The people of Egebekiri community in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have staged a peaceful protest against a multinational oil company, Nigerian Agip Oil Company, for alleged neglect.
The community folks took their peaceful demonstration, which took place on the community river, to the Obama flow station operated by the firm, resulting in the disruption of production in four oil wells, 5, 7, 9 and 12.
They are aggrieved that Agip has allegedly failed to pay them any form of royalties since the company began oil exploration in the community over 40 years ago.
The community lamented that despite a Supreme Court judgment of July 13, 2007 which confirmed them as the legal owners of the land hosting the oilfields, Agip had continued to give their rights and benefits to some persons in neighbouring communities.
One of the protesters, Egbe John, said the company had allegedly refused to recognise them as the landlords of the oil wels in Obama field where it had been extracting oil from.
Egbe said, “It is 10 years now since the apex court’s ruling, and yet, Agip has yet to show that it honours the ruling of the court.
“The company has yet to recognise and deal with us as landlord of the environment where the company has continued to extract crude oil from four oil wells in their Obama oilfield.”
Also speaking, Head of Egebekiri community, Karibi MacDonald, said they were tired of writing letters to official quarters seeking intervention without any fruitful response.
PUNCH
