Oil Spill: Forestall breakdown of law and order – Bateren, Deghele, Omadino communities petition Okowa

Leaders of Omateye Family of Bateren, Iye Descendants of Deghele and Omadino Community in Warri South-West  and Warri South Local Government Areas of Delta State, have petitioned Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, asking him to intervene with a view to forestalling breakdown of law and order in the state, over threats to exclude the Omateye Family of Bateren Community,  Iye Descendants of Deghele Community and Omadino Community “the legitimate hosts to Chevron Nigeria Limited” in the intended JIV, regarding oil spill “in our communities”.

The petition, which was made available to Fresh Angle International this evening, Monday April 5, stated: “As you read this petition, there's palpable tension in Omadino, Bateren and Deghele Communities in Warri South and Warri South - West Local Government Areas, respectively in the State, over clandestine, unholy and obnoxious plot  to exclude our communities ( the major hosts to Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL Operations) in the imminent Joint Investigation and Verification, JIV Exercise to ascertain if the Oil Spill at Abiteye and Utonana Fields, including the 16" Makaraba - Utonana - Abiteye Right - of - Way, was caused by Chevron's equipment failure or third party breach.

“The aforesaid three communities have always been going to JIV together with CNL and all other agencies. It might interest you to know that the current oil spill occurred between UTONANA AND ABITEYE. Based on the CONSENT JUDGMENT that made the three ABITEYE COMMUNITIES (OMATEYE FAMILY OF BATEREN, IYE DESCENDANTS OF DEGHELE AND OBORO, UGBAJOR AND NEHI FAMILIES OF BENIKRUKRU) OWNERS OF THE DISPUTED AREAS OF ABITEYE, there's no place that belongs to one community, without the other in the DISPUTED AREA”.

The petition dated April 3 and signed by Samuel Wawe Ogoru, Steve Edema Oritsejeminutieyin and Tuoyo Mogbeyiteren, for Omateye Family of Bateren Community, Iye Descendants of Deghele  Community and Omadino Community, respectively, emphasized: “Your Excellency, permit us to bring to your knowledge, the ongoing litigation between the above mentioned Abiteye Communities and Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) titled Moses Orubu Fregene and others V Chevron Nigeria Limited with case number FHC/WR/CS/11/2017. We refer to this case, because the incumbent Chairman of Benikrukru Community, Solomon Eris, Is a co-plaintiff in the suit in question. A testament of the unity of purpose, which people of Abiteye Communities work as one.

“It may be necessary to emphasis that while we accept the fact that everyone or group of persons are entitled to peaceful agitation/ protest, especially as it affects pollution of the environment, we want to humbly state that the threat to intimidate the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited, to exclude our communities in the impending JIV on our land, will not be accepted by us. Pointedly put, we are the hosts to the Chevron facility in question. Legal and historical documents attest to that, irrespective of the presence of some of our neighbors.

“Like the way reason prevailed during the distribution of relief materials your administration sent for the victims of the oil spill in the fields, we appeal that you use your good office, to ensure that leaders of our communities are incorporated in the JIV, to guarantee the sustenance of peaceful co - existence in the area”.

The petition copied the Delta State Commissioner of Police, the Sector Commander, Nigerian Army Effurun, the Delta State Director, DSS, the Chairmen of Warri South-West and Warri South LGAs, the Director-General, Delta State Security and the Manager PGPA, Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL.

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