The Delta Ministry of Health has commenced the refund of unauthorised fees, running into millions of Naira, charged 162 students in the state-owned Colleges of Nursing in Asaba and Sapele.
Delta Health Commissioner, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, spoke on Wednesday, April 24, during the refund exercise at the State College of Nursing Asaba, said: “His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has graciously approved the immediate refund of all unauthorized levies charged to students of the State Colleges of Nursing Asaba and Sapele respectively.”
Onojaeme said the gesture was a result of the concern of the governor that parents and students were not to be financially overburdened, especially during this period of economic difficulty arising from the current inflation trend in the country.
He stated that in response to the complaints of the students and after a careful investigation revealed that certain fees among other fees charged were not authorized.
He added that Governor Oborevwori directed the immediate stoppage of the charges and immediate refund to the affected students.
He said that the governor condemned the practice and has directed that such illegal levies outside the statutorily approved payments should be immediately refunded to the affected students.
According to the commissioner “a total of 162 students were affected; 152 from the College of Nursing Asaba comprising Years 1,2, 3 and PTS class while 10 students were affected in the College of Nursing Sapele.
The President of the Student Union Government, College of Nursing Asaba, Oghenekevwe Asakpa, in the company of the union’s executive, expressed gratitude to the Governor Oborevwori-led administration for giving them a listening ear as regards their earlier complaints on the illegal levies and approving its stoppage.
She praised the efforts of the health commissioner, the Director of Nursing Services in the Ministry, and others who contributed to the realization of the stoppage of the illegal levies and the refund of the monies to all the affected students.
SIR: In August last year, no less than 36 military personnel were killed in an ambush by a gang of bandit-terrorists operating in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
On Thursday, March 16, Nigerian citizens woke up only to encounter another episode of nightmares added to the inventory list of terror attacks on the Armed Forces of the country.
The men of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army were on a rescue and peace mission to the Okuoma community in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta, but were waylaid by a terrorist gang and ultimately paid the supreme price with their lives.
According to the Defence Headquarters, those killed were the General Commanding Officer (GOC) of the Battalion, A.H. Ali, a Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors, one Captain, and 12 other soldiers.
Since then, the Nigerian troops have intensified their search around the creeks and lagoons with the intent of apprehending the perpetrators so as to bring them to justice. It is gratifying that four suspects have been arrested so far while others were at large.
It is worrisome and terrifying that the military, which is mandated to safeguard the nation’s territorial integrity and ensure the protection of the lives and properties of citizens, is now becoming an ‘endangered species’ and the subject of maiming and brutal killing at the hands of non-state actors.
Recently, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) confirmed the arrest of six suspects connected with the murder of six policemen in Ohoro Forest in the Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
For how long will these ugly trends continue? Honestly, it is long overdue to end these wanton killings of security personnel.
It is still fresh in our minds how bandits in March 2022 invaded Nigeria’s highest defence and security training hub, the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, in Kaduna. Aside from killing some soldiers, reports claimed that the bandits also abducted a senior military officer.
The brutal murder of 17 valiant soldiers and subsequent mutilation of their vital organs by unidentified assailants in Delta State was not just an attack on our military; it was an attack on the very fabric of our nation, which calls for urgent action to review the overall national security strategy and national defence policy.
This horrific incident is not an isolated one. In recent memory, we’ve witnessed similar tragedies unfold where brave men and women in uniform fell victim to well-laid ambushes. A pattern is emerging, and ignoring it puts even more lives at risk.
Are these attacks random or part of a larger, more sinister plot? A thorough investigation must be conducted, not just to apprehend the perpetrators but to unearth any potential hidden agendas.
However, the enemies seem adept at exploiting vulnerabilities.
However, security experts and analysts have continued to blame weakness in the processes of gathering and sharing intelligence among the security forces as the major reason why they are becoming victims of deadly ambushes by non-state actors.
Furthermore, the possibility of a deeper conspiracy targeting the military cannot be ignored. The immediate past defence chief, retired General Lucky Irabor, once raised an alarm about the presence of fifth columnists within the military who compromised troops’ operations by leaking vital information to adversaries.
The silence of those who may have knowledge is deafening. There is an urgent need for anyone with information to come forward. Protecting our nation requires a collective effort. There can be no tolerance for those who seek to undermine our national security.
The strengthening of intelligence-gathering capabilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria is now paramount. The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA, should be a step ahead, anticipating threats and proactively protecting our forces. Advanced reconnaissance, reliable informants, and effective communication are crucial to preventing these tragedies.
Let the memory of the fallen in Delta State be a catalyst for change. We must fortify our defences, expose any conspiracies, and bring the perpetrators to justice. Only then can we truly honour the sacrifice of our fallen heroes and safeguard the peace they fought to preserve.
The remains of the military soldiers who were recently slain in Delta State have now arrived at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.
At Approximately 2:39 p.m., several ambulances carrying the corpses arrived.
The Nation reported that military personnel comprising four officers, and 13 soldiers were murdered on March 14 by some irate youths in the Okuama community.
As communities in the oil rich Delta continue to suffer the impacts of oil exploration and the activities of major oil companies on their waters, soil and air, the young people may have taken the matter into their own hands, turning into the only other option: Crime. Seun Akioye , who visited three communities reports
In its carefully crafted public image, Heritage oil limited, an operator of one of the lucrative oil mining businesses in Nigeria’s oil rich Niger Delta says it is a versatile organization with a portfolio of quality assets managed by an excellent team. The company which was acquired by Energy Investments Global Limited in 2014 has a producing asset in Nigeria and exploration assets in Ghana and Papau New Guinea.
Ado Oseragbaje, the Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Oil and its Nigerian subsidiary, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) was lavish in his praise of the company’s operations and partnerships with its host communities.
HEOSL CEO – Ado Oseragbaje
He said: “We strive to understand and manage the sensitivities of the environments in which we operate as well as our responsibilities to them, throughout the lifecycle of our operations. Through our actions, we are helping maintain the integrity of our environment and our pollution control processes and standards as well as our greenhouse management plan are being applauded and recommended by industry regulators to peers.”
Heritage, owns and operate Oil Mining License (OML) 30, a Joint Venture between the NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NNPC E&P) and Shoreline Natural Resources Limited (SNRL), in Erhobaro-Orogun, Ughelli North local government in Delta state. The OML covers about 1,095 sqkm and contains 11 fields and nine flow stations.
This investment should mean paradise for the people of Erhobaro and its surrounding quarters like Orogun and Kokori. If the words of Oseragbaje are to be believed, there should be durable, profitable partnerships in the host community. But the truth would not be unveiled through carefully crafted public relations, but through a visit to the host communities.
“The soil is dead, the river is dead”
Michael Anibor, 68 years-old, has little to do nowadays except sit on his porch and moan the good old days. The days he said, of plenty to eat, of the fertility of the earth around his village Erhobaro and when fish was plenty in the native Ubianegbe river. “ It has been eight years since we last fished in the river,” Anibor began as he pulled a chair to himself, sat on it and pulled his torso forward.
Anibor, nothings grows in our community again
It was a hot and humid afternoon in Erhobaro, few of the natives went about whatever gave them happiness, there were few youths around, the ones that chose to remain in the village, shunning the temptation of going to the city to “pick money.”
“Everywhere is empty as you can see,” Anibor continued. “ The native ponds are empty, our rubber trees are gone. From here to Kokori, you will be lucky to see one sick rubber tree, yam and cocoyam are totally gone. The youth have left for Warri to go and press phone and pick money,” he said.
Pressing phones and picking money in Warri is the slang for a new and deadly vice which many youths of the community are engaged in. It is the new form of internet fraud which for about four years has been booming and drawn jobless young people from communities to the main city of Warri.
It is hard to find a hotel in Warri, which is not fully or nearly occupied by young people engaged in internet fraud, there they lodged and conducted their business and when they finally “pick money” they invite the girls to enjoy the spoil.
“It is all over Delta, you will see about seven boys in a room, pressing phone, soon they will be picking money and that is what they are doing now. When one has made it, he will come and pick the other ones in the village,” Anibor said.
In Warri, the commercial capital of Delta state, the prominence of internet fraud was very visible. Many of the high end hotels are completely booked by young people who have recently been “picking money”.
“They have money and they want to spend it, they drive the latest cars in town and some of them are lodged here for a long time. They are always entertaining the ladies and when the police stops them, it is to collect their own share,” one of the hotel supervisors said.
Anibor said the source of all the misery of the community is from the oil companies of which Heritage Oil Limited is the latest operator. Oil exploration began in Erhobaro in 1961, Anibor said the community did not even know those who were exploiting their natural resources until Shell came and then the NPDC which handed over to Heritage.
“These people (Heritage) never did any community engagement with us unlike when Shell was here. And they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that 70 percent of the workers would be sourced from the community. But nobody from the community is working there. Nobody, since Heritage came here, it has been bad,” Anibor said.
Problem began for Erhobaro community when Shell pipelines began to leak, into the Ubianebe River and the surrounding ponds and into the farmlands. Little or no remediation was done by Shell and when Heritage inherited the oil fields, the community alleged they were shut out completely.
“ We have tried to engage with Heritage but they don’t want to see us, they are no longer interested in us,” Anibor alleged.
Finegirl Omonade, the community women leader sat in a corner eating an unripe pawpaw. She had been a prosperous farmer once but now the soil has yielded nothing for her toil. “ We used to plant groundnut and pepper, but today you cannot see any pepper stand because they die before the time,” Omonade said.
Finegirl, the women suffer the most
The women suffer the most, as predominantly farmers; they have nothing to rely on anymore. “No pepper, no tomatoes, no groundnut, only cassava is resistant to the oil and even that is so small, at the end of the day, you will see it is a waste of time planting them,” the women leader said.
The tragedy did not end with the farmers, the fishermen, The Nation was told have also abandoned the profession, some have taken up other professions while those unlucky are condemned to manual labour at construction sites.
One of them is Edward Ese. For 10 years, he fished in the prosperous rivers of Erhobaro and for some time, lived a life of ‘luxury’. But Ese’s days of prosperity are all gone, now he roams around building sites looking for manual jobs to feed his family.
Ese and his now ‘useless’ fishing net
Ese hardly understands the cause of his misfortune and why the fishes are no longer in the river. “ They said it was all the oil wells that leaked into the river,” he announced as if the idea had just occurred to him. “ Government should consider us and give us jobs. I am no longer interested in fishing, I just want any job now,” Ese said.
The people of Erhobaro said they are helpless and defeated. They are only at the mercy of Heritage Oil. But in an interview with The Nation, Heritage oil denied responsibility for polluting the land and water of Erhabaro, saying it has carried out clean-up exercises to the satisfaction of regulators.
Ado Oseragbaje, the Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Oil in an interview with The Nation said: “On the 7th of October 2020 and 14th of August, 2021, there were two separate loss of containment incidents due to a breach of our Kokori flow station bund wall, which impacted the Erhobaro community environment.
“Following industry regulatory procedure, HEOSL carried out Joint Investigation Visits (JIV) involving the representatives of the regulators, the company and the community, in both cases. The situation was addressed from three fronts, containment to prevent further spread, construction of a well-engineered bund wall and cleanup and remediation of the environment.”
But the community disagreed. They insisted oil activities have impacted their land and the waters. During an on-the-spot assessment at the Ubianebe, there were dead fishes floating around the river and one could not perceive the signs of any living thing in the river.
Floating rivers of dead fishes in Erhobaro
“Nobody has been able to fish here,” Anibor said, his voice assuming a tinge of anger. “ People who used to have fishing boat have nothing again, how can people continue to live like this and the oil companies would continue to get away,” he said.
In the evening, the people of Erhobaro went about whatever they can lay their hand on. Outside the community, two flow stations of Heritage Oil stood majestically, with its flare burning majestically into heavens and into the skies above Erhoharo.
A farmer in Erhobaro, fishing for dead fishes
In Iwhrekan, when it rains, it is acid rain
Jonah Gbemre is desperate to know what has happened to the Iwhrekan community in Ugheli south where he grew up and the one he is currently living in. On a hot and humid afternoon, he made his way to his father’s compound , right in the middle of the town.
Gbemre, there is no water for us to drink anymore
“ Here is my father’s compound, where I grew up,” he began, spreading a hand over a now derelict building. “ And here is the well we drank from as children. The water was very clean and hygienic, that was what we knew as children,” he said. And as if to confirm the now dangerous state of the well, he dipped a pitcher and brought some water out.
“ You can see this, all mixture of oil and gas. What can anybody do with this water now and this is the same story for everybody in this community,” Gbemre said.
Iwhrekan is host to the Utorogu, a shut in Oil and Gas facility jointly operated by an Asset Management Team (AMT) made up of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) a subsidiary of the NNPC and ND-Western.
OML 34, which hosts the gas plant covers an area of about 950 square kilometers according to information from ND-Western. The producing fields within the asset are listed as Utorogu, Ughelli East and Ughelli West.
OML 34 is reputed to have one of the highest gas reserves and production capacity in Africa and it is of national importance to Nigeria for the supply of domestic gas and feeding the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) to neighboring countries of Benin, Togo and Ghana.
One of the joint operators, ND-Western said its philosophy is a “socially responsible organization that apprises the communities and environment in which we operate to identify and work with relevant stakeholders to eliminate barriers to social, economic and development barriers.”
The company also said it was committed to “the utmost integrity” when dealing with the community people. However, none of these lofty ideas seems to have been taken into consideration when dealing with the people of Iwhrekan community.
“ We thought we were blessed by our natural oil,” Gbemre said as he took a walk around the community. “We have one of the biggest gas plants in Africa but look what is left now. The vegetation, natural resources, animals are all gone because of the activities of these oil companies. The natural plants indigenous to our land are now extinct, our roofs are black, we cannot drink our natural water anymore and the soil is bad,” he lamented.
Things have not been this bad in Iwhrekan. Alice Mala Goldsmith, one of the leaders of the community remembers the good old days. For 20 years, she had been fishing in the local river and through that had fended for her family and built a small house. Her life seemed planned until year 2012.
Alice Goldsmith, we need monthly stipends
“We don’t know how, but there was a huge oil spill that destroyed the river and the land. It busted into flames and burnt everything on the ground. No single fish survived, from that time till now, it is suffering for the people here. Now, we have acid rain,” Alice said.
Alice was standing in the middle of her living room with her grandson lying on the floor in a corner. The room itself is modestly furnished with old fittings and the walls had family portraits. “ My husband used to have three boats , now we have none,” Alice said.
The situation in Iwhrekan has been so bad that very few crops grow there anymore and work is scarce, according to the natives. “ Nobody in this community farms now, they are all labourers, the work that men used to do is what women are doing now. And our children, they have nothing to do, so they left the community for the city. Those left here are worse off, you will see a graduate looking like primary school leaver, when there is a shutdown, there would be earth tremor, our houses would be impacted, the gas flare would make it impossible to breath, the problem is huge,” Alice continued to lament.
Everyone in Iwhrekan is looking for ways to cope from the 2012 oil spill which devastated the land, though there was an attempt at clean-up, it was not enough to save whatever remains of the river and soil.
“I am a traditional birth attendant, that is what I do now, while my husband is now a massager, those are the only jobs we can find.” Alice said.
Her husband, Elder Mala Goldsmith came in from another session where he had gone to massage a client and took his seat on one of the old sofa. “ The oil is a blessing to this community,” he began. “But, the way they are treating us is bad. I feel bad that I could not continue my father’s profession of fishing and now I am a massager.”
The people of Iwhrekan had made an attempt to demand for justice in the past. Alice said: “ There was a time the women went to protest at the site, the company brought soldiers, beat people and chased us away,” she said.
Gbemre remembers the incident. “We have used the courts in 2005 to declare that gas flaring is illegal. We brought journalists here, the women protested, they brought soldiers to brutalise everybody, it is on record.
“Now, what the oil company is doing is divide and rule. They are bringing social unrest into the community, there is dishonesty and wickedness. The oil now is a curse,” he said.
But more worrisome than the economic problem is the health challenges the people are facing especially the women. “ There is rashes all over the children and cough, there is hardly any compound that does not have an invalid, Alice revealed.
Alice wants justice for the people of Iwhrekan.” They should pay the women some monthly stipends,” she said, wearing a serious look. “There is nothing from our land, as you entered here, did you see anything that the women can do? So we need that monthly stipend.”
Elder Mala agreed with her. “They should pay us all something every month. The youth should be empowered, now they are stealing food and plantain to eat. Soon they will all go to the city because there is nothing for them to do here,” Mala said.
But there is hardly any viable work for the youths in Warri, which is now full of young people either roaming about aimlessly or joining in some form of criminal activity. ND-Western refused to grant an interview nor respond to emails from the correspondent on what it has done t remediate the impacts of its activities on the communities.
In Ophorigbala Ughievwen Kingdom, oil activities fuels climate change
Comrade Daniel Abudje wasted no time in lamenting the terrible state of affairs in his community of Ophorigbala, Ughievwen kingdom in Ughelli south. “There is no basic infrastructure here as you can see. Nothing is happening in our farm and the river, nobody sells fish in this community anymore,” he began.
Abudje, the community chairman was not exaggerating. Though a fishing community, for many years, there has been no fishing activities in the community. Emuobor Amos has been a fisherman since 1999; it was his family’s business. “This is what we do in our family,” he said as he led the reporter towards his boat.
Emuobor Amos, getting ready for another fruitless fishing
“I have used this fishing to train my seven children but from 2012, everything began to go down and nothing improved till now,” he said.
A major challenge is the road leading to the community and according to Oshogbo Endurance; the Okwuagbe Ophorigbala road has reportedly been approved but never fixed. “If this road is fixed, the communities around here can access Warri with ease. Right now, you have to go over the water. There will be improved infrastructure. For 16 years, we have not seen electricity power in this community, there is no mobile phone mast, but just one network can serve at least 10 communities, this is more money for the providers, that is what they should be thinking about,” he said.
Oshogbo, all we need is access road
The people of Ophorigbala are living in fear of climate change and another flood. In 2022, a devastating flood affected the community, the worst in living memory. It devastated the houses and farmlands, washing chemicals into the fields and ruining whatever nutrients remained on the land.
“Our traditional work is farming but now we cannot farm because of the small yield from the field, farming which has always been difficult has become more difficult now,” Faith Egbo, a community leader said of the aftermath.
The people do not depend on the government provided health Centre which according to Abudje is no health facility at all as “the centre is in a rented apartment and there have not been drugs there for years. The nurse comes only when necessary.”
“This always led to sudden death among the children and even the elderly do die of malaria. One person ran mad because of high fever here,” Oshogbo said. For about four years, ND Western, the operators of OML 34 has been building a cottage health centre, but the people do not know when it will be ready.
Wherever a medical emergency arises, the people contacted one of their legendary native doctors who also act as the traditional birth attendant. Ighofiovwoni Anthony is the most famous of them. “It is a talent from God,” she told The Nation with a smile. “And in all the years I have been practicing, I have never lost anyone,” she boasted.
Learning the hard way
The children of Ophorigbala and the surrounding communities learn the hard way in the only functioning secondary school in the vicinity. Broken down walls, fallen roofs, unhinged doors are the characteristics of the school building.
School in Ophorigbala
Abudje said the community had taken the matter to Delta state ministry of education and promises were made to rehabilitate the structure. “There are 500 students here,” he said pointing to the already fallen roof in one of the classrooms. “The students are willing to learn but there is no infrastructure here. We are hoping the government will come to our rescue and help us,” he said.
There are only 14 teachers catering to the 500 students, most of them coming from Ugheli which posed another problem during the raining season. One of the teachers (name withheld) said they are doing everything to ensure the students receive the best education. “The students are doing well, two of our former students are reading medicine now, I am proud of my students and some of them are even teachers now.
“We want the government to give us a new structure, and then furnish this place, we have no tables even for the teachers and students,” the teacher said.
Students in Ophorigbala, learning the hard way
At the entrance of one of the classrooms, a banner welcomes the students to the new term and promises that “education is not a scam.” But such statements meant little to Lucky, a senior secondary school student who sat copying his notes from a fallen down board, unsure of what the future holds. In another class, some students sat hurdled together, on the few remaining chairs in the room with a broken roof. Last term, a huge snake was found nesting in the class and it took the intervention of the villagers to get rid of it.
The students all shabbily dressed had different dreams and hopes. Aghogho wants to become a fashion designer, Destiny is already learning how to repair bicycles, Favour is learning hair and beauty make up, the apprenticeship takes up all her free times and sometimes eats into her school time.
Praise is studious, she wants to become a nurse and help her community while Marvelous is determined to be the first medical doctor in her generation. All the students are however unified in their poverty, with dreams bigger than themselves and the fallen school building.
INTERVIEW
We have invested over N67 billion in our host communities-Heritage Oil
Ado Oseragbaje, the CEO of Heritage Oil speaks with Seun Akioye on the efforts of his company in addressing environmental issues in its host communities
Tell us a brief background of your activities in OML 30 and how has operations been faring especially with the host communities?
Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited is the Operator of the OML 30 Joint Venture between NNPC Exploration & Production Ltd (NEPL) and Shoreline Natural Resources Ltd (SNRL). HEOSL took over the Operatorship of OML 30 in 2017.
HEOSL has a harmonious relationship with the 112 Host Communities in OML 30. Between 2019 and 2023, we invested more than ₦67.4 billion (Sixty-seven billion, four hundred million Naira only) in CSR. One of the expressions of our CSR is the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) which governs HEOSL’s harmonious relationship with the 112 Host Communities in OML 30. The GMoU funds serve as one of the cornerstones of OML30’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding. Approximately 10% of the CSR budget – ₦6.96 (Six billion, nine hundred and sixty only) has been invested in implementing the GMoU across the OML 30 host communities between 2019 and 2023. And the relationship between HEOSL and Erhobaro Community has been cordial and mutually beneficial.
Your statement says you work in collaboration with the community, but there is no evidence of this in the community. Also, no one from that community is working with your company, why is this so?
Since 2015, the Erhobaro community has been benefitting from our GMoU funds released to implement development projects that the communities execute to drive their development. Companies owned by indigenes of the Erhobaro community such as Ducatel Nig. Ent., Clemarvelson Nig. Company., Powerbest Global Services and Erovoks Enterprises have been contracted to deliver a total of 9 GmoU development projects, out of which seven have been completed while two are currently ongoing. Specifically, these projects are delivered to Obauoku-Erhobaro (two projects), Etavwobakai-Erhobaro (two projects), Etewhia-Erhobaro (two projects) and Erhobaro-Orogun (three projects). These projects, worth over N94 million, include the purchase of Tricycles, a Joint Project of Solar Water Scheme and Purchasing & Installation of 300/33/0.415KVA Transformer, Procurement of Motor Bikes as well as Sienna buses for both transportations as well as security services for the indigenes of the community.
The community said your oil activities have negatively impacted their fishing and farming and I have scientific proof for this. Why is there no remedial activity to reverse this?
On the 7th of October 2020 and 14th of August, 2021, there were two separate loss of containment incidents due to a breach of our Kokori flow station bund wall, which impacted the Erhobaro community environment.
Following industry regulatory procedure, HEOSL carried out Joint Investigation Visits (JIV) involving the representatives of the regulators, the company and the community, in both cases. The situation was addressed from three fronts, containment to prevent further spread, construction of a well-engineered bund wall and cleanup and remediation of the environment
The construction of a newly engineered bund wall was completed in December 2022. Upon completion, three (3) competent community vendors (Perissors Engr Services Limited, Teridan Universal Technology, and Saralight Global Ventures) were commissioned to commence the restoration of the environment. This exercise was duly monitored by both NOSDRA and NUPRC. The remediation was duly completed in April 2023 and post cleanup inspection was carried out by these regulators in August 2023. Laboratory results and findings showed that all environmental assessment indicators analysed were below regulatory set limits and we were advised that the clean-up site be closed out.
Since the completion of the bund wall and the restoration of the environment, no spill incident has been recorded in the area. Relief materials were provided for the initial bund wall failure and adequate compensation was paid.
I saw a lot of poverty in a land producing milk and honey, why are there no empowerment activities sponsored by your company for the indigent, old and unemployed in the community?
Ten per cent (10%) of the annual community development budget is devoted to providing empowerment activities and capacity building in our host communities of which Erhobaro is one.
Do you have any scholarship schemes for the people and what interventions in health did your company initiate How many children have enjoyed OML 30 scholarship in Erhobaro?
On an annual basis OML 30 awards six (6) post-primary scholarships and two University scholarships to deserving indigenes of Erhobaro community.Erhobaro is within the catchment of the Erhoike Cottage Hospital at Erhoike-Kokori, which we support in collaboration with the Delta State government. The hospital provides healthcare services to a cluster of 23 communities, including Erhobaro.
How many projects have you executed in Erhobaro?
A8: A total of nine (9) projects were executed as part of the GMoU projects in Erhobaro. Seven projects have been completed, while two are currently ongoing. These projects, worth over N94 million, include: Purchase of Tricycles, Joint Project of Solar Water Scheme and Purchasing & Installation of 300/33/0.415KVA Transformer, Procurement of Motor Bikes as well as Sienna buses for both transportation as well as security services for the indiegenes of the community. Additionally, Erhobaro benefits from the medical services provided by the Erhioke Hospital which was upgraded and is being supported by Heritage Energy.
The past week has been hellish for hundreds of displaced Okuama indigenes dislodged from their abode, following a punitive response from the army after irate youths allegedly murdered 17 soldiers on peace mission to the community.
Olota, another Urhobo enclave and neighbouring community, is also deserted with fearful residents scattered in the nearby mangrove swamp following incessant raids by the military, a source told The Nation.
The situation, our correspondent gathered, is dire for the elderly, women and children who had to risk trekking through marshes, swamps and mangrove forests after fleeing for safety upland.
The Nation gathered that the fleeing Okuama indigenes encountered another challenge in their bid for safety as they had to pass through several hostile Ijaw settlements.
A 52-year-old Olota indigene, who pleaded anonymity, insisted in a chat with our correspondent that Okuama community was being framed with respect to the killing of soldiers. He said the youths in the community were no militants and lack the expertise to orchestrate such a dastardly act.
He accused the army of randomly attacking only Urhobo communities despite such communities being surrounded by Ijaw settlements, and appealed to President Bola Tinubu to call the army to order.
He said hundreds of vulnerable people were still marooned in the swamps five days after they fled Olota, following incessant military attacks.
According to him, it was safer taking refuge in the swamps than risk a boat ride upland through the Forcados River with several military checkpoints.
He claimed that any youth found around Okuama by the army was routinely abused and arrested.
He said the major challenge facing the displaced indigenes besides the obvious danger of wild animals, was hunger.
Some survivors narrated close encounters with pythons, cobras, hyenas, monkeys, alligators and other wild animals as they navigated their way to safety in Ahravwarhien, Okwagbe, Ughelli, Udu and Orhuwhorun communities.
Some elderly people, children and women also suffered snakebites as well as hostile weather conditions during the tedious journey, according to survivors.
Many of the displaced persons lamented their inability to find family members who fled the arson and killings in Okuama in disarray.
The 52-year-old refugee, who pleaded anonymity for safety reasons, said: “As I speak with you on the telephone at 8 am today, Thursday, March 21, I am speaking from the mangrove forest.
“Since that unfortunate incident six days ago, we cannot eat or find water to drink.
“I have five children and a wife who I cannot ascertain if they are alive or not.
“We have women, children and old people in this condition. They just want to kill us for nothing.
“We are in pains. It is only God that would answer this army people that came to destroy Okuama.
Continuing, he said: “Some persons are trying to frame us over the killing of soldiers and get us on the wrong side of security agents.
“They killed my brother, mother and cousin in Okuama.
“It was only God that saved us; they would have finished us.
“We are not militants. We do not have the weapons or expertise to take on the army.
“The real militants are from Okoloba and parts of Bayelsa.
“I am happy that with the searchlight on Endurance Amagbein, the truth about the killings will soon be exposed.”
Another community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he left Okuama prior to the military invasion, adding that he had to journey to Okwagbe community, their ancestral homeland, at night, paddling a wooden canoe to avoid the many military checkpoints and attacks from their warring Okoloba neighbours.
His words: “Prior to the invasion, I left the community for Okwagbe. I did not use the commercial speedboats for fear of militants and the army but had to paddle a wooden canoe at night on Forcados River to Okwagbe.
“Don’t forget that to get to Okwagbe, I must pass through Okoloba. So I waited in the creeks till it was dark before I made my escape.”
He said the Okuama indigenes trapped in the crisis trekked through the creeks to Urhobo communities while avoiding Ijaw settlements in order to reach safety.
He continued: “Those trapped in Okwuama had to trek through marshes, ponds and lakes to reach safe havens such as Arhawharien, Ogrode and Olota.
“Some even trekked to Omosuomo, Gbarogolo and Bomadi before they reached Ughelli.”
He said the whereabouts of a 58-year-old chemist who lived in Olota remained a mystery after soldiers took him away to their barracks.
He said: “A friend of mine who is a chemist was passing through Olota and on reaching the Oboro/Olota end of Forcados River ran into soldiers who after questioning him took him away.
“After severe beatings, he died the next morning.
“We can’t give account of our people. It is a horrible situation.”
The Niger-Delta region is replete with incidents of such punitive expeditions by security forces in the past, with Okuama the latest addition.
The Odi community massacre was an attack carried out on November 20, 1999, by the Nigerian Armed Forces against the predominantly Ijaw town of Odi in Bayelsa State.
The attack came in the context of an ongoing conflict in the Niger Delta over indigenous rights to oil resources and environmental protection.
Also, in May 2009, a Joint Task Force (JTF), composed of troops of the army, navy, air force and the mobile police launched both land and air strikes on several communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom including Oporoza and Okerenkoko with hundreds of people feared dead.
The attack saw the use of helicopters and heavy machine guns and caused the displacement of children and aged people.
The global condemnation and response to the massacre and agitation of the people led to the Presidential Amnesty Programme of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
A human rights group, Human Rights Protection Congress, has appealed to the Delta State Government to extend relief materials to the innocent people trapped in Okuama following the continued occupation of the community by the army.
Mr. Edewor Egedegbe, in a telephone interview, called for the immediate withdrawal of the Army to enable the facilitation of relief materials to vulnerable people.
His words: “Okuama community, we were told, is under military siege in a worrisome situation like we have found ourselves. What is the plight of women and children in that agrarian community? Do they still have rights to freedom in such a situation under armed conflict?
“When a community is razed down in a vengeful manner by the military as we saw in Odi some years ago, women and children are vulnerable, and this is our own concern.
“We are calling on the local, state and federal governments to send relief materials to the people in that area.”
He lamented the lack of urgency by the Oborevwori led administration in dealing with the humanitarian crisis in Okuama community, adding that hundreds of innocent people are stranded in the bushes and facing starvation and exposed to dangers posed by wild animals.
He said: “The Delta State Government did nothing despite the fact that this crisis has been festering since last year. Governor Oborevwori turned a blind eye and now we see whole communities being leveled down and a humanitarian catastrophe is upon us.
“Where is the lawmaker representing Ughelli South Constituency? They are nowhere to be found! It is shocking that almost one week after the crisis started, the state government has not deemed it necessary to organise a camp for internally displaced persons and assuage the suffering of innocent people.”
He suggested that an internally displaced persons’ camp be established at Otu-Jeremi to cater for the medical needs of traumatised people.
In a trending video on social media, the state owned broadcast station, Delta Rainbow Television (DRTV), aired an interview in which Okuama residents gave an account of the incident that claimed the lives of 17 soldiers.
According to them, the army was warmly received at the community’s town hall when they arrived in two gun boats to discuss with the leaders on the way forward.
They said drinks and kola nuts and money were presented as tradition demands of a host, adding that trouble started when the soldiers demanded that the youths chairman and some community leaders go with them to Bomadi.
According to them, residents refused the request of the soldiers and all hell was let loose as the soldiers allegedly began shooting inside the town hall, leading to casualties.
They said the army made three visits on March 14 to the community with re-enforcements and allegedly killed fifty persons on that day, and razed the entire village down the next day.
Also, in another video which has gone viral on social media, an unidentified young man claimed involvement in the killing of 17 soldiers attacked in Okuama community by irate youths.
The young man, in the video, blamed Governor Oborevwori and leaders for not calling both communities for a peaceful resolution.
He said: “This is the last video I will make over the fight between Okuama community and Okoloba community.
“The Ijaw people from Okuama community used army to carry three people from Okoloba community and killed them. The three people were all slaughtered.
“The 16 soldiers were killed when they came to take away our community leaders and the youths knew that when they take them (the community leaders) away, they will be powerless. That was the reason the 16 soldiers were attacked.
“My father was a retired army officer who died last year. I have lost six of my people to the fight between Okuama community and Okoloba community. The Federal Government can declare me wanted after making this video.”
While The Nation could not independently verify the video as of the time of filing this report, a community source confirmed that the young man hails from the crisis-ridden area.
The Army, in a statement issued by its Director, Army Public Relations, Maj-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, however, described the killing of the soldiers who were on a peace mission to the Delta community after a distress call, as communally planned.
It accused the Okuama community where the soldiers were killed of resorting to propaganda; an act he said was evidence that the killing of troops was a “communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces”.
The statement reads: “The unfortunate killing of troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army while on a peaceful and mediatory mission after a reported case of communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGAs of Delta State respectively is not only despicable but should be unreservedly condemned by all.
“These were troops committed to peace and security of lives and property of citizens and non-citizens alike in the Niger Delta region, murdered in cold blood by an armed youth gang of Okuama community in the most gruesome, heartless and cruel manner, and went ahead to sacrilegiously debase their remains by ripping out their hearts by the very people they were there to protect.
“Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime. This again is a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.”
The land dispute between Okuama and Okoloba communities has festered for long, leading to reprisal killings and abductions by both communities since last year.
The source said the immediate trigger of the present crisis was the abduction and killing of an Okoloba indigene called Anthony Aboh whose corpse was found in Ayakoromo, with his hands and legs tied up and head cut off.
He claimed a high ranking Delta government official, a relative of Anthony Aboh, reported the matter to the army in Bomadi, stressing that the high ranking official accompanied the army to Okwuama for the peace mission on the fateful day.
Okwuama and Okoloba communities are neighbouring communities on the banks of Forcados River that empties into the Atlantic Ocean, while Okwuama is located in Ughelli South LGA, Okoloba is in Bomadi LGA.
A source attributed the crisis to the construction of an Egbesu shrine on Okwuama land where the Ijaws of Okoloba worshipped their Supreme Deity “Egbesu”, adding that three youths were killed for challenging the building of the shrine.
He said a major source of concern of the Egbesu Shrine was the health implications of the pollution of the Ewu River due to the regular killing of cows, rams, goats.
He stressed that the activities at the shrine made the only source of drinking water unfit for human consumption.
The source said a petition with reference number OC/001/2024 was written to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori intimating him on the crisis, adding that the matter was reported at the Police Divisional Headquarters at Otu Jeremi but no action was taken to bring justice to the deceased.
He listed the names of the youths killed to include: Igho Meshach, Power Awusa, Okiemute Agbabulaka, adding that only Kennedy Israel who witnessed the massacre survived.
His words: “The reason for the crisis is the building of Egbesu shrine in Okwuama land.
“From time immemorial, that land has been Okwuama land.
“When our youths challenged them, three youths were murdered in cold blood. The matter was reported to the government.
“In short, we were shabbily treated by the Oborevwori administration. No action was taken to bring justice to those youths killed. Goverment did not act.
“We have very weak and insensitive leaders, as this matter has been festering since last year but nothing was done.”
Despite the high toll of human casualties, no relief material has reached the hapless inhabitants of Okuama community, The Nation learnt.
Efforts to speak with Delta Information Commissioner, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza and Ughelli South Constituency lawmaker, Mr Festus Utuama, yielded no result as they neither picked their calls nor responded to text messages.
No fewer than four persons were reportedly feared dead on Monday, March 18, following a clash between security personnel and Northern youths protesting the alleged extortion by the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA).
The youths, under the aegis of Arewa Union in Asaba, stormed the office of the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA), in Asaba demanding to break away from the state-controlled body.
The Nation gathered that the youths stormed various parts of the Asaba metropolis leaving destruction in its wake, before moving to the office of COMTOA, on Summit Road, where they attacked members of COMTOA Taskforce, destroying vehicles, office furniture and made away with computers and other valuables.
Director General of COMTOA, Uchenna Okafor (aka Kosoko) said: “The Arewa Community are trying to form their own union so that they can avoid paying money to the State Government.
“Last week Saturday, we got information that they were about to set up a union that is different from the one the Delta State Government has inaugurated.
“We called the SA on the Arewa Community and the Sarki of Asaba and they denied it. At about 3.00 pm that day, it was discovered that they had already inaugurated their own Arewa Task Force and that was how it started.
“They started attacking people paying for tickets through COMTOA, chasing the task force and ticket sellers but we were not deterred because the revenue is for the government.
“Yesterday, we were around GRA with the Police to enforce the law against the movement of Keke riders from 10.00 pm when we were attacked again and we eventually left the area.
“This morning, about 300 Arewa tricycle riders came to our office to attack us with cutlasses, guns, and other arms. They broke doors, windows, stole laptops, generators and phones. They also ran away with bikes”.
Coordinator of the Arewa Community on Sales of Tickets, Hashima Abubakar, condemned the youths for violent protest and appealed to them to negotiate instead of perpetrating violence.
In a post on X formerly (Twitter), Edafe said: “They are policemen deployed to quell an ongoing protest against one of the State Taskforce in Asaba pls.”
In another post on X, he said: “There was a violent protest this morning by Okada riders who had an issue last night with the state task force that led to the death of two persons. They mobilized in their numbers this morning, destroying properties and beating people, hence our men were deployed to control the situation before it turns to something else.”
Ministry of Defence on Monday condemned as unacceptable, Thursday’s killing of 16 officers and men of the 181 Amphibious Battalion at Okuama in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta by youths of the community.
Youths of the community killed the battalion’s Commanding Officer, Lt.-Col. AH Ali, two Majors, a Captain, and 12 soldiers who were on a peace mission to the community.
Spokesman of the ministry, Mr Henshaw Ogubike, stated in Abuja that the minister, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, said the perpetrators must be brought to book.
He stated that the Minister of State, Dr Bello Matawalle was in accord with Badaru’s view as he said the killing of the officers and men and a civilian was a matter of grave concern.
“The tragic incident underscores the immense sacrifices made by our servicemen and women in the defence of our nation.
“Their unwavering dedication and courage in the face of danger exemplify the highest ideals of patriotism and duty.
“President Bola Tinubu has directed the Chief of Defence Staff, to investigate the incident to ensure that those responsible for the attack face the full force of the law,’’ Ogubike quoted Badaru as saying.
The minister stressed the unwavering commitment of the ministry to safeguard the security and well-being of all Nigerians.
He noted that no threat to the nation’s sovereignty and stability would be tolerated.
“We assure the Nigerian people that every effort will be made to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“We remain resolute in our pursuit of peace and tranquillity across the nation in line with the `Renewed Hope’ agenda of President Tinubu.
“Our unwavering support for the armed forces and their efforts to maintain peace and stability across the country is not negotiable.
“We will continue to work tirelessly towards achieving lasting peace and tranquillity in every region of our dear country.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, colleagues, and loved ones of the fallen soldiers, as well as with the entire nation mourning this irreparable loss.
“We stand united in grief with all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces during this difficult time,’’ Badaru also said. (NAN)
… Says military authorised to bring perpetrators to justice
President Bola Tinubu has reacted to the killing of officers and men of the Nigerian Army, who were murdered in Bomadi council area of Delta State on Thursday, assuring that their killers will not go unpunished.
Sixteen men of the Nigerian Army, including the Lt. Col. AH Ali, Major Share, Major Obi and Captain Zakari, were ambushed by those identified as Okuama community youths, captured, killed and decapitated.
It would be recalled that, Wednesday this week, the Bomadi Division of the JTF led by Maj. Jaffa embarked on a rescue mission to Okuama community to free a kidnapped youth, Mr Anthony Aboh, an indigene of neighbouring Okoloba community in Bomadi Local Government Area, who was abducted over the lingering land dispute between the two communities.
A civilian source from the military team said, the commander and his men were taken unaware while on their way back to the waterfront after a deadlocked round-table discussion in the Okuama community hall over the kidnapped youth.
Reacting to the incident, President Tinubu, in a statement he personally authored, said the gruesome attack and killing of the officers and men was a direct affront on the nation, saying it would be accepted by nation.
“On Saturday morning, the Nigerian people and I woke up to the dreadful news of the unprovoked killing of our brave military personnel during a rescue mission to Okuoma Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
“The incident occurred on Thursday 14 March, 2024 when our troops, responding to a crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State were ambushed. A Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain and twelve soldiers sadly lost their lives. One civilian was also killed.
“As the Commander-in-Chief, I join all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces to mourn and express my profound grief over the needless death of our gallant soldiers.
“I extend my profound condolences to the families of these fallen soldiers, their colleagues and their loved ones. The military high command is already responding to this incident. The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.
“This incident, once again, demonstrates the dangers faced by our servicemen and women in the line of duty. I salute their heroism, courage and uncommon grit and patriotism.
“As a nation, we must constantly remember and honour all those who have paid the ultimate price to keep our country safe, strong and united. The officers and men who died in Okuama community have joined the pantheon of great men and women who gave their all, with honour, in the service of our fatherland.
“Members of our armed forces are at the heart and the core of our nationhood.
Any attack on them is a direct attack on our nation. We will not accept this wicked act”, the President said.
President Tinubu further revealed that the military high command had been granted the authority bring those responsible for the heinous affront on the nation to justice.
“The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.
“My government will not relent until we achieve peace and tranquillity in every part of Nigeria.
“May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and keep the members of our armed forces safe”, the statement said.
President Bola Tinubu has the condemnned the killing of the some Military personnel and officers during a rescue mission in Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
In a statement he personally signed on Sunday, March 17, the president described the incident as worrisome and needless.
He said: “On Saturday morning, the Nigerian people and I woke up to the dreadful news of the unprovoked killing of our brave military personnel during a rescue mission in Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
“The incident occurred on Thursday, March 14, 2024, when our troops, responding to a crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State, were ambushed. A Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain, and twelve soldiers sadly lost their lives. One civilian was also killed.
“As the Commander-in-Chief, I join all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces to mourn and express my profound grief over the needless death of our gallant soldiers.
“I extend my profound condolences to the families of these fallen soldiers, their colleagues, and their loved ones. The military high command is already responding to this incident. The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.
“This incident, once again, demonstrates the dangers faced by our servicemen and women in the line of duty. I salute their heroism, courage, and uncommon grit and patriotism.
“As a nation, we must constantly remember and honour all those who have paid the ultimate price to keep our nation safe, strong, and united. The officers and men who died in Okuama community have joined the pantheon of great men and women who gave their all, with honour, in the service of our fatherland.
“Members of our armed forces are at the heart and core of our nationhood. Any attack on them is a direct attack on our nation. We will not accept this wicked act.
“The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.
“My government will not relent until we achieve peace and tranquillity in every part of Nigeria.
May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and keep members of our armed forces safe.”
No fewer than 22 soldiers have been confirmed killed by armed men and suspected mercenaries of Okuoma community in Ughelli South council area of Delta state.
The troops, drawn from the 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi, were reportedly on a rescue mission to the community when they were ambushed by their assailants on Thursday.
They had embarked on a rescue mission to Okuoma community to free a kidnapped youth, Mr Anthony Aboh, an indigene of neighbouring Okoloba community in Bomadi Local Government Area, who was abducted over the lingering land dispute between the communities.
The military men were taken unawares while on their way back to the waterfront after a deadlocked round-table discussion at Okuoma community hall over the kidnapped youth, a source claimed.
“We were coming back to our boats after the unfruitful discussion to release the kidnapped victim of Okoloba community.
“Suddenly, there were rains of bullets coming from all directions and some of us managed to escape.
“Many people were killed during the ambush, including a former honourable member from Okoloba community, who reported the matter to the JTF.
“But, the commander and other officers were held hostage and taken to an unknown destination towards the creek opposite the community”, the source stated.
The source revealed that 22 military men had been confirmed dead at Okuoma community. Among them were one Lt Colonel, two Majors, one Captain and eighteen soldiers.
Some the military personnel killed were identified as Maj Shafa, Maj Obi, Capt Zakari and Lt. Col A. H. Ali.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa has directed the immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime.
A statement by the acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier Gen. Tukur Gusau, Saturday, disclosed this, adding that the incident had been reported to the Delta State Government.
Parts of the statement read: “The troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State While on peace mission to OkUOMA community in BOMADI LGA of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March, 2024.
“The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities both in Delta State.
“The reinforcement team led by the Commanding officer was also attacked, leading to the death of the Commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain and 12 Soldiers.”
Reiterating the military’s commitment to “maintaining peace and security in the country,” the statement said “a few arrests have been made while steps in place to unravel the motive behind the attack.”
The lifeless body of the kidnapped Aboh had been recovered floating on River Forcados.
Another source from Okoloba community said, “We found the lifeless body of Mr Anthony Aboh floating on River Forcados near Ayakoromo community, and like other victims, he was blindfolded with hands tied behind his back”.
Efforts to get comments from Okuoma community proved unsuccessful as of press time.
