Tension in Engenni Land, As Host Communities Protest Against Shell
3 min read
Exif_JPEG_420
Exif_JPEG_420 
Exif_JPEG_420 
Exif_JPEG_420
by Oyagiri Chime
There is palpable tension in Engenni Kingdom as the people of Ogua/Enuedua Clan in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State took to the road to protest against Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) for failing to rehabilitate the only link road in the area.
The protesters, who comprised of traditional rulers, men, women and youth bodies, expressed displeasure over Shell’s negligence of the area despite its economic importance to the company.
Speaking to _Bochnews_ during the protest on behalf of others, the paramount ruler of Isua Community, His Highness, Dikivie Amidi, lamented the deplorable state of the only road linking the clan to other parts of the State.
According to him, a portion of the land has become impassable as a result of the erosion threatening to eat up the road into the Orashi River.
The paramount ruler stated that the road belongs to Shell and that it has been in a deplorable state for some years , but that the company had failed to show commitment to repair it.
Chief Dikivie also explained that efforts to make the company to rehabilitate the road had been fruitless, noting that they have written several letters to the company but there has not been positive response.
He explained, “We the people of Ogua/ Enedua Clan have met severally and written to Shell, but nothing is forthcoming. Our Majesty, the King of Engenni Kingdom, has also written to appeal to Shell to have the road repaired, yet the company has refused to do something about it.
“Where we are standing, is between Akinimma and Joinkarama. The people you see here are from Ogua/Enedua Clan. We have decided to come to the road because of the death trap here. Our people are passing here and we don’t know what will happen any moment if this road is not repaired. Christmas is around the corner and our people will be using this road to their communities. We don’t want our people to die because of this road, so Shell should come to our aid and repair it.”
The Chief revealed that they would protest until their grievances are attended to and the road repaired, stating that his people have taken a unanimous decision to protest against Shell for its level of negligence of the kingdom.
“As you can see, the paramount rulers, women and youths , are involved in the protest. As far as we have the backing of our King, we will continue to protest until they listen to us. The worst that can happen, is if this fight takes the lives of everybody in Engenni, but we pray that it will not get to that.”
He decried the plight of the people in the area, saying that the area hosts about 48 oil wells operated by Shell, but there has not been any positive impact on the communities in terms of good roads and other social amenities.
When asked if they have explored solving the problem through the Cluster Board of the area, he said all the letters they have written, were copied to it, but were always told to exercise patience and nothing has been done.
Also speaking, Women leader of the clan, Mrs Blessing Gogo, stated that the women decided to join the protest because they do not want to lose their loved ones due to the poor state of the road.
On his part, a youth from JK 4 Community, Ezekiel Buse noted that they have recorded casualties as a result of the almost collapsed portion of the road.
He added, “We are here to let Shell and others know about what we are going through, so that they will come to our aid”
