An oil-bearing community in Rivers State, Rumuekpe in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Wednesday staged a protest against Renaissance Africa Energy (formerly Shell) over neglect and deprivation despite years of operations in the community.

The Guardian gathered that the community lacked water, electricity, and access roads despite their huge natural resources being operated by Shell.

The aggrieved protesters, numbering about 1,000, barricaded the community junction along the popular East-West road and entrance routes to the firm’s manifold plants.

According to the King of Rumuekpe, HRH Eze Christian Amadi Evekwuru, over the years, Shell operated the area with disdain, showing no value for the host communities.

He lamented that the people lacked water, electricity, and access roads, adding that no youth of the community were employed or empowered by Shell.

Regrettably, he said, the new firm, Renaissance, has entered the community with similar high-handedness, marginalisation, and being controlled by one man, but he vowed that his community will not allow such ill-treatment anymore.

“Whenever Shell wanted to do contracts, they would block our people, block the youths from getting some privileged opportunities, jobs, and now, the new company that took over came and promised heaven and earth, but have not done anything. Yet they are entering our community to work, they have been deceiving us; that’s why we shut down their operations. They can’t enter the land without the knowledge of the community people.”

Initially, the Monarch vowed that his people would occupy the facilities in the next one week until the firm addresses its demands, but after a brief meeting with management of Renaissance, who assured that within 48 hours they will address the lapses, King Amadi reduced the protest period to 48 hours but vowed that the people will return to the protest ground on Friday if they fail.

He said, “I have met with them; they have given us 48 hours to address our needs, but should they fail, we will return to the roads.”

However, some members of the community alleged that the disruption of the peaceful demonstration by the police in the area was.

General Youth President of Rumuekpe, Ovunda Umeka, decried that the community is like a forest due to years of neglect and marginalisation.

Another protester, Chidiatu Dimkpa, said they were abandoned but have now decided to take their destinies into their own hands.

“Shell failed on the agreement they had with our community and abandoned us; now the new company wants to follow the same line but we won’t allow them,” he stated.