Rumuekpe Women take case to God

"Since we returned from exile in November last year, we have been begging the government to help us rebuild our community, we have been begging the oil companies, we have been begging the Local government, but they have all failed us. That is why we have decided to take our case to God. You can see that there is no roof anywhere to provide shelter for us. we believe God will not fail us” Mrs Queen Omanu, a woman leader from Rumuekpe lamented to ERA/Oilwatch Africa team amidst tears on Saturday, June 5, in Rumuekpe after one of their prayer and fasting sessions.

Rumuekpe, an oil bearing community in Emohua LGA of Rivers State, is the poster child of the ugly and bitter side of oil and the extent to which oil politics could destroy a people and their community. To them, oil cannot be anything better than a curse. The community which hosts 4 oil companies, namely, Agip, TotalfinaElf, Shell and Niger Delta Petroleum Resources, NDPR was engulfed in a fratricidal war which began sometime in March 2005 over who controls revenues that accrue to the community in form of royalties, compensations, petty contracts among others. The war was executed by the youths of the community, with support from mercenaries including cult gangs from different parts of the state as well as security operatives. The ferocious war led to the total destruction of the community of about 8 villages and the sacking of the community.

The environment was not spared as pipelines were blown up; leading to massive oil spills, affecting the rivers and farmlands in the community. There has been absolutely no attempt to carry out cleanup operations. Thousands of community people were killed as the different factions in the conflict carried out reprisal killings and wanton destruction of properties of their brothers, sisters, parents and other relations, while lucky ones managed to escape into exile in other communities both within and outside the state. While the war lasted, many of the brightest minds in the community were trailed to their places of exile, including Port Harcourt, where they were murdered.

While the traumatized people of Rumuekpe lived in fear and remained in exile for about five years the oil business went on unhindered and unconcerned about the wasting of an entire generation of people. Oil companies under heavy security cover provided by soldiers and other security operatives attached to the Joint Military Task Force, JTF continuing drilling, extracting and piping oil out of the community as if nothing has happened. This heavy security taskforce failed to stop the conflict, preferring instead to work with any faction that had the upper hand in the conflict at any point in time. “Their brief it appears only covered ensuring that oil continues to flow through Rumuekpe which a critical junction in the flow of oil from the oil majors to the export terminal” says Rev Humphrey Nsirim who was instrumental to the fasting and prayer sessions being organised in the community in search of healing for the tragedy that befell them. The community had remained deserted until peace efforts initiated by Rev Nsirim succeeded in convincing the fighting youths to lay down their arms and embrace peace. That effort created a rare opportunity for the people to enter their community again after over 5 years without fear of being molested or killed. In November last year, a symbolic return into the community by the exiled people was organised. “We are happy that eventually, we are still able to set foot in our community. We never thought it could be possible again. May God bless Pastor Nsirim who helped us” a woman who simply identified herself as Ruth told this publication.

But although the exiles are now free to return home, they have long found out that they have no homes to return to. In fact, it was gathered that after the symbolic ceremony which marked the end of the years of exile, they all went back to where they came from since there was no place to sleep. The entire community is overgrown by weeds, but determined to return and rebuild their homes, the community has made several appeals to the government of the State led by Rotimi Amaechi, and the Local Government led by Emeka Woke, as well as to the 4 oil companies operating in the community to assist them rebuild the community, but there is no reprieve yet. Reverend James Uchenwo disclosed that at a point when the governor decided to give them audience, he only promised to reach out to them after seeing one chief Sampson Agbaru, a former SSG of the State. Chief Agbaru, an Ikwerre chief was said to have visited the community about three times, but nothing has come out of the visits. As for the governor, he has never set his legs in Rumuekpe.

It was gathered that the only assistance they have received since they started returning was sumo pumps provided by Agip in the community to provide water for them. The failure to have the community rebuilt has remained a great burden to the traumatised people. “We suffer greatly as the failure to help us rebuild our community, has continued to remind us of our hopelessness and the insensitivity of the government and the oil companies” Reverend James uchenwo, a retired pastor of Assemblies of God and father of five lamented. They have resorted to prayers, believing that God would hear their cries and wipe their tears one day. When it is time for prayer and fasting, they would gather at the town hall, a story building, which also bears scars of war. The building has no roof, parts of the walls have fallen, but it is the only building with a covering against the elements. There are of course no windows and doors, but it provides shelter for those who may decide to sleep in the community. Some people who still have some blocks standing in what used to be their houses sometimes sleep in them like that. “Sometimes when I come in here, I would force myself to sleep. But it is not enjoyable. One day, as I was sleeping, rain started falling. I had nowhere to run to, so I stayed under the rain until morning when I removed my clothes, squeezed them to reduce the water on them, cleaned my body before going out again”, the pastor said.

We now want to take the matter to God. The prayer is to ask God to help us, to touch the heart of people to help us. I am willing to come back home. I am not happy, where I am living now I am owing house rent of N72,000 and there is no money to pay. I am not happy staying outside, that is why I have been participating in the search for solution. I am 3rd in rumunkita family. I have wife and 5 children. I want God to intervene and come upon me, to save me. I also want the govt to come and build the house.” Like Pastor James and indeed other members of the community, Queen Amanu, leader of the prayer group wants God to intervene in their situation. “We are praying that God will help us”, she disclosed, saying that for five years, since 2005, they had been in exile. She further lamented that when they assemble for prayers, they sometimes sleep in the open place, under a tree for about 5 to 7 days.” I want God to bring us home. The government is not responding to us. I am not happy seeing my community like this.”

But after seeing the brutalised face of Rumuekpe and the tears of the wailing women, Mike Karikpo, coordinator of Oil watch promised that ERA and Oilwatch would work hard to ensure that the community gets the attention it deserves. Mike who was in Rumuekpe with Kentebe Eberiador, also part of the Oilwatch Secretariat, to observe the 2010 World Environment Day, lamented over the situation of the community especially as it has been abandoned uncared for. While the people of Rumuekpe have decided to take the case to God, Oilwatch thought it wise to also draw the attention of the world to the plights of Rumuekpe. He said that it is time for the world to hear their story and ask the difficult questions no one has deemed necessary to ask. Why nobody is paying attention to the cries of the traumatised people?.

“We share your burden and passion for peace in Rumuekpe. We share your passion for the redevelopment/rebuilding of Rumuekpe, we share your passion for your children and young people to come back and reunite with you. And live together like before. That is why we decided to observe the World Environment Day with you today. We will use the opportunity to highlight the problems of Rumuekpe and let the world hear about what is going on in Rumuekpe. Let them also see what Rumuekpe looks like today. Let the govt and governor of rivers state see it. Let the oil companies operating in this place also see what the community looks like today. Not just the companies in Nigeria, but their headquarters in their various countries, France, the Netherlands, Britain. Let the world ask questions, why has this community become desolate,” the environmental rights activist told the people of Rumuekpe, adding that “We will work hard to ensure that the community is rebuilt. We cannot leave you the way you are. We will reach out to those whose activities in your community exacerbated the tensions in your community” he concluded