VANGUARD
Community protests neglect by Shell |
Written by Emma Arubi | |
Tuesday, 20 May 2008 | |
HUNDREDS of Jeddo natives in Okpe council are of Delta State yesterday took to the streets to protest what they described as 28 years of neglect and fraudulent acquisition of their land by Shell Petroleum Development Company, (SPDC), for a purpose at variance with their agreed terms.The placard bearing protesters including aged men and women chanted war songs calling on SPDC to return their stolen land as the massive land was acquired allegedly for the purpose of building mini-housing estate but has been converted to farm land and fenced off with high perimeter fence while a large chunk of the land remains undeveloped.
In a statement signed by the community chairman, Mr. Smart Akatarika, they alleged that the SPDC commenced negotiation with the Ikperegunma family of Jeddo in 1980 to build a junior staff quarters for its staff but have reneged on that agreement since then. They said they have written several protest letters for the correction of the abnormally but they all yielded no tangible result with the result that the people said the SPDC has taken their meek disposition for granted and stupidity, saying that there is a limit to endurance. http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8498&Itemid=44 |