Delta State

== Demographics ==
Delta State is predominantly inhabited by the [[Urhobo people|Urhobo]], [[Anioma people|Enuani]], [[Isoko people|Isoko]], [[Uvwie]], [[Okpe]], [[Ijaw people|Ijaw]], [[Ukwuani]], [[Ika people|Ika]], [[Itsekiri]] and the [[Olukumi people]].<ref name=":0" /> The population of other groups in the state are negligible.

The [[Urhobo-Isoko]] are basically the same people and are the most predominant people inhabiting the state<ref name=":0" /> and currently about 3.3  million spanning across 13 local government areas, followed by [[Ukwuani]], [[Ika people|Ika]] and Aniocha-Oshimili(Igbo) people of Delta State with a population of about 1.8 million spanning across 9 Local government areas who are sometimes referred to as the [[Anioma people]].<ref name="Unveiling Nigeria - state">{{Cite web |title=Unveiling Nigeria - state |url=https://www.unveilingnigeria.ng/geopolitical-zone/delta-state |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=www.unveilingnigeria.ng}}</ref><ref>https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ujah/article/view/166014/155449 {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The Itsekiri speak a language very closely related to [[Yoruba language|Yoruba]] but have been culturally influenced by the [[Edo people|Edo]] from neighbouring [[Edo State|Edo state]], as well as the [[Urhobo people|Urhobo]], and [[Ijaw people|Ijaw]].<ref name=":0" />

The [[Okpe (Southwestern Edo)|Okpe]] is a dialect of Urhobo language.  The Okpe people occupy two local government areas ([[Sapele, Nigeria|Sapele]] and Okpe) in Delta Central.

The Ijaws are a group of people related to the predominant people of neighbouring [[Bayelsa State]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Showcasing The Ijaw Culture and People of Bayelsa from South-east Nigeria - Courtesy The Scout Association of Nigeria|url=https://www.scout.org/ar/node/209471|access-date=2020-09-23|website=www.scout.org|language=ar}}</ref> while the Olukumi are becoming culturally and linguistically extinct,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Arokoyo|first=Bolanle|date=January 2020|title=OLUKUMI DOCUMENTATION AND REVITALIZATION|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338423699|access-date=2020-09-23|website=[[ResearchGate]]}}</ref> due to acculturation and assimilation.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}

The vast majority of inhabitants are [[Christian]], with very few practicing [[African Traditional Religion|traditional religions]].<ref name="Unveiling Nigeria - state"/>

The Catholic Church includes the [http://Diocese%20of%20Warri Diocese of Warri] (1964) with 135 parishes under Bishop [http://Anthony%20Ovayero%20Ewherido Anthony Ovayero Ewherido] (2022), and parts of [http://Diocese%20of%20Bomadi Bomadi] (1991) under Bishop [http://Hyacinth%20Oroko%20Egbebo Hyacinth Oroko Egbebo] (2009), both suffragans of the [http://Archdiocese%20of%20Benin%20City Archdiocese of Benin City].

The [[Bendel Province]] of the [[Anglican Church of Nigeria]] under Archbishop [[Cyril Odutemu]] (2020) includes the Dioceses of [[Anglican Diocese of Asaba|Asaba]] (1977) led by Bishop [http://Kingsley%20Chukwakanadu%20Obuh Kingsley Chukwakanadu Obuh] (2022), [[Anglican Diocese of Ika|Ika]] (2001) led by Bishop [[Godfrey Ifeanyichukwu Ekpenisi]] (2018), [[Anglican Diocese of Ndokwa|Ndokwa]] (2008) led by Bishop [[David Obiosa]] (died 2022), [[Anglican Diocese of Sapele|Sapele]] (2009) led by Bishop [[Blessing Erifeta]] (2009), [[Anglican Diocese of Ughelli|Ughelli]] led by Bishop [[Cyril Odutemu]], [[Anglican Diocese of Warri|Warri]] (1980) led by Bishop [[Christian Esezi Ide]] (2006) and [[Anglican Diocese of Western Izon|Western Izon]] (2005) led by Bishop [[Edafe Emamezi]] until 2021.