A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) over the weekend lamented what it described as environmental injustice meted out to an oil-bearing community, Ukoro-Utip, in Ibeno LGA of Akwa Ibom state.
HOMEF regretted that in the 21st century, oil companies are still flaring gas with no measures to contend with an outburst of oil spills in the ocean and these actions have impacted negatively on the livelihoods of the locals.
Speaking during community enlightenment with fishermen and farmers at Okoro Utip Community Hall, the Project Lead of HOMEF, Stephen Oduware, lamented that the oil companies have refused to remedy the sad condition of the people of the community.
He stated that the oil firms operating in the community thrive in devious antics of “blackmail, intimidations and divide and rule system among the locals to dissuade them from fighting for their rights.”
This is even as he recalled the incident where the community was militarised when the people attempted to protest against persistent gas flaring and non-employment of their youth and women in the companies.
He stated that if the people had marched with one voice, the oil companies would not have succeeded in intimidating and scaring them away.
