BREAKING: Massive protest rocking SPDC premises in Obotobo community – The Liberator 

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By Binebai Princewill

According to reports reaching the news desk of The Liberator Newspaper indicates that there is massive protest currently rocking the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC premises in Obotobo I community, Ogulagha Kingdom, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

Confirming the protest, chairman elect of Obotobo I community, Mr. Victor Maika noted that women of the community numbering over hundreds with chants of “SPDC, Delta State Government, we cannot continue to be treated like this, enough is enough” have occupied the premises.
Maika revealed to The Liberator Newspaper that the protest is occasioned by the endless oppression of the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC against the people of Obotobo 1 & 2 communities by using military gunboats to prevent fishermen and women from fishing, a situation members of the community had said has led to the wanton destruction of their fishing equipments, adding that it has led to hunger and starvation since they can’t go to the river to fish anymore.
It would be recalled that on November 2019, the Delta State Government sends a powerful delegation, headed by the Delta State commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emman Ambgaduba among other political leaders from the area and the state to visit Obotobo communities with a view to ascertain what was really going on between fishermen, women, soldiers and SPDC, but reactions from the people revealed that members of the communities are going through hell as they can’t go to fish anymore owing to the military gunboats hired by SPDC.
However, Mr. Maika, chairman elect of Obotobo I community who hinted our reporter via a phone conversation stated that the protest is carried out by predominantly fisherwomen of Obotobo 1 & 2 communities, noting that they would continue to occupy the SPDC premises until things are done the right way.
The protesters stated that this is four months after the Delta State Government visited the community with a view of handling the matter, regretting that till date there is still no headway in resolving the lingering issue despites explaining their predicaments to the Delta State Government months back.
The women noted that they have no other choice than to take such action since their simplicity has been taken for granted for too long by both SPDC and the Delta State Government.
They particularly accused Prince Emman Ambgaduba, commissioner for Oil and Gas, Delta State of not showing concern in resolving the issue, stressing that they have tried to put series of calls to him but all to no avail.
Meanwhile, in our bid to hear from the side of the Delta State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emman Ambgaduba proves abortive as he was unable to take his calls nor returned calls.
This is a developing story, more details later……….

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