The conflict between Sterling Global and its host community, Obitti, in the Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo State has been addressed by the Imo State Police Command, under the leadership of CP Aboki Dajuma.
This came after the youths of the community staged a peaceful protest against the oil company over alleged negligence, intimidation, and continued detention of one of their leaders, Eugene Nwamgbo.
The protest was staged by a group under the aegis of the Obitti Liberation Council (OLC), alleging that the oil company shies away from meeting its responsibilities.
Leading the protest, Vice Chairman of the Council, Nzubechi Godswill Ossai, told our correspondent that the recent event that warranted the protest was the arrest of the leader of the group, Nwamgbo, who he said was arrested and detained in Abuja while attending a meeting along with other community leaders.
Ossai alleged that it has been the character of the oil company to always use an aggressive approach in addressing community issues.
He urged the oil company to face the realities, focusing on the welfare of the community, mostly in the area of meaningful engagement of the youths and tackling the issue of environmental pollution orchestrated by its oil exploration activities.
In his speech, Secretary of the group, Iheanyi Ohaji, said that the oil company had no intention to develop the community, stressing that gas emission and spilling ought to have been converted to gaslight to generate electricity for the entire community as done in other areas.
He accused the company of not keeping a good relationship with its host.
The CP, while meeting with the community leaders and the management of the oil company, called for peaceful co-existence.
He urged Sterling Global to maintain the MOU reached while working in line with the Petroleum Industrial Act (PIA).
The police boss advised both parties that the best way to go in the oil business was dialogue, even as he promised to signal the force headquarters, Abuja, to negotiate for the release of the detained leader.
In response, the company’s representatives said that they acknowledged the issues raised by the community and expressed willingness to explore collaborative solutions in order to maintain peaceful coexistence.
The traditional ruler of the community, ,Eze Emmanuel Odunze, reaffirmed that the community remained peaceful and appealed for patience from the youths.
He also appealed to the oil company to consider the community’s concerns and work towards building a healthy relationship.
Written By Williams Odunze