Residents and indigenes of Mmahu, Egbema and adjoining communities in Ohaji/Egbema local government area of Imo State have vehemently protested the incessant killing of their sons and daughters by trucks that convey crude oil for Sterling Global Oil Company across the communities.
It was gathered that aside pollution and other forms of environmental degradation, several fatal accidents that led to loss of lives including that of a nursing mother whose child died four (4) days later and a 28 year old man, many residents of Mmahu and Egbema have sustained various degrees of injuries and amputation “yet the management of the company has done nothing to address the situation or ameliorate the pain and loss suffered by the victims and their families respectively”.
They expressed disgust that the company resumed operation shortly after the death of the nursing mother and the 28 year old man without showing any concern or assuaging the feelings of the families or the community as regards the painful and colossal loss.
It was also gathered that the State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma whose convoy was assaulted by youths of the area early this year because of the continued neglect of the oil company had visited Mmahu over the persistent and fatal road accidents, “yet, the company has neither taken any positive steps to address the situation nor done anything to assuage frayed nerves”.
They called on the government and relevant authorities to prevail on Sterling Global Oil Company to adopt the standard global practice of transporting crude oil through pipe lines instead of inflicting pain on people or wasting human lives unnecessarily.
