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Hundreds of youths from Ifie-Kporo community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State on Wednesday shut down operations at the Macaraba oil field over alleged marginalisation by the operating company.
The protesters, who arrived at the facility in speedboats, accused the firm of refusing to recognise Ifie-Kporo as a host community despite its claim that the oil field’s Wells 24 and 25 are located on its ancestral land.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “We Want Justice,” “Employ Our Youths” and “Give Us Our Rights or Leave Our Land,” the youths demanded recognition, employment opportunities and respect for the community’s interests.
They alleged that the company had continued operating on their ancestral land without adequately recognising or engaging the community.
One of the protesters, who identified himself as Tosan, accused the firm of treating the community unfairly and vowed that the occupation would continue until their demands were addressed.
The protesters maintained that Wells 24 and 25 were situated on Ifie-Kporo ancestral land, insisting that the community deserved recognition and engagement in accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
They also urged the company to emulate Gulf, which they claimed had recognised and engaged Ifie-Kporo as a host community to its oil facilities.
The youths warned that continued neglect of their grievances could threaten peace in the area, calling on the company to embrace dialogue and resolve the dispute before it escalated further.
