Niger Delta: Protesting Women Disrupt PPMC Operations Over Spillage

WARRI, DELTA March 24, (THEWILL) - Activities of the Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) were halted for several hours yesterday by protesting women who stormed its zonal office in Warri, Delta State.

THEWILL learnt that company’s workers were disallowed entry into the premises by the women who barricaded the main road leading to the company. Although armed troops at the behest of the PPMC later took over the entire area in a bid to disperse the protesters, they, however, resisted the move.

The placard-carrying women were protesting the oil spill, which occurred in their communities since June 6, last year, alleging negligence and insensitivity of the company to the plight of the inhabitants.

The affected communities are Udjevwen and Bolou-Ame, among others, located at the river bank area of the Ubeje and Warri refinery.

Also, residents of five Ijaw and Itsekiri communities in the area alleged that the spill has destroyed their economic trees, aquatic lives and means of livelihood, thus subjecting the predominantly farming and fishing communities to hunger.

Efforts to reach the human relations manager of the company for comments on the development proved abortive as at press time.