Shell Women In Rebellion

Shell-owned oil production facility in Nigeria, the Erhiemu oil field, which produces 36,000 barrels per day, was captured by rebelling women of Opherin community in Delta state yesterday.
The facility comprises 24 oil wells and is situated in an oil producing community in Ughelli north local government Delta state.
The women said they took the action because Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) failed to tar their access road.
Earlier this year the community had given the oil company an ultimatum to construct their only road or stop oil exploration and exploitation in the area. Yesterday they mobilized women and youths to take over the Erhiemu flow station, pigging manifold and all the oil wells within the community.
The women and the youths took over the SPDC locations as early as 6.a.m yesterday after chasing away all workers at the locations. There they were cooking, singing and dancing, calling on SPDC management to park and leave their land.
The community president general, Mr. Peter Onovaye said the community had been having discussions with SPDC over the road project until last year December when they were forced to give them an ultimatum to construct the road or leave their community.