Hundreds of angry residents of Boboroku community in Idjerhe Kingdom of Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, marched at dawn on Thursday toward the Shell-managed wellheads located along the old Kpanaga boundary between Delta and Edo states, rejecting what they described as “provocative and false” ownership claims by neighbouring Orogho community.
Chanting solidarity songs and waving placards bearing messages such as, “Orogho does not own any oil well,” “Leave our land,” “We are the original owners” and others, the protesters demanded the renaming of all oil wells in the area to reflect Boboroku ownership.
At the site, community chairman, Hon. Austin D. Inaya, issued a 78-hour ultimatum to the operators.
“The Deputy Governor of Edo came here with convoy, with army, with police, and chased our people away. He said this land belongs to Orogho. Is that correct? No!” he declared, as protesters roared in response.
He added, “Our governor is working on this matter. There is no way intruders will take our land.”
The Community Secretary, Barr. Joshua Okori, reminded Seplat Energy of “what they met on ground when they took over the field,” as women and elders echoed their displeasure.
After delivering their message, protesters submitted a petition to security personnel before marching back to the town hall, their chants rising above the dusty road.
Inside the hall, High Chief Simon Goodluck Okoro, the Unugbrogodo of Boboroku, read the community’s formal protest, accusing the Edo State Deputy Governor of making “false and provocative claims” in comments published on November 14.
“The statements are disparaging and confrontational,” the letter read, noting that the boundary dispute is already before the National Boundary Commission.
The community referenced an incident in April where the deputy governor allegedly separated workers along state lines and drove Delta employees away. “That is not his power,” the letter insisted.
They also accused Orogho of abandoning its petition before the House of Representatives after failing to produce supporting documents.
He added, “The boundary known as Kpanaga has existed since the days of Bendel,” the letter added. “It was Boboroku people who farmed and cleared that land.”
The protest letter further cited Shell and Seplat’s past compensation payments, development projects, and repeated clashes around new drilling preparations as clear evidence that the wells lie on Boboroku soil.
Community leaders also faulted Seplat for what they described as skewed staffing.
“The staff is dominated by Edo people,” the letter claimed, insisting the pattern “denies Boboroku its rights.”
Speaking with journalists, Inaya and other leaders demanded deeper involvement in Seplat’s operations, insisting that locals must benefit meaningfully from oil activities.
“We cannot be landowners only on paper,” one official said.
The protesters later visited the palace of His Royal Majesty, King Monday Obukohwo Whiskey, PhD, the Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, where they submitted their petition for transmission to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other authorities.
