Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
UGHELLI — WOMEN from Igbide, in Delta State’s Isoko South Local Government Area, flocked to the Oroni flow station, which is operated by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, HEOSL, to protest alleged incessant gunshots and oil bunkering activities by some individuals.
The protesters demanded that the state government and the company take steps to end the oil bunkering activities by the end of September, or face a decision that would be unfavorable to them.
The protesters, who were carrying cassava stems and placards with inscriptions such as ‘Igbide Community condemns pipeline vandalism/bunkering activities,’ ‘Stop the pollution, stop the shooting, make the environment safe for all,’ and ‘Put a stop to bunkering activities to save lives,’ noted that the pollution of their farmlands, water, and air in the community by the oil bunkers was negatively impacting the health and economic lives of the people
During the protest, the community’s President-General, Chief Egba Ugolo, claimed that “those involved in the bunkering activities shoot everyday to scare the women from accessing their farms, they don’t want anybody coming close to where they have these illegal activities going on.”
“For fear of being killed, our women no longer go to their farms.” They are unable to harvest their cassava. You go to bed scared, and you wake up scared, because they shoot from the evenings until the mornings, and you start hearing gunshots in the mornings.
“Illnesses are on the rise, and the whole community is fed up.” We have complained to the state governor, the chairman of the local government, and the 181 Battalion. The women are exhausted and frustrated.
“We are appealing to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to intervene and put an end to the bunkering activities so that our mothers and wives can access their farmlands.” We also urge security agencies to do their jobs.”
Chief Grace Egwero, a community leader, stated, “We have been suffering ever since they started oil bunkering in our community.” We can’t even use rainwater to wash our dishes, let alone use it for anything else because of pollution.”
Mrs. Egage Edafe, secretary of the community’s women, stated, “Our farming activities have ceased due to oil bunkering activities, and our crops are now rotting away.”
“The smoke from oil bunkering pollutes our environment, which is bad for our people’s health.”
