Protesting Benikrukru communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State have vowed to continue to occupy Chevron Nigeria Limited’s facility in the area until its Managing Director visit the scene of the oil spillage reportedly caused by their facilities.
The protesters comprising women, youths and other indigenes of the area also faulted the claim by Chevron Nigeria Ltd denying the alleged oil spill was from their 16′ Abiteye, Makaraba and Utonana oil fields.
Chairman of the aggrieved Benikrukru communities, Mr. Solomon Eri, who addressed newsmen on Monday as indigenes of the area continued to occupy and halt oil production from the facility, noted that the people will not back down on their demands.
Mr. Eris stressed that the protesters will only free the facility when top management of the company led by its MD visit the scene of the incident to ascertain the level of damage the alleged oil spill from CNL had caused residents.
The affected communities have been protesting the recent spillage alleged to be occasioned by a fractured part of the company’s pipeline within the community.
As of Monday, hundreds of women and youths from the affected communities were still manning the facility thereby halting production activities in the area.
Eris stated, “This time around, it is not going to be business as usual for Chevron Nigeria Limited. We are going to remain here until the Group’s Managing Director leaves his cozy office and comes down here to address us.
“We have made our point clear and simple. The MD and his management team must come here and address us. Until that is done, we are going nowhere. We are going to remain here. This is the first stage.