The operations of Nigeria Agip Oil Company have been disrupted in Delta State by protesting women of Idheze community, Isoko South Local Government Area.
They seized the company�s flow station and other oil exploration facilities in the area.
Our correspondent learnt that the women besieged the facilities of NOAC in the area on Wednesday evening, citing alleged failure of the oil firm to honour outstanding agreements with the community as their reason.
The women alleged that the company failed to pay compensations for damage resulting from waste fluid discharge from its operations in the area.
Their spokesperson, Mrs. Mercy Okunwa, alleged that environmental pollution, caused by the operations of NAOC, had resulted in the death of 10 persons and the destruction of aquatic lives of the community.
Okunwa said the agreements reached at a meeting held at the instance of NAOC�s management in Port Harcourt in December 2006 were breached.
She added that the oil firm also failed to heed the directive given by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, ordering payment of compensations to the community.
She said the meeting was the aftermath of the December 19, 2006 protest by the indigenes on the same subject matter. She said the company did not take any concrete step to accede to the demands of the community.
The placard – carrying women barricaded the main entrance to the facilities and barred workers from coming in and out of the area on Thursday morning. When contacted, NAOC�s Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Tajudeen Adigun, said he was on vacation, adding that he was abreast of the development in the company.
But Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, Miss Olabisi Okuwobi, confirmed the report and described the protest as peaceful.