BY HOPE AKAEZUE
The Abigborodo and Obotie communities in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State have taken to the creeks in a dramatic protest against Seplat Energy PLC, accusing the oil company of illegally occupying their ancestral waterways.
The protest, which erupted in the early hours of yesterday, saw hundreds of community members arriving at the disputed site in boats, wielding banners with inscriptions such as “Seplat, Stop Your Oppression”, “No Work Until You Recognize Us”, and “Stop Oppressing Us, Seplat”.
The protesters, chanting solidarity songs, called for urgent intervention by the Delta State and Federal Governments.
Led by community leaders, women and youth from both Abigborodo and Obotie communities demanded that Seplat recognize their rightful claim as host communities.
The protesters also accused the oil company of bypassing their rights under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which mandates oil firms to engage with and compensate communities within a five-kilometre radius of their operations.
Speaking at the protest site, the Chairman of the Abigborodo Management Committee, Hon Misan Ukubehinje, expressed the community’s frustration over Seplat’s alleged disregard for their rights.
“This protest is our way of voicing our grievances. Abigborodo is a host community, and this land has belonged to us for generations. Seplat has now moved closer to our land, just two kilometres away, and plans to carry out drilling operations, which include clearing and dredging,” Ukubehinje said.
He explained the environmental and economic risks posed by the company’s operations, stating, “Dredging affects aquatic life and the water we depend on. It impacts everyone in the community. Under the PIA, communities within five kilometres of oil operations are host communities.
‘’But Seplat has ignored this law, claiming we are merely ‘impacted communities’—a term that doesn’t exist in the Act. We are host communities and must be treated as such.”
Ukubehinje revealed that the communities had filed petitions and hosted investigative teams from the Ministry of Environment, Oil and Gas, and other government agencies, but no tangible action had been taken.
“We are peace-loving people. That’s why we chose a peaceful protest. We have set up a canopy here, and people are cooking. This is not a one-day protest. We will stay here as long as it takes for our demands to be met,” he declared.
Similarly, the Youth President of the Abigborodo Community, Great Kpenosen, accused Seplat of marginalizing their people. “We’ve tried to engage with them, but they have ignored us. This is our land, and they can’t operate here without proper negotiations. If they don’t listen, we will stop them from working for as long as two weeks,” Kpenosen warned.
Women leaders from both Abigborodo and Obotie joined the protest, voicing their frustration. Patience Ologho, Abigborodo Community Women Leader, said, “We have been speaking with Seplat, asking for compensation, but they refuse to listen.
‘’If they won’t honor our demands, they won’t operate in our community.” Mrs. Julie Ayone, Women Leader of Obotie, echoed the sentiment, citing the PIA’s five-kilometre rule.
“Our community is less than three kilometres from their site, yet they refuse to recognize us. We’ve written to them repeatedly. If they don’t recognize us, they won’t work here,” she said.
The Youth President of Obotie Community, Oyewumi Victor, accused Seplat of ignoring their calls for dialogue. “We invited them for discussions, but they refused. We even petitioned the DSS and JTF, but Seplat won’t acknowledge our rights. That’s why we’re here to stop their operations until they recognize Obotie as a host community,”
Reacting to the protest, Sapele Base Manager for Seplat Energy, Kingsley Udebor, acknowledged awareness of the situation. He noted that the protesters had previously filed a petition with the Ministry of Oil and Gas, adding that the company respects due process. “We want to respect the sanctity of the Ministry. We will respond at the appropriate time,” Udebor said.
