Tension in Ogwu-Ikpele community, Anambra, as locals protest oil company’s neglect, environmental damage

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By Sunny A. David, Awka

Tensions have escalated in Ogwu-Ikpele, a riverine community in Anambra State’s Ogbaru Local Government Area, after local residents shut down 12 oil wells in protest against ongoing neglect and environmental damage caused by an oil company. 

The protest comes after years of dissatisfaction with Sterling Petroleum Energy Exploration Company (SNEEPCO), the Nigerian subsidiary of Shell.

The company, which has operated in the region for over a decade, is accused of failing to meet its corporate social responsibility (CSR) obligations, leaving the community in dire conditions. 

SNEEPCO’s operations have reportedly caused significant environmental damage, including erosion along the River Niger’s banks, submerging over 30 homes. Residents also complain of inadequate local employment opportunities, unfulfilled promises, and the militarization of the area.

The protest, which took place over the weekend, saw hundreds of men, women, and children take to the streets, carrying placards with messages like: “No road, no hospital, no jobs,” and “Ogwu Ikpele suffers 10 years of SPEECO exploitation and neglect.” 

Protesters barricaded roads and shut down key oil wells, including those in Umuokike, Umuanyasi, Umumgbeleke, Umuogbulishi, and Umuogbu. During the two-day protest, the company is said to have lost about N200 million.

Community leaders have expressed frustration over the absence of basic amenities such as paved roads, reliable healthcare facilities, and clean water. Despite the community’s rich agricultural and mineral resources, including significant oil deposits, residents say they have seen little to no benefit from the company’s presence.

Chief Akaka Damian Aniagboso, the Traditional Prime Minister of Ogwu-Ikpele, condemned the exploitation of the community, highlighting that over ten years of oil extraction had not led to any improvements for the local population. 

“SNEEPCO promised us scholarships, employment opportunities, and infrastructure, but none of these promises have been fulfilled. Our children remain uneducated, our youth unemployed, and our women marginalized,” Aniagboso lamented. 

He also pointed out that the oil exploration had caused erosion and the displacement of homes along the riverbanks.

Esumai Patrick Chukwudi, the President General of Ogwu-Ikpele, echoed these sentiments, criticizing the oil company’s disregard for the community’s welfare. He stated that there was no accountability for the oil extracted, as SNEEPCO had laid pipelines beneath the River Niger, transporting oil to other States without oversight from the Anambra State government. 

“We’ve been begging for basic amenities, but the company continues to neglect us,” Chukwudi said. “Our agricultural produce, especially palm trees, has been damaged by gas flaring, and the community has suffered from oil spills for years.”

Hon. Chuchu Onyema, a former House of Representatives member for the Ogbaru Federal Constituency, also joined the chorus of criticism, describing the community’s protest as a call for justice after years of neglect. 

He emphasized the failure of the government and the oil company to meet their social responsibilities, urging them to provide the promised benefits such as electricity, employment, and healthcare. “The community is not begging for charity; we are simply asking for what is rightfully ours,” Onyema stated.

Youth leader Aghauli Chimuanya Peter highlighted the lack of opportunities for young people, with many unable to secure employment in the oil industry despite the resources being extracted from their land. 

He called for SNEEPCO to fulfill its promises by providing jobs, infrastructure, and basic amenities.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Onwuaghamadu Victoria, the Woman President-General, also weighed in, stressing that the community has seen no tangible benefits from the oil company’s operations. 

She called for urgent intervention from both the state and federal governments, urging them to address the ongoing hardship faced by the community’s women and children.

As of press time, no company representatives were available for comment, although the company’s Public Relations Officer could not be reached during the protest. The tension remains high, and the local community is demanding that their grievances be heard and addressed.