By Joseph Kobiruo/ Michael Veloh
WOMEN from Igbide community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta state have sent ‘Save our Soul’ to the state government, security operatives and other relevant authorities to urgently rescue them from incessant shooting of guns by suspected bunkers and their bunkering activities.
The women in a peaceful protest displaying placards with inscriptions such as, Igbide community condemn pipeline vandalization/bunkering activities, Enough is Enough, We cannot continue with this anymore, Stop the air pollution, Stop the shooting, Make the environment safe for all, Save our Soul’ amongst others, the women vow to shut down oil exploration at the expiration ultimatum issued by the community leadership.
Addressing newsmen at the Oroni Flow Station, Igbide, president general of the community, Chief Egbaoghene Ugolo said, If you look at the background of very well, the thick smoke behind is from the bunkering activities.
“And for a very long time this community has been complaining and i have with me a letter that was written and addressed to the governor of Delta state, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa and it was acknowledged, to the local government chairman of Isoko south and the 181Battalion.
We have complained severally of this bunkering activities, our women no longer go to their farms for fear of being killed, they can not longer harvest their farm produce.
“We go to bed here and wake up with fear because of their incessant shooting from the evenings to the mornings, in the morn various sicknesses are on the increase as our water has been polluted with sooth.
“The women are tired, the entire community is fed up, we have complained to the governor, the local government chairman and the 181 Battalion.We are crying, we are calling on the state governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa to come to our rescue.
We are calling on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to come to our rescue, we are also calling on the security agencies to do their job and put an end to the bunkering activities so that our mothers, our wives can access their their farmlands.”Chief Ugolo pleaded.
Chief Mrs Grace Egwero, a community women lead who lamented the havoc by oil bunkers said, Since the inception of this bunkering activities in our bush, we have been suffering, we can no longer use the rain water to wash because of pollution
At night the smoke from the bunkering activities has destroyed our farmlands and environment and sicknesses are the increase.” She lamented
On her part, Secretary of the community’s women, Mrs Egbage Edafe said “Our farming activities have stopped because of oil bunkering activities and our crops are now rotting away.
“The smoke from the oil bunkering is polluting our environment and this is not good for the health of our people.
[…] Oil/Gas: Igbide Women Protest Alleged Oil Bunkering Activities, Send SoS To Government […]