Public Relation Officer of the community, David Mamah, who confirmed the development in a telephone conversation, disclosed that the flowstation was shut down on Saturday to press home their grievances.
The indigenes had on Thursday last week stormed the facility with kitchen utensils and canopies erected in front of the company’s gate, insisting that they wouldn’t vacate the facility until their demands are met.
The protesters alleged years of neglect by the oil company which has several oil exploration facilities in the area.
Mamah said that the protest was populated by old women, youths and elderly men in the communities.
He said that management of SPDC have refused to address them since the siege on the facility but rather drafted in soldiers to subdued them.
According to Mamah, the commissioner incharge of oil and gas in Delta, Mr. Emmanuel Amgbaduba had on Monday addressed the protesters, calling on them to call off the protest and allow the state government handle the matter.
He alleged insensitivity of the oil firm to their plight, saying that for years they have been agitating for 24 hours power supply but Shell has refused to honour their plea.
Mamah said that oil producing communities of Ugborodo, Ajudaibo, Mandagho, Ogidigben are all affected by Shell’s exploration activities but had over the years been deprived of basic amenities such as internal roads and bridges, electricity and potable water, despite providing the company the enabling environment to do business.
He said; ‘To add insult to injury, our indigenes are denied job opportunities, which they are very qualified for and companies owned by Ugborodo indigenes, with proven competence and expertise, are not given contracts meant for locals, in-line with the Local Content Act’.
SPDC spokesman, Michael Adande, responding to an enquires by BIGPENNGR, on Wednesday said: “SPDC is working with the state government to engagethe protesters on their complaints.”
(This report was re-edited to reflect the response from Shell)
