Happening Now: Urhobo Community, Newcross Petroleum At War

Ovre Eku Community, an Urhobo community of Eku in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, today was thrown into crisis as men working for Newcross Petroleum moved bulldozers and other earth moving equipment into the community to bulldoze their farmland for the purpose pipe laying, from Efe Location, which is in the middle of Ovre Eku Community, to Asaboro Location in Edo State.

Speaking to newsmen, Mrs Yellow Sobotie said, “I am in my farm as I speak to you, they (The Newcross Petroleum workers) are telling me they have instructions to destroy our farms. My cassava is still young. It”s all I have to feed my family. I will rather die than to see this evil company destroy my hard earned properties.”

“We thought oil company do negotiate with communities before entering, but, Newcross Petroleum prefers force and use of security operatives. They said they will bring soldiers and use Police from Igualoba to arrest us, but I’m not afraid, it’s my land and my sweat,” she said.

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Meanwhile, youths from the community have formed a crowd in front of a bulldozer to prevent it from digging further.

Chief Felix Okotie a community leader who spoke on the development, insisted that Newcross Petroleum is tooling a bad line, they should do the needful, and submit to a round table talk with the leadership of the community. I received a call that they are fighting with our people in the community, I am yet to enter the community, but, I strongly condemn the use of force on our people. Some persons are colluding with Newcross Petroleum to enslave our people, and take over our land, we call on the Federal Government and Delta State Government to step in and arrest the situation before it gets out of hand.”