Women from several ethnic groups (Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri) in Delta state put ethnic rivalry aside and join together to claim better living conditions, proper compensation for the communities living on lands that host oil exploitation and a sustainable means of living for their families. The unarmed women peacefully occupy the gates of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Chevron Nigeria Limited in Warri, Delta State on August 8, 2002.
Ijaw
Ijaw women occupy Chevron's Abiteye flow station
Ijaw women of Gbaramatu and Egbema clans in Delta state protest the socio-economic and political condition of the people by peacefully and non-violently occupying the Chevron Abiteye flow station. They plan to remain there until their demands for employment, microcredit schemes and provision of infrastructure in the two clans are fulfilled. Chevron invites the Nigerian security to get the women to disperse; some of the women are brutalized by the military invited by Chevron.
Kaiama Declaration Proclaimed
More than 5,000 Ijaw Youth gather in the ancient Kaiama Town, Bayelsa state, proclaiming the “Kaiama Declaration” and start peaceful protests against oil corporations for the years of environmental abuse and neglect of the region. The major demand of the youth is ‘resource control and self-determination’. The government and oil corporations respond with violence through the deployment of military troops into the region, targeting the Ijaw communities – Yenagoa, Mbiama, Bomadi, Port Harcourt etc. Many youths are killed by the military.
