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Land was legitimately acquired, says firm
From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
The people of Emu-Ebendo community in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State have protested against what they described as the alleged forceful takeover of their ancestral land by an oil prospecting firm, Axxela Oil and Gas Company.
The protesters, comprising community leaders, elderly women, and youths, vowed to resist the alleged invasion of their land with the last drop of blood in their veins.
Armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, they insisted that the land in question legitimately belongs to the community and that they did not sell it to any company.
Some of the placards read: ‘Emu-Ebendo is a peaceful community’, ‘We are saying no to Axxela operations on our land’, ‘Axxela cannot take our land from us by force’, ‘Axxela must go, we do not need you on our land’, ‘Axxela, we cannot be intimidated, leave our land’, ‘Axxela using military to collect our land’, among others.
However, in a statement, Axxela Oil and Gas Company said it was committed to resolving any perceived community issues through dialogue.
The company’s Corporate Communications Manager, Omolara Shitu, noted in the statement that the land in question was acquired following rigorous due diligence and in full compliance with all relevant legal and regulatory frameworks.
The company maintained that the land it acquired has legitimate titles, including a registered deed of assignment with the state governor’s consent in 2024.
Regardless, a community leader, Chief Eni Augustine Enum, lamented the sudden takeover of their land, saying that they will resist it.
‘We don’t let go of what is ours when it comes to land and other things.
‘This land, known as Oluji, has been our land; we have been working peacefully on it until a community we brought in, called Obodougwa, came to see that there is oil in this place.
‘But this community, which had been under us, challenged the ownership of the land while our people challenged them legally until we got judgement at the Supreme Court,’ he claimed.
Chief Enum said that Axxela bought the land from unauthorised persons and brought bulldozers to the land with military support.
‘We quickly reacted by coming out peacefully too, to reach out to all the people that matter to advise Axxela to leave the land without further delay.
‘We don’t know who is giving them powers; we work within the ambit of the law. That is why Emu-Ebendo decided to call for this peaceful protest. We are not for violence—you can see chiefs, men, women, and youths,’ he added.
The community spokesperson, Agbanishi Josiah, expressed anger over the way and manner in which Axxela Company forcefully entered the land, insisting that ‘we will not allow it because Axxela cannot come with infiltrators and take over our land, never’.
The Chairman of the Community Development Committee, Sunday Chukwuka, and the immediate past secretary of the community advised Axxela Company to do the needful if the company is genuinely interested in doing business in the community.