Fresh tensions are brewing in Delta State as Kokodiagbene, an oil-rich host community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, has issued a stern warning to Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), accusing the oil giant of fuelling ethnic division and attempting to undermine their ownership rights over the Utulala field, now commonly referred to as the Otunana flowstation.
In a strongly worded protest letter dated June 13, 2025, addressed to Chevron’s General Manager, PGPA in Lagos; the Area Manager in Warri; and the Operations Manager in Escravos, the leadership of Kokodiagbene Community expressed outrage over an alleged attempt by Chevron to register the Otunana (Utulala) field under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as “Abiteye, Makaraba and Utonana Host Communities Development Trust (AMU-HCDT)” in favor of Itsekiri communities. The letter was signed by Comrade Ark Selegha and Gabriel Ukuli, the community’s chairman and general secretary, respectively.
According to the protest letter, Kokodiagbene insists that the Utulala field is located within their territory, just about 5 kilometers from the main community, and has historically been theirs. They allege that the Itsekiri have over time distorted the name from Utulala to Otunana in a calculated move to claim ownership and dominate the associated benefits.
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The community accused Chevron of deliberately instigating division by colluding with some Itsekiri interests to push through a registration process at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) that would falsely legitimize Itsekiri ownership under the AMU-HCDT framework.
“We view this as an orchestrated ploy to disinherit the rightful owners of the Utulala field while presenting a fraudulent narrative to the government and general public,” the letter reads. “Should Chevron proceed with this plan, we will not hesitate to permanently shut down the Otunana flowstation in defense of our community’s rights.”
The Kokodiagbene leadership further accused Chevron of reviving its “divide-and-rule” tactics by allegedly using the registration issue to incite ethnic conflict and promote a staffing strategy that favors individuals from outside their host community.
They emphasized that the community would no longer tolerate such actions, which they described as unjust, provocative, and harmful to peaceful coexistence in the Niger Delta.
“We strongly warn Chevron to immediately cease all registration activities related to the Otunana (Utulala) field under the current fraudulent framework. This is our final caution to avoid the total disruption of operations in our land. A stitch in time saves nine,” the protest concluded.