Warri: Itsekiri Leaders Urge Evacuation of Illegal Occupiers from Olero Flow Station in Oborevwori Area

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Leaders of the Itsekiri host communities around the Olero Oil Field, operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, have urged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to investigate a breach of the peace accord discussed last Monday in Asaba by protesting Ijaws.

The appeal follows an alleged incursion into the Olero Flow Station by suspected Ijaw youths protesting the ward and unit delineation proposal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

During a press briefing on Thursday in Warri, leaders from the Itsekiri communities of Ebrohimi, Obaghoro, Tebu, Gbokoda, Aja‑Amita, Udo and Jakpa—who together form the Indigenous Communities of the Olero Oil Field—expressed surprise at the takeover of the flow station by outsiders.

They called on the governor to facilitate the swift evacuation of the “illegal occupiers from the Olero Flow Station,” stressing that the facility remains a critical national asset and its occupation by external parties must not be tolerated.

The seven host communities also appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the INEC delineation exercise, particularly in light of the Supreme Court judgment on the Warri Federal Constituency.

Hon. Samson Ogboduwa, Secretary of the Olero Oil Field Communities, said on behalf of the leaders that Chevron Nigeria Limited should remain resolute and “refuse to recognize, negotiate with, or yield to pressure from external actors who are not recognized host communities.”

According to the leaders, the occupation of the Olero Oil Flow Station by individuals claiming to represent the Ijaw communities of Egbema and Gbaramatu violated the peace accord.

The leaders noted that the seven Itsekiri host communities do not share boundaries with Egbema and Gbaramatu.

“It is on record that the Ijaw aggressors were transported in Tantita speedboats. The same Tantita, which was awarded contracts to secure the Federal Government’s pipeline infrastructure, is equally alleged to be sponsoring and mobilising the protest that is impacting national revenue generation,” the Itsekiri leaders said.

They added, “We believe that Tompolo’s actions are aimed at forcing people out of their God‑given lands and arm‑twisting the government into renewing Tantita’s contract.”

While emphasizing the need for the Federal Government and security agencies to investigate any official who may have provided misleading advice or information during the delineation process, the community leaders also called for INEC to fully comply with the Supreme Court judgment and the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“We are peaceful and law‑abiding citizens who have coexisted peacefully and hosted critical national infrastructure for decades,” the leaders said. “We remain committed to peace, justice and the rule of law. However, we will continue to resist any attempt to distort the geographical landscape, undermine our rights, or dispossess our communities of what rightfully belongs to them.”

They concluded, “We therefore call on all relevant authorities to act swiftly and decisively in the interest of justice, peace and stability in the Warri Federal Constituency. No individual or group should assume that it has a monopoly on the use of force or intimidation.”