Protesters from Azama and Inikorogha communities in the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have alleged harassment at the entrance gate of the Nigeria Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) Limited by some residents of Ubeji, who insisted that they cannot hold a protest in their area, over the former's peaceful demonstration of prolonged power outage and failure by the NGIC to pay the indigenous contractor responsible for powering their communities.

The incident which occurred on the morning of Wednesday, October 28, 2026, led to some of the protesting women and men, including the Chairman of Azama, Comrade Layefa Ikpidi, being assaulted.

The protesters, comprising elders, women and youths, had barricaded the NGIC gates to press home their demands bearing placards with various inscriptions such as: "NGIC Give Us Light," "Azama and Inikorogha, We're Tired of Darkness, Give Us Light," "NGIC Pay Our Contractor" and "We're Tired of Broken Promises," and chanted, "Nigeria Gas, we need light," as they vowed not to leave until their demands are met.

Addressing the press, Mr. Ikpidi said the communities have been without electricity for months because NGIC has refused to pay the indigenous contractor.

"The reason why we are here is because of our light [electricity]. Since they gave this light to our indigenous contractor, it is more than a year, no payment, nothing. We have written a lot of letters, nothing has been done. That is why we are here. If they will not respond to us, we are not going anywhere," Ikpidi declared.

He also alleged that asides the attack from some residents of Ubeji, security operatives had initially fired gunshots to scare the protesters away.

"They want to make us scared, to run away so they can do whatever they want to do. We, the people of Azama community, we are not afraid of them. Even if they like, let them shoot. We are here for our rights," he added.

Also speaking, Azama community woman leader, Chief Mercy Gbenekama, said the contractor had been using his personal funds to procure diesel to power the communities but could no longer sustain it.

"Since over one year they never pay our contractor. The contractor uses his own money to buy diesel and give us light. Now he says he doesn't have money again.

"We don't have light for almost six months. We did not come to fight. Let them pay our contractor and give us light. They are shooting gun, that will not concern us. If they want to kill all of us, let them kill us here," she lamented.

On his part, the Chairman of Inikorogha Community, Elder Capt. Williams Ubebe, accused NGIC of endless promises, noting that, "This contractor has not been paid for over a year and so he has no money to supply diesel. We have no light for almost six months. When we tell them, they say they are coming, they will pay him, and they didn't pay. It is promise and fail always," he alleged.

He stressed that the communities, as hosts where gas pipelines pass through, should not be made to pay for light or live in darkness while gas is transported through their backyard.

"They are drawing gas at the backyard of our communities but we don't have light. This is their duty. I am appealing to our governor to talk to these people, pay the contractor and give us light. If they refuse to respond, something will happen," he warned.

Meanwhile, on the attack on the peaceful protesters, Mr. Ikpidi said he has reported the matter to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further handling.

As at the time of filing this report, NGIC management had not officially responded to the protest, while security operatives remained at the scene to maintain peace and order.