shock and disappointment that the Olu of Warri either knowing or unknowingly allowed Edema to use the insignia anyhow he likes to justify his unacceptable actions.

According to him, the use of the insignia is a serious breach of tradition and law, as only the Olu of Warri is authorized to use it.

Emiko who disclosed that Itsekiri National Youth Council worldwide would be meeting on Sunday to discuss critical issues, also questioned Edema’s claim to be the “sole representative” of the Itsekiri people, pointing out that each community has its own executive and representatives.

He described Prince Edema’s actions as “impersonation” and called on the Olu of Warri to take action to correct the situation.

“It is only the king that is authorised by tradition and law to use that symbol. even the chiefs cannot use it. We have what is called Ojosan – the prominent five chiefs that always liaise with the King on very serious issues. They don’t use the symbol as far as I’m concerned. But i am surprise i see chiefs who have served Atuwatse II, who have served Ikenwoli see such character and allow him to use the symbol of Itsekiri as a tribe yet nobody wants to call him to order, and nobody have issue a statement to disown him or call the attention of the Olu to it.

“It baffled me. I see it as an impersonation otherwise Olu will tell us that he is the person who authorise him to use that symbol which is against our tradition”.

Recalls that Olu of Warri had in a letter dated January 31st, 2024, dispatched to Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, introduced Mr. Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema “As Sole Representative and Liaison”.

In the letter, the monarch stated, “We bring you warm greetings from the Warri Kingdom.”

“In a letter with reference number, OWP. 1111/9, and dated 2nd October, 2023, my Palace informed you of Mr. Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema, as the Palace Liaison Officer to your establishment, he also serves as my sole representative until otherwise communicated.”

The Itsekiri youth leaders, therefore said, “In the appointment letter, Collins Edema was not assigned the mandate as the Spokesman of the various Itsekiri communities in the three Warri Local Government Areas.

“We repeat and emphasize that Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema cannot speak for us. And we are happy that the Palace didn’t confer on him the authority to speak for us. He is merely arrogating that power to himself.

“To this end, We seize this medium to urge all IOCs operating in our areas to shun and disregard all correspondences from Collins Oritsetimeyin Edema regarding employment and other issues.

“He is on a mission for self-aggrandizement. His activities are self-seeking and self-serving.

“We therefore condemn Prince Edema’s actions and his attempt to justify the economic saboteurs’ actions in the fate of the ill-fated Dibi/Olero/Abiteye Trunklike”, the group reiterated.