by Kumo Amgbare
The people of Kokodiagbene community, host to the Otunana (Utulala) oil field, in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have condemned the divide-and-rule tactics of Chevron Nigeria Limited in the community.
The community urged the company to desist from such tactics for the interest of peace and harmony.
The people specifically raised concern over the company’s alleged “connivance with the Itsekiri ethnic group to register the oil field under the Petroleum Industry Act at the Corporate Affairs Commission as Abiteye, Makaraba and Utonana (AMU-HCDT), for Itsekiri benefiting communities”.
This was contained in a protest letter dated June 13, 2025 jointly signed by Comrade Ark Selegha and Gabriel Ukuli, Chairman and General Secretary of Kokodiagbene community, and addressed to the CNL General Manager, PGPA, Lagos; the Area Manager, Warri; and the Operations Manager, Escravos respectively.
They warned that they “will not condone this evil act which will no longer be tolerated and allowed to continue”.
“To avoid a total shut down of Chevron operations in the area, we condemn in strong terms this anomaly and injustice meted on the good and peace loving people of Kokodiagbene community”, the letter stated.
The people of Kokodiagbene community insisted that they “own the oil field which is located in the community and is less than 300km from the main town”
