The host community to Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Tuomo community in Burutu local government area of Delta State, on Monday, shut down the company’s facility over a breach of agreement.
Residents of the community, including men, women, youths, stormed the facility in protest over negligence on the company’s part to live up to its obligations to the community.
Armed with placards with inscriptions on the placards while chanting battle songs, the people called on the management of NAOC to do the needful.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the community, Tomke Binebai, who led the protest, said they would not leave till their needs were met.
According to him, the company had allegedly been deceiving them since the beginning of their operation in 2009.
“Tuomo people have taken their decision against Agip, and we’ll remain here until our demands are met.
“Agip has been promising and deceiving us since their operation here in 2009; they promised to provide light for Tuomo as their host. If you go to their station, there’s steady electricity supply, but their host community is in total darkness.
“Enough of this insult and embarrassment, we’ve taken our decision, and if they really want to operate here, let them light up Tuomo, pay the surveillance chances, employ our youths and adhere to the GMoU.
“It’s ridiculous to say that since inception, Agip has not employed a single youth in this community, they have been dribbling us, and we’ve decided that we have come to stay in our own land where Agip is occupying,” he said.
