Drama as aggrieved youths reportedly blocked the entrance of the multinational company in Rumubiakani, Port Harcourt in protest against sacking of 11 indigenous contract workers at the premises of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Monday, Igbere TV reports.

The youths who are residents of four host communities Rumuozelu, Oginigba, Rumuomasi and Rumubiakani said that the decision of the oil giant to lay off 11 indigenous contract workers from the communities left them without any form of income for the past 5 months.

Igbere TV also learnt that the youths arrived well prepared with cooking pot, firewood, plates and set out to prepare food in anticipation of a long stay.

One of the organizers of the protest and Vice President of Rumuozelu Youths Association, Chinedu Ogwutum said that the youths decided to stage the protest to express their displeasure over the action of the company.

According to Ogwutum, SPDC had cited dip in revenue as reason for the sack of their kinsmen. But the youths are not buying it.

“What is happening here is as a result of the members of the community that were dropped from work and we are not happy about it. They have been at home for the past 5 months without any salary. About 11 of the workers from this community were dropped, including the youth president. They used to work at the pipeline on contract. We have tried to discuss with them but there has been no resolution till today. The only reason they gave was because of the state of the economy,” he said.

Ogwutum also lamented that SPDC has not deemed any graduate from the four host communities qualified to be employed as staff.

“We are the host community and there is no Shell staff among us. People from other communities are still working at the same pipeline our own workers were dropped from. This is injustice,” he said.

However, calm was restored after leaders of the protesters met with some management staff where the youths issued a week ultimatum for the reinstatement of the 11 sacked indigenous workers or an even bigger protest will be held next week.

daddytime:
Make dem settle una youth leadership first, dem go throw una under the bus abandon ship one time.

nony43:
They sacking the indigenes when so many Northerners are occupying different positions there

nony43:
They sacking the indigenes when so many Northerners are occupying different positions there

nony43:
They sacking the indigenes when so many Northerners are occupying different positions there

November1857:
Northerners and yaruba's! That why south south governor's is asking oil films headquarters to relocate from lagos to thier host states ! �

Lipscomb:
The only place that sense should be stay in your sticking head was filled up with hatred. No wonder you couldn't write a simple sentences.

November1857:
Northerners and yaruba's! That why south south governor's is asking oil films headquarters to relocate from lagos to thier host states ! �

SmartProf:
Is that how to protest? I'm only seeing people handling empty take away packs and some of it on the floor, and not the food being reported to be cooked. Their grievances need to be channeled in a more organized way else it will be assumed that they gathered there as vigilante members.

November1857:
Foolish Yoruba muslim! I am not Ibo, am from South south. You ain't better than me...