On Thursday, a protest by Rumuekpe community members in Rivers State was allegedly disrupted by soldiers. 

The protesters from the Emohua Local Government Area accused four multinational oil companies of neglecting their area despite operating there for about 60 years.

The protesters, comprising men, women, and youths, blocked the entrance of their community, demanding social amenities from Shell, NDPR, TotalEnergies, and Agip. 

They claimed that the oil firms had not improved their living conditions or provided basic facilities for them.

However, their protest was reportedly cut short by soldiers who arrived in six Hilux vans armed with guns. 

The soldiers destroyed the canopies and sound system the protesters had set up and seized about 25 canopies and 2,000 chairs.

The councillor for Ward 8 in Rumuekpe, Bright Green, alleged that the soldiers also arrested two of the protesters, 

“Nobody was shot, but they arrested two of the protesters. They arrested Mr. Godknows and Edward Uka. These are the people they forwarded their names and I do not know the reason for the arrest,” the councillor stated

He appealed to the oil companies to engage with the communities and address their grievances. He said he had been calling on the media to draw attention to the plight of the people who host the oil firms.

According to The PUNCH, the Nigerian Army’s spokesperson for the 6 Division in Port Harcourt, Danjuma Jonah, could not be reached for comment and did not answer calls or reply to text message sent to him.