Tensions is brewing in Delta State as residents of Abigborodo and Obotie communities staged a dramatic protest on Thursday, accusing Seplat Energy PLC of encroaching on their ancestral lands. The aggrieved communities, located in Warri North and Sapele Local Government Areas, are demanding recognition as host communities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Armed with banners bearing messages like "Seplat, Stop Your Oppression" and "Not Until You Recognize Us, No Work", protesters paddled through the waterways in boats, chanting war songs. The demonstration, which attracted men, women, and youths, called for the immediate intervention of both state and federal governments.
Speaking at the protest site, Hon. Misan Ukubehinje, Chairman of the Abigborodo Management Committee, accused Seplat Energy of flouting the PIA, which mandates oil companies to recognize communities within a five-kilometer radius as hosts. “Seplat is operating just two kilometers from our land without acknowledging us as a host community. Their activities, including dredging and drilling, will destroy our waterways and aquatic life,” he said.
“This protest is a way for us to express our grievances. We have repeatedly complained to Seplat Energy PLC. Abigborodo is a host community, and the ownership of this land has belonged to our people for generations,” Ukubehinje said.
Ukubehinje also decried Seplat’s alleged disregard for findings by government agencies after an investigative visit to the community. “Despite evidence presented, Seplat has moved their equipment to the site without addressing our concerns. We won’t back down until they comply with the law and recognize us,” he added.
He reiterated the communities' position that they would not back down until they are formally recognized as host communities, as stipulated by the PIA. “We are peace-loving people and do not want to resort to violence. That is why we are here occupying this area in peaceful protest. This is not a one-day event. We are prepared to stay here indefinitely, cooking and camping, until our demands are met.”
The Youth President of Abigborodo, Great Kpenosen, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that the protest was a last resort after all negotiations with Seplat failed. “We have been marginalized by Seplat,” he stated. “This land belongs to our community, and we have tried to engage them in discussions, but they refused to listen. That is why we are here to stop their operations. If they don’t meet with us for a proper roundtable discussion, we will shut down their activities for weeks.”
Similarly, the Youth President of Obotie, Oyewumi Victor, accused Seplat of refusing to acknowledge the rightful ownership of the land. “We wrote to them, invited them for discussions, and even involved the DSS and the Joint Task Force, but nothing came out of it. We are here today to peacefully demand recognition. If they fail to do so, their work will not continue,” he said.
The protest also saw women leaders from both communities lending their voices to the cause. Mrs. Patience Ologho, Women Leader of Abigborodo, lamented that Seplat had ignored the community's demands for compensation and recognition. “We are mothers, and we know how this affects our people. If Seplat had listened to us, we wouldn’t be here today. We demand what is rightfully ours,” she said.
Mrs. Julie Ayone, Women Leader of Obotie, added, “Our community is less than three kilometers away from the site, yet Seplat refuses to recognize us as a host community. We have been writing letters for six months with no response. This is why we are here today to stop their operations peacefully.”
The protesters called on the Delta State Government and the Federal Government to intervene in the matter, accusing Seplat of flouting laws and ignoring the voices of the people. The Youth Secretary of Obotie, Eyitoto Oritse, alleged that Seplat had repeatedly failed to honor invitations from the Ministry of Oil and Gas and other government bodies for dialogue. “They promised to form a committee to address our concerns, but they never showed up. Now, they are proceeding with operations as if we don’t exist. This is unacceptable,” Oritse said.
The Secretary of the Abigborodo Community, Victor Atsephnuo, vowed that the protest would continue until Seplat met the communities’ demands. “This is our land, and the PIA recognizes us as host communities. We have written to the governor and other authorities, but Seplat has refused to listen. We won’t allow them to work here until they do the needful,” he declared.
Atsephnuo also warned that the communities were prepared to escalate the protest if necessary. “We are ready to spend our own money to sustain this demonstration. We will not leave until Seplat recognizes both Abigborodo and Obotie as host communities and fulfills its obligations under the law.”
As tensions escalate, the protest has drawn attention to the growing conflict between oil companies and their host communities in the Niger Delta. With Seplat Energy yet to respond to the allegations, the standoff serves as a stark reminder of the lingering issues of environmental degradation, resource ownership, and corporate responsibility in the oil-rich region.
For now, the creeks of Warri North and Sapele remain occupied by determined protesters, their chants echoing a firm demand for justice: “No recognition, no work!”
Attempts to reach the Head of communication and External Affairs relation, Mr Stanly Okpara was unsuccessful and calls to his mobile lines were not answered and message to his WhatsApp was not replied as of the time of filing this report
