SEPLAT Sapele West Ltd OML 41: Abigborodo Accuses Orodje of Okpe of Defying Delta Govt’s Judicial White Paper, Using Military to Witch-hunt

The Abigborodo Management Committee, has accused the Orodje of Okpe, His Royal Majesty, Major General Felix Mujakperuo (rtd), of allegedly defying the Delta State Government’s Judicial White Paper on the Okpe–Urhobo Forestry Reserve by using military intimidation to suppress Abigborodo and neighbouring host communities over SEPLAT Energy Plc’s operations.

In a press statement signed by leaders of the community including, Chairman of Abigborodo Management Committee, Hon. Misan R. Ukubeyinje, Esq., Secretary, Mr. Victor O. Atseponu and Public Relations Officer, Hon. Godfrey Omamajemite Ogbemi, the people said that the actions allegedly taken by the Okpe traditional ruler, who is accused of allegedly exploiting his military background, directly contradict the findings and recommendations of the government’s Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Okpe Forestry Reserve, gazetted in 2021.

The Delta State Government White paper, according to the document had affirmed the ownership and rights of Abigborodo, Ugbekoko and Uton-Iyatsere communities over the disputed lands.

Ukubeyinje and leaders of Abigborodo alleged that the Nigerian military had been repeatedly deployed to intimidate community leaders and members of the Abigborodo Management Committee, forcing them out of their ancestral territory, while SEPLAT continued pipeline installation and other oil and gas activities on Abigborodo land without engagement, consent or recognition of the host communities.

“We are also aware that SEPLAT is aware of the real owners of the land but due to the pressure of Orodje of Okpe and the State Government who promised full security backing by the use of Nigeria Army to suppress our people’s rights….

“SEPLAT has deliberately disregarded these calls even in the glaring decision of Peace Building and Conflict Resoluon
of Delta State that Abigborodo and
other Itsekiri communies of Oboe and Ugbekoko are host communies of SEPLAT but because of the tacit backing given to them by the Orodje of Okpe, His Royal Majesty, Major General Felix Mujakperuo, the Delta State Government and the Okpe people that they should suppress all legal rights and considerations”.

They maintained that the continued militarisation of the area and denial of host community status amount to a deliberate subversion of the rule of law, noting that the Judicial White Paper clearly called for the recognition and compensation of communities de-reserved from the forest reserve by oil companies operating on their land.

According to them, SEPLAT has persisted with its operations by aligning with the Okpe traditional institution and the Delta State Government, despite findings of the state’s Peace Building and Conflict Resolution process which, he said, clearly identified Abigborodo and Ugbekoko as host communities to the company’s Sapele West OML 41 operations.

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They warned that the resumption of pipeline works under heavy security presence, without resolving the fundamental issues of land ownership, host community rights and compensation, poses a serious threat to peace and stability in Abigborodo, Ugbekoko and Uton-Iyatsere.

“We are by this press conference requesting SEPLAT to, stop the pipeline operations and engage us as the host community before commencing the operaons;

“We’re also calling the Nigeria Army and all security agencies not to be used by the Orodje of Okpe, the Okpe Community and the State government to suppress the rights of Abigborodo people”.

They, therefore called on the Federal Government, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and security authorities to urgently intervene, insisting that continued disregard for judicial findings and the alleged use of military force to silence lawful demands could precipitate a dangerous breakdown of law and order in the area.