Residents of Ifie-Kporo community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State on Wednesday shut down operations at two Chevron Nigeria Limited oil wells, accusing the company of marginalising the community and failing to recognise its host status.

The community, host to OML 24 and OML 25 in the Macaraba oil field, staged the protest to demand recognition and proper engagement by the multinational oil and gas company.

The demonstration began around 7am, when youths and women from the community travelled in multiple speedboats to the oil fields, carrying placards bearing messages against Chevron’s alleged treatment of the community.

Some of the placards read: ‘Chevron give us our right or leave our land. Enough is enough’, ‘Chevron will not operate our oil well until Ifie-kporo is fully recognised as your host community”, and ‘Chevron, you can’t be operating in our community and refuse to recognise Ifie-Kpoko community as host’.

The protest resulted in the suspension of operations at both oil wells, with the demonstrators saying their action was intended “to compel Chevron Nigeria Limited to comply with standard best practices regarding oil companies engagement with the host communities in their areas of operations”.

The protesters insisted that OML 24 and OML 25, located in the Macaraba field and operated by Chevron, were situated on their ancestral land.

They warned the company to “stay off both wells if they are not ready to be lawful, accord the community its host community status and allow the community to enjoy all her rights as stipulated in the PIA to fast track growth and development in Ifie-kporo”.

Some demonstrators who spoke to journalists said they would remain at the location until their demands were met.

”We are tired of the deceitful and irresponsible game Chevron has been playing with us”, one protester said.

The community members described Chevron’s conduct towards them, despite what they called their peaceful disposition over the years, as “distasteful and one that is unbecoming of a company like Chevron”.

They also cautioned Chevron Nigeria Limited against triggering unrest in an area they described as previously peaceful.

The protesters urged the company to “immediately follow the precedent already laid since the time of Gulf when they duly cooperated and recognized Ifie-kporo community as their host community being the owners of the land where OML 24 and 25 are located”.

Efforts by the correspondent to obtain comments from Chevron’s management were unsuccessful, as the company representatives could not be reached.

Source: Punch