ABIGBORODO COMMUNITY TO SEPLAT: HALT ALL PIPELINE INSTALLATION UNTIL FULL FORMAL RECOGNITION IS GRANTED

The elders, youths, and women of Abigborodo Community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State have staged a peaceful mass protest against what they describe as prolonged injustice and systematic marginalisation by the management of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc (Seplat Sapele West Limited, OML 41).

The community condemned Seplat’s continued installation and laying of pipelines within Abigborodo ancestral lands without consultation, consent, or recognition of Abigborodo as the legitimate host community, in total disregard of established laws, customs, and community rights.

Abigborodo Community stated that over the years, it has made several peaceful and documented representations to Seplat Sapele West Limited (OML 41), asserting its ownership of Ugbekoko lands, Uton-Iyatsere, and surrounding territories, and demanding full formal recognition as host community in line with statutory provisions. These representations were also directed to the Delta State Government, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), security agencies, and the general public.

However, the community lamented that Seplat has persistently refused to acknowledge Abigborodo’s host community status. Instead, Seplat is accused of allegedly yielding to pressure from non-indigenous claimants, led by the Orodje of Okpe, who, according to the community, continue to interfere in Abigborodo affairs with alleged backing from state security apparatus.

The protesters further alleged that Seplat’s consistent operational pattern has been to ignore Abigborodo’s lawful claims while deploying a heavy presence of the Nigerian Army to intimidate residents and suppress their legitimate demands over their God-given ancestral lands.

The community emphasized that all panels of enquiry historically constituted to investigate the ownership of the disputed lands have ruled in favour of Abigborodo Community. Despite these findings, the community accused Seplat, the Orodje of Okpe, and the Delta State Government of failing to respect and implement these outcomes.

Consequently, Abigborodo Community declared that all Seplat operations, including pipeline installation and related activities within Abigborodo land, are hereby halted until the company formally recognizes Abigborodo as the rightful host community and engages the people transparently and lawfully.

The elders, youths, and women reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful resistance but warned that they will continue to defend their ancestral heritage and rights within the framework of the law until justice is served.