Hundreds of protesters from Abigborodo Community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State on Monday shut down activities at a Seplat Energy project site, demanding immediate recognition as a host community under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Arriving at the site as early as 7 a.m., women led the protest, carrying placards with bold inscriptions such as “You must recognise us as the host community,” “This is our land and not yours,” and “You will have to kill us over our land,” creating a tense atmosphere around the facility.
A prominent women leader, Patient Ologho, said the protest would continue until the company complied with the law.
“They have refused to recognise us as the host community, and we will continue to protest. Our children and our fathers, and our brothers have no jobs, and we are hungry. They have refused to recognise us,” she said.
Another protester, Felicia Koma, appealed to the Delta State Government to step in urgently.
“We cannot continue like this. We are suffering, and Seplat pretends we don’t exist. The government must step in now,” she said.
Also speaking, Oyibodudun Ajemijereoma insisted the protest was about rights, not charity.
“We are not begging Seplat for favours. We are demanding our rights as the host community under the law. If they want peace, they must recognise us,” she declared.
As the women occupied one section of the site, youths and other groups of men staged parallel demonstrations from different angles, chanting solidarity songs and further heightening tension around the operation.
The protest is the latest in a series of confrontations between the Abigborodo community and Seplat Energy. In November 2024, Abigborodo and neighbouring Obotie communities protested in the creeks, accusing Seplat of encroaching on their ancestral lands—claims the company denied, saying records of assets acquired from Shell did not list Abigborodo and Obotie as host communities.
Earlier in 2023, community leaders petitioned the Delta State Government, accusing Seplat of violating the Petroleum Industry Act by excluding Abigborodo from host community benefits.
At a previous press conference in the community town hall, leaders accused Seplat of proceeding with new pipeline installations in OML 41 without consultation, despite what they described as documented evidence of Abigborodo’s ownership of lands in Ugbekoko, Uton Iyatsere and Abigborodo.
They cited provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and the Host Communities Development Regulations 2022, which mandate engagement and benefits for host communities, alleging that Seplat has ignored these legal obligations.
The community also referenced findings of the Delta State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Okpe Sobo Forest Reserve, published in Gazette No. 1 of 2021, which affirmed Abigborodo’s ownership of the disputed lands. They lamented that the state government has yet to implement the white paper recommending recognition and compensation.
In addition, leaders pointed to the report of the Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Committee, which reportedly identified Abigborodo and Ugbekoko as host communities, but said the recommendations have remained unimplemented.
“The commencement of pipeline operations without resolving earlier disputes leaves much to be desired,” the community warned, saying such actions could fuel unrest in the Niger Delta.
Responding to questions from journalists, the Chairman of the Abigborodo Management Committee drew parallels with the Niger Delta crisis that led to the amnesty programme, warning that continued neglect of community rights could trigger escalation.
“Leadership requires making clear decisions. Either accept or reject the recommendations, but not acting at all leaves communities in limbo,” he said, urging the Delta State Governor to implement the white paper and peace committee report.
The community demanded that Seplat halt pipeline operations pending proper engagement, cautioned against the use of security agencies to suppress what it described as legitimate protests, and called on the Federal Government, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and other relevant agencies to intervene.
While reaffirming commitment to peaceful and lawful action, the protesters warned that continued disregard for Abigborodo’s rights would worsen poverty and threaten peace in the Niger Delta, calling on the government and the media to act swiftly to prevent escalation.
