The Abigborodo and Obotie communities in Delta State?s Warri North and Sapele Local Government Areas staged a protest on Thursday, accusing Seplat Energy PLC of illegally encroaching on their ancestral lands.

Armed with banners proclaiming messages like ?Seplat, Stop Your Oppression? and ?No Work Until You Recognize Us,? protesters paddled through local waterways, chanting for the state and Federal Governments? intervention.

The protest drew a large crowd of men, women and youths, led by community leaders, who demanded that Seplat recognize their rights as host communities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

They called for an immediate halt to operations until their grievances were addressed.

At the protest site, the Chairman of Abigborodo?s Management Committee, Hon. Misan Ukubehinje, voiced concerns over Seplat?s disregard for community rights and its failure to comply with the PIA.

He stated that the PIA requires oil companies operating within five kilometres of a community to acknowledge those communities as hosts and provide corresponding benefits.

?This protest is our way of airing our grievances. We have made numerous complaints to Seplat Energy PLC.

?Abigborodo is a host community, and this land has belonged to us for generations. Seplat is operating dangerously close to our territory?about two kilometres away?and plans to begin drilling, which threatens our waterways and local aquatic life essential for our survival,? he said.

Ukubehinje accused Seplat of ignoring findings from an investigative team that included officials from the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Oil and Gas.

?Despite the team?s observations, we have received no feedback, yet Seplat has mobilized equipment to the site, infringing on our rights,? he added.

He emphasized that the communities would not relent until they were officially recognized as host communities as per the PIA.

?We are peaceful people who do not wish to resort to violence. This protest is ongoing; we are prepared to camp here until our demands are met,? Ukubehinje said.

The Youth President of Abigborodo, Great Kpenosen, echoed the same sentiments, stating that the protest was a last resort after failed negotiations with Seplat.

?We have been marginalized. This land belongs to us, and despite attempts to engage them, they have refused to listen. We are here to halt their operations until we can have a proper discussion,? he said.

Similarly, the Youth President of Obotie, Oyewunmi Victor, criticized Seplat for failing to acknowledge the community?s land ownership.

?We have reached out repeatedly for discussions and involved governmental bodies, but to no avail. Today, we demand recognition; without it, their work will not continue,? he said.

Women leaders from both communities also joined the protest. Mrs. Patience Ologho, Women Leader of Abigborodo, lamented Seplat?s neglect of their demands for compensation and recognition.

?As mothers, we understand how this affects our families. If Seplat had listened, we wouldn?t be here today. We demand what is rightfully ours,? she asserted.

Mrs. Julie Ayone, Women Leader of Obotie, added: ?Our community is under three kilometres from the site, yet Seplat refuses to recognize us as a host community. We have sent letters for six months without a response, prompting our peaceful protest today.?

The Youth Secretary of Obotie, Eyitoto Oritse, claimed Seplat had consistently ignored invitations for dialogue from the Ministry of Oil and Gas and other agencies

?They promised to form a committee to address our concerns but never followed through. Now, they operate as if we don?t exist. This is unacceptable,? Oritse said.

The Secretary of Abigborodo Community, Victor Atsephnuo, vowed that the protest would persist until Seplat acknowledged their rights.

?This is our land, and the PIA recognizes us as host communities. We have reached out to the governor and other authorities, but Seplat remains unresponsive. We will not allow them to continue operations here until they comply,? he declared.

Atsephnuo warned that the communities were prepared to escalate their protest if necessary, adding: ?We are willing to support this demonstration financially. We will remain until Seplat recognizes both Abigborodo and Obotie as host communities and fulfills its legal obligations.?

As tensions rise, the protest highlighted the ongoing conflict between oil companies and their host communities in the Niger Delta.

With Seplat Energy yet to respond, the standoff underscores persistent issues of environmental degradation, resource ownership and corporate accountability in the oil-rich region.

For now, the waterways of Warri North and Sapele remain occupied by the determined protesters, their chants resonating a clear demand for justice: ?No recognition, no work!?

Meanwhile, the Manager, Corporate Communication, Seplat, Mr. Stanley Opara, said the firm was preparing a statement in reaction to the protest by the communities.

He was however yet to issue the statement at the time of filing this report. (THISDAY: Text, Excluding Headline)

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