Hundreds of natives of RumuIshi-Ovu family in Rumuewhor Community, Odegu clan, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers on Wednesday 12th November,2025 protested over alleged illegal acquisition of land, unfair treatment,non-implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR by Sterling Oil Exploration $ Energy Production Company Ltd and sealed the entrance of the company with palm tree fronds(leaves) and wooden casket.
The protesting natives comprising of women, youth and elderly men carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Disregard for dialogue”, “Public Health Hazard”, Exclusion of RumuIshi-Ovu from employment, demanded that the company vacate their land.
Chairman of Rumuishi-Ovu family in an interview with Journalists said “we are the owners of the land the company collected.They are not giving us our right .That is why all of us came out here since the company is not recognizing us.
“We don’t want this company since they are not recognizing us”
Representative of the Women,Mrs Blessing Wokoma said “As we are here, we women, are angry because our children are not working.We have food we are dyeing of hunger.
“This company must go.Our husbands, children are unemployed, but there is company in our land”.
Acting Youth President of Rumuishiovu family, Godswill Chilechukwu in an interview with Journalists said “For over three years Sterling Global Oil Exploration Co. Ltd.has been occupying our land.We don’t know how they came into this place.I remember about three years ago, they approached the family that they saw something on our land, expecting them to return as to agree on a particular thing, on something with the family but we never saw them again.
“They disappeared.We are unemployed.No job, Nothing.Instead of seeing the family, the principal landlord, they only see the large community.I don’t know where this kind of thing happens.We are being tempted to act .So I don’t know why we should be suffering this.So we are saying, if Sterling Global is not ready to negotiate with the family, to come to a roundtable discussion with the family of Rumuishi-Ovu, let them pack their loads and leave our land.
“Can you imagine last January, we were here to share this land?This was the place that we are meant to share and farm on.We are unable to farm on this piece of land.
“Every other families in this community went to their own lands and shared their lands.Now we have been denied of the farm, produce which we would have gotten from this piece of land.Yet no employment, no health care services.We are angry.But now we have said, enough is enough”.
The Secretary of Rumuishi-Ovu family,Mr Enyindah Chizam Okem in an interview with Journalists said
“Today we decided to embark on a peaceful demonstration.It might last more than 24 hours.It might last up to 48 or even one week.
Because for the past three years Sterling Exploration Limited, SEL has been in this particular land.How they appeared here we can’t tell.
“We are talking about case of illegal acquisition or illegal lease of land.They are using a minimum of 140 plots of land here aside that of access road and right of way,yet we are yet to see anything.We have written to sterling to engage them and see if we could sit on the roundtable and talk.The last time I heard from them was on 28 June.We are still trying to talk with Sterling.It is obvious that Sterling is greater than Nigerian authority.
“This is our land.We have given all we have.So what we are saying is simple.Sterling should engage us.We want to know how they entered here.We want to see the money.
“Then for three years running we don’t have the host community development trust set up.We don’t know what stage they are,when you write they will not talk .We are law abiding citizens of this country.We must see Sterling and talk with Sterling before we leave here.Except so, no operations will be here.We are prepared that these people will leave this place.Let us get other companies to come and do this job”.
As at press time, two representatives of the company who declined giving journalists their identities were in a meeting outside the the facility gate with some representative of the community.
Source Revelation Agent