Tension soared on Monday, December 15, 2025, as youths, women, and elders of the Abigborodo community in Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, gathered to stage a fervent protest against Seplat Energy. The residents voiced their grievances regarding years of exclusion from employment, contracts, and essential benefits as a host community.
The protestors issued a stern warning to Seplat Energy, threatening to shut down the company’s operations in their area if their demands were not addressed promptly. Their frustrations stem from what they describe as a complete disregard for the community’s welfare by the oil and gas corporation.
As the demonstrators assembled near Seplat’s operational corridor, they accused the company of exploiting Abigborodo land while failing to engage local residents in any meaningful way. This sentiment hinged on a sense of injustice that echoed throughout the rally.
Leading the charge was Mrs. Patience Ologho, the women leader of Abigborodo. Speaking to reporters, she articulated the community's ongoing struggle for recognition and fairness. “For over five years, Seplat has been working on our land, and nobody from Abigborodo has been employed or benefited in any way,” Ologho remarked.
Highlighting prior efforts, Mrs. Ologho continued, “We have written letters and appealed several times, but nothing has changed. We want peace, but we also want fairness. A land in dispute cannot be enjoyed by only one side.”
Echoing her sentiments, Mrs. Felicia Koma, the secretary of the Abigborodo women wing, insisted on the community's rightful claim to the land. She recalled an earlier protest along the river where Seplat officials allegedly promised immediate solutions. “They made promises, but they never came back to us,” Koma lamented.
Miss Oyibodudun Ajemijereoma Gladys, another community member, further emphasized the protest's motivation, pointing to Seplat's continued refusal to acknowledge Abigborodo as a host community. “Our demands are simple: Seplat should recognize Abigborodo and employ our youths. If they keep ignoring us, we will not allow them to operate freely on our land.”
The protestors passionately underscored that Abigborodo, a predominantly Itsekiri-speaking riverine community, holds ancestral ownership of the land where Seplat operates. They lamented being excluded from the typical benefits extended to host communities, citing increased hardship due to environmental and social impacts of oil activities.
“The absence of benefits from oil operations has severely worsened our living conditions,” they declared. With livelihoods centered around fishing, farming, and small-scale trading, the community voiced their urgent need for support and recognition from Seplat.
Local residents are now calling on the Delta State Government, regulatory bodies, and Seplat Energy to intervene swiftly. They demand that Abigborodo be recognized as a host community and that dialogue be initiated to prevent any shutdown of operations and maintain peace.
As of the time of this report, Seplat Energy had not provided any official response to the claims raised by the Abigborodo community. The situation remains tense, and the citizens continue to stand united in their quest for justice and recognition. Their resolve signals a critical moment that may redefine the community's relationship with the oil company operating on their ancestral land.
