Tension is mounting in Ayamasa II, a quiet riverine community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, following the disruption of construction work on the Iseni gas pipeline project by locals who say they were excluded from the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and denied a say in its execution.
In a press briefing, the Chairman of Ayamasa II, Mr. Clement Eniyekenemi, made the community’s position clear: “This crisis is entirely avoidable. Blue Star Ltd simply needs to uphold the law and protect our community’s interests. During the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) review in Ughelli, we protested our exclusion from the project as stakeholders, despite Ayamasa II being an autonomous community directly affected.”
The community has also raised concerns about the involvement of one Mr. Etukuyei Gbenkepreye, whom Chairman Eniyekenemi described as neither a staff member of Blue Star Ltd nor a recognized community liaison officer.
“We urge Blue Star to investigate why his own Oboro community reportedly severed ties with him,” Eniyekenemi said. “His involvement here is not only improper but harmful.”
He added that the then Secretary to the Bomadi Local Government, Barrister Cliff Labo, confirmed Ayamasa II’s stakeholder status during that meeting, and the Minister of Environment’s representative, Dr. Gashau, urged Blue Star Ltd to recognize the community’s legitimate concerns. “But they have refused to listen,” Eniyekenemi said.
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According to locals, the pipeline project—executed by Blue Star Ltd under the NNPCL-Shell Joint Venture and reportedly owned by business mogul Aliko Dangote—spans areas across Bayelsa and Delta States. However, the community said no meaningful consultation was held with them before work began.
Residents say they initially halted construction activities peacefully to press home their demands. But days later, Blue Star allegedly returned to the site with heavy machinery and a military escort, sparking widespread fear among villagers.
“We’re not against development,” said a local youth leader. “But you can’t just roll into our land with bulldozers and soldiers without talking to us. We weren’t involved in the EIA. Nobody told us how this project will affect our farms, our water, or our safety.”
Eyewitnesses said many residents fled into the surrounding forest when armed soldiers arrived with the construction team, fearing violence. Local sources confirmed that tension remains high, with the community now preparing for what some fear may turn into a larger confrontation.
The security agencies—police, DSS, and the military Joint Task Force—are reportedly aware of the situation and working behind the scenes to prevent a violent escalation.
As the situation unfolds, residents of Ayamasa II are calling on the federal and state governments to intervene before the crisis spirals out of control. “Ayamasa II is not a conquered land,” said one community elder. “We want peace, but peace must come with justice.”
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