Tension escalated on Monday, 15th December 2025, as youths, women and elders from Abigborodo community in Warri North Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State staged a protest over what they described as their continued exclusion from benefits and employment opportunities linked to the operations of Seplat Energy in the area.
The protesters also vowed to halt Seplat’s operations if their demands were not addressed.
The protesters, who converged near Seplat’s operational corridor, accused the oil and gas company of failing to recognise Abigborodo as a host community despite years of activities on land they claim belongs to them. They said repeated appeals to Seplat Energy and relevant government authorities had not yielded any positive response.
Speaking to newsmen during the protest, the woman leader of Abigborodo community, Mrs Patience Ologho, said the action was not the first by the community.
According to her, Seplat Energy has continued to operate on their land without engaging Abigborodo youths, women or elders in employment or community development programmes.
“Our demands have been presented several times to Seplat and to the authorities, but there has been no response,” Ologho said. “For over five years now, no single person from Abigborodo has benefited from Seplat’s operations. We want peace and a fair settlement because land in dispute cannot be enjoyed by only one community. If nothing is done, we will be left with no option but to stop Seplat from working on our land.”
Also speaking, the Abigborodo women wing secretary, Mrs Felicia Koma, maintained that the land where Seplat is currently operating belongs to Abigborodo community. She recalled that women from the community had earlier protested along the river, where Seplat officials allegedly promised to get back to them.
“They never did,” she said. “That is why we are here again. We are peace loving people, but we are ready to shut down their operations until Seplat Energy answers us.”
Another indigene, Miss Oyibodudun Ajemijereoma Gladys, said the protest was driven by Seplat’s refusal to recognise Abigborodo as a host community. She added that the community’s demands were simple and clear.
“Seplat should recognise Abigborodo as one of the host communities and employ our people. If they continue to ignore us, we will not allow them to operate freely here,” she said.
However, a counter protest was also observed from Oton community in Sapele Local Government Area, where demonstrators were seen carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Here nor be Warri North,” clearly expressing their claim that the area of Seplat’s operation falls within Oton land.
One of the Oton protesters, Mrs Rita Unyiadibute, alleged that residents of Abigborodo had been stopping the Oton community members from accessing their farmlands and from carrying out the limited jobs allegedly given to them by Seplat Energy.
“They want to collect our jobs from us, and we will not agree,” she said. “Abigborodo belongs to Warri North LGA. They should go back to where they came from. The place Seplat is working belongs to Oton community.”
She appealed to the Delta State Government to intervene urgently and bring a lasting solution to what she described as a long-standing land dispute between the two neighbouring communities, warning that continued tension could disrupt farming and economic activities.
Abigborodo and Oton are riverine communities located within the oil producing belt of Delta State, an area historically known for boundary disagreements and competition over host community status.
Abigborodo, a predominantly Itsekiri speaking community in Warri North LGA, is largely dependent on fishing, farming and small-scale trading for survival.
Oton community, situated in Sapele LGA and largely Urhobo/Okpe speaking, also relies heavily on farming and fishing, with deep ancestral ties to the surrounding land and creeks.
Community leaders and observers note that land disputes between both communities predate the arrival of oil companies but have become more intense with the presence of extractive activities, which often come with employment opportunities, contracts and community development projects.
As of the time of filing this report, Seplat Energy had not issued an official response to the allegations from either community. Residents and stakeholders continue to call for dialogue and timely government intervention to prevent a shutdown of oil operations and to ensure lasting peace in the affected communities.
