A major oil production site in Ogidigben, Warri, with a daily output capacity of 28,000 barrels, was forced to suspend operations on Wednesday as protesting Itsekiri locals shut down the facility.
According to a broadcast by TVC, a large gathering of community members converged on the site, blocking access points and halting all activities in a bid to press home their demands.
The demonstrators raised concerns about the long-standing impact of oil drilling in their area, citing environmental harm, neglect of local infrastructure, and inadequate economic returns to host communities.
Though specific grievances were not formally laid out during the protest, sources close to community leaders say the Itsekiri people are calling for the government and oil operators to resolve enduring issues, including land compensation and better developmental support.
With the facility now offline, the disruption could affect Nigeria’s overall oil output, increasing the urgency for authorities and stakeholders to engage the aggrieved community and avert further tensions.