Delta state protest against denied rights of oil field

The people of Ubagboro and Abigborodo communities in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State have cried out over their denied rights from the operators of Kuri oil field, SHN Energy Limited. 

According to a further report, they called on the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to call the operators to order, so as to avert a crisis.

Bearing placards with inscriptions such as “Kuri field belongs to us,” “Don’t deprive us of our rights,” and “Makaraba and Omadino have no place in Kuri field”, the protesters, mostly women and youths, who stormed the Kuri platform Friday, accused the company of working in cohort with Makaraba and Omadino communities in Warri South LGA, as well as enjoying the support of some influentially government officials to claim ownership of the area, while denying them their rights.

Addressing newsmen, Trust Chairmen of Ubagboro and Abigborodo communities, Mr Austin Ogbemi and Hon. Misan Ukubeyinje, as well as a former Ubagboro Youth Leader, Ebisan Fenemigho, said from 1991 to 2002, government and the former operator, Gulf Oil Company Nigeria Limited, operated the field with the knowledge that their communities were the host and as such, paid compensation to same within the period of their operation with no form of opposition and or litigation from any other communities).

Expressing surprise over how SHN Energy got information to illegally deal with Omadino and Makaraba communities, which have no historical link to the field and the location, the leaders warned that the company would not operate until a roundtable discussion was held and government intervene to fix the anomaly currently threatening the peace and security in the area.