Delta Community Protest Oando’s Alleged Neglect, Block Flow Station

Indigenes and residents of Irri community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday, staged a protest against the Oando oil company, claiming “high-handedness and neglect.”

The protest, which began on Tuesday, attracted over a thousand participants, including youth, men, and women.

The protesters slaughtered two cows to prepare food for themselves at the company gate which they besiege at wee hours of the day, asserting they would not leave the company’s premises until their grievances were addressed.

The agitation intensified when Oando sent a helicopter to the area to evacuate their workers, a development which further inflamed the protesters.

They marched through Irri, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards with inscriptions such as “We Need Electricity”, “No Project Since 2017”, “Respect Our Traditional Rulers”, “We Want Indigenous Contractors”, and “OANDO Stop Exploiting Irri.”

The protesters blocked the entrance to the oil flow station, halting the company’s operations and impacting local businesses.

The protesters voiced their frustration over the company’s long history of neglect and failure to fulfill agreements made over the years.

They condemned Oando for what they described as “inhuman and heartless” treatment, demanding immediate action and intervention from relevant government agencies.

The residents criticized the company’s disregard for earlier agreements under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMOU) and alleged that Oando has consistently rejected requests for dialogue.

The president of Irri community expressed concern that Oando was using the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as a pretext for inaction, insisting that the PIA does not exempt the company from respecting community leaders or responding to their concerns.

He warned that if Oando continued to ignore their calls, they would be compelled to halt all oil activities in the area.

Additionally, the Odiologbo of Irri community, HRH Simon Wajutome, highlighted the longstanding marginalization of the community and noted their futile efforts to engage in negotiations.

“We have submitted numerous letters and initiated negotiations, yet no progress has been made. They operate on our land, extracting our resources, but provide no benefits in return, not even a courtesy visit to us since they commenced operations”.

He announced a two-week ultimatum for the company to meet their demands, supported by local government officials and military representatives on a peace mission.

In response to the protest, the chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area, Friday Ovoke Warri, criticized Oando’s neglectful behavior despite multiple correspondences.

He, however urged the community to remain peaceful and allow Oando the opportunity to address their issues, assuring them that their grievances had reached the appropriate authorities.