By Emma Arubi, Warri
Chairman of Abigborodo Management committee, Mr. Misan Ukubeyinje has stated that the recent peaceful protest staged by the host communities against SHN Energy Limited was ignited by the company.
Mr. Ukubeyinje and Mr. Austin Ogbemi, Chairman of Ubagboro community told newsmen at the kuri field platform of the company located in their land in Warri North L.G.A of Delta state want them
to negotiation with the real and actual owners of the land.
They claimed that in spite of several effort made by them to the company to enter into negotiation they were treated with disdain, disrespect and non charlence, saying that Abigborodo and Ubagboro communities can not accept this brazen forceful entering and takeover of their land illegally using military force and other unacceptable Delta state Government intervention
machinery and instrument through the Commissioner for Oil and Gas.
“The company cannot be operating in Warri North LGA but paying homage to communities in Warri South LGA out of fear”, they noted, saying “we know how to contain the company’s menace”.
“Anyhow they want it, we are prepared to give it to them. If they want peace, they will get it. If they want sustained disruption of their operations they will get it abundantly. This is our land. No amount of intimidation will or can deter us”, they warned.
They, therefore called on the Delta state/federal government to immediately intervene into this vex issues before it gets out of control adding that the company must dialogue with them without further delay.
The company representative at the kuri field site of the protest, in the presence of the Commander of the military House boat station to protect the illegal occupation of Abigborodo / Ubagboro legitimate land, Mr. Augustine Ukwazu promised to relay the communities demand to his managements assuring to get back to the leadership ot the protesters soon for an amicable settlement of the misundertanding.
