Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The people of Orogho community, Ugu region in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, have protested over what they called a systematic exclusion from benefits tied to oil exploration activities within their territory.
The agitation, led by the Ugu Youths for Developmental Change (UYDC), has drawn renewed attention to a long-standing dispute over oil wells historically linked to the community but allegedly reassigned to neighbouring communities in Delta State.
Speaking at a press briefing in Benin City, the group said the crisis stems from developments following the 2012 divestment of onshore assets by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to Seplat Energy.
According to UYDC, SPDC commenced operations in Orogho in 1994, leading to the discovery of four oil wells located within the community, which was at the time recognised as the host.
However, the group alleged that after Seplat assumed control, moves were made to reassign Well 4—historically and geographically tied to Orogho—to Eboborokun and Okunu communities in Delta State, a development that triggered resistance.
The matter was subsequently referred to the Edo State Ministry of Lands and Survey, where a boundary verification exercise reportedly confirmed that Well 4 lies more than 2.5 kilometres within Orogho territory.
Despite this finding, UYDC claimed that additional wells discovered in the area—Wells 5 through 11—have largely been attributed to neighbouring Delta communities, effectively excluding Orogho from host community benefits and consultation processes.
“This has created a profound sense of injustice among our people,” said Comrade Monday Osabueki-Omazenoghadue Osemwenkhae, coordinator of UYDC.
He further alleged that some protesting community members were invited to Seplat’s base office in Sapele under security presence and warned against pursuing the matter, a claim that could not be independently verified.
The group said it has submitted a formal protest to the Edo State Government, calling for urgent intervention to address what it described as territorial misrepresentation and disregard for established survey findings.
Among its demands, UYDC is urging the Federal Government to compel Seplat Energy to recognise Orogho as the rightful host community. It also called on the National Boundary Commission to conduct an independent investigation into the dispute.
The group further appealed to the Edo State Government to clarify Orogho’s administrative status and question why oil operations within its territory appear to prioritise communities outside the state.
UYDC also called on Seplat to suspend ongoing and planned operations in the disputed area pending a final resolution.
While maintaining that protests have remained peaceful, the group warned that continued neglect could escalate tensions.
The dispute highlights broader concerns about host community rights, boundary delineation, and resource governance in Nigeria’s oil-producing regions, where similar conflicts have historically disrupted operations and strained relations between companies and local communities.
As of press time, Seplat Energy had not issued an official response to the allegations.
