Edo community denies abduction of badge, crew members, intensifies protest

Kolokolo Community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, yesterday May 18 denied abducting a badge belonging to Sahara Enageed Resource Limited, as well as its crew members.

The Community also intensified its ongoing seven days peaceful protest as its indigenes chanted solidarity songs, cooked, ate and slept inside the creeks over an alleged marginalization meted to them by the oil firm.

This is coming barely six days after masquerades led the community in a peaceful protest with their neighbours, Ikara and Ajatiton Communities.

The border Community within Koko, headquarters of Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State have also vowed not to leave the creeks where the oil firm operates until their demands are met, just as they denied kidnapping a badge as well as crew of the oil firm.

Kolokolo Community Youth President-General, Comrade Sunny Etchie said, "this is the thug boat that Ajoki Community people alleged that was kidnapped, he appeal to Sahara Enageed Resource Limited to settle with the Community so that they can go home."

According to Etchie, "we have been on a peaceful protest for 6 days. It's the 6th day today. We sleep here, eat here and cook here until Sahara answer us."

Etchie also denied any plans by Kolokolo community to blow up pipelines belonging to Sahara Enageed Resource Limited stressing, "there is nothing of such."

While noting that some Ajoki community leaders summoned them before the Joint Task Force, JTF, Etchie said, "we are not leaving here until Sahara Enageed answer us. We stay here even if it will take us one year."

Earlier, a leader of Kolokolo Community, Mr. Benson Ayokotse narrated how the Community leaders were invited by the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army 19 Battalion in Koko alongside with Sahara Enageed Resource Limited for a meeting.

He said "the officials of the company were absent at the meeting, after waiting for three hours, the intelligence called on Sahara and they refused to come, later on, the CO asked us to go back until Sahara is ready".

Ayokotse said his community will not relent until Sahara listens and consider its plight.

"Moreso, we are not fighting against any of our host communities. We are fighting against Sahara Enageed Resource Limited who is taking our God given resources to punish us, deprive our children from going to school.
Since NPDC handed us over to Sahara, let them come and tell the whole world if they have given scholarship to any of our children."

Adding that it is the responsibility of Sahara Enageed Resource Limited to meet with their demands.

Ayokotse appeal to the Federal Government to request Sahara Enageed Resources Limited to do the needful.

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