Indigenes of Ubagboro and Abigborodo communities in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Governor of Delta State Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to call SHN Energy Limited, current operators of Kuri Field to order, to avoid imminent crisis brewing in the area because of the Company’s action to deliberately deny the communities what truly belongs to them.
The indigenes of the communities made the call yesterday, when they staged a peaceful protest to assert their ownership of the area Kuri field is located in Warri North Local Government Area of the State.
The demonstrators, consisting of women and youths, who arrived at the Kuri field platform in boats, expressing their outrage over the current situation of things, alleged that SHN Energy Limited is working in cohort with Makaraba and Omadino communities in Warri South Local Government Area, with the support of influential individuals in the government, to claim ownership of the area and deny Ubagboro and Abigborodo Communities what rightfully belong to them.
Speaking to journalists, Trust Chairmen of Ubagboro Community and Abigborodo Community Mr Austin Ogbemi and Hon. Misan Ukubeyinje as well as a former Youth Leader of Ubagboro Community Mr. Ebisan Fenemigho, said the area Kuri Field is located has always been acknowledged by the Government and the previous company, Gulf Oil Company Nig. Ltd that operated the field from 1991 until around 2002 when they left, as belonging to both communities thus, paying compensation to same within the period of their operation with no form of opposition and or litigation from any other community(s).
Leaders from the communities who expressed surprised as regards where SHN Energy Limited got their information to illegally go and deal with Omadino and Makaraba Communities with no historical link to the field and the area it’s located, emphasized that they would not permit the company to operate until a roundtable discussion was held, and government intervene to fix the anomaly currently threatening the peace and security in the area.
They also criticized what they described as the fraudulent behaviour of the oil and gas committee set up to oversee the ownership case, alleging that their decisions were made based on politics and fear, without proper authority and due consideration given to the documents presented to them.
“The decisions made by the committee are unacceptable, and we demand a thorough investigation. We have various means to protect our interests, even in the face of military intervention,” asserted Ukubeyinje.
The protesters called on the state and federal governments to intervene before the situation escalated into a crisis.
They emphasized their commitment to pursuing their rights through lawful means.
Some of the placards carried by the demonstrators read, “Kuri field belongs to us,” “Don’t deprive us of our rights,” and “Makaraba and Omadino have no place in Kuri field”.
Responding on behalf of SHN Energy Limited after a brief meeting with some leaders of the protesters, Mr Augustine Okwazu said, “The community came for a peaceful protest, and we discussed. I will pass their demands to the management, which in turn will reach back to them” he said
Abigborodo community had earlier addressed an open letter to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, the Executive Governor of Delta State.
The letter highlighted the alleged illegal and oppressive actions of the Honourable Commissioner for Oil & Gas, Delta State, the Surveyor General of Delta State, and SHN Energy Limited expressing concerns that these actions could lead to a crisis in Delta State and called for immediate intervention.
The situation remains tense as the communities await a response from the government and seek a resolution to the ownership dispute over the Kuri Field.
