Youths from the oil-rich Ogulagha community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State have shut down the Forcados Terminal over alleged “slavish tendencies” from the operator, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
Sources said that the youths who shut down the terminal on Friday was led by the President of Ogulagha community youths, Comrade ThankGod Iyoragba.
After forcefully shutting down the facility, they barricaded the main entrance of the Forcados Terminal, locking the gate. They also stopped all entry or exit of SPDC staff or visitors.
The protesting youths then embarked on a dance procession, armed with bells, across the town, drawing applause and support from residents of the community.
President of Ogulagha community, Comrade Iyoragba, told journalists that the Terminal would remain locked until their demands were met.
He listed some of their grouses to include the urgent reinstatement of community workers allegedly sacked by SPDC in 2020 and the payment of outstanding salaries owed the said workers.
Other demands of the Ijaw youths include an end to inaccessibility to the management of SPDC by Ogulagha community executives, the disparity between community workers and ‘strangers’ who access the facility by air in the guise of COVID-19 pandemic, among others.
Meanwhile, the Ogulagha Kingdom branch of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has called on the management of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and other leaders in the area to swiftly wade into the protest at the Forcados Terminal to avoid graver development.
This was contained in a statement signed by Comrade Samuel Ebiarede Uyadongha, Chairman, and Comrade Keneware Emmanuel, Information Officer of IYC, Ogulagha.