Attacks On Okomu Oil Palm As Threat To Investments In Edo And Nigeria

Production of Palm Oil, no doubt, is one of the productive activities Edo State is known for so much that the Federal Government was unarguably encouraged in 1976 to establish the Okomu Oil Palm Company before converting it to a Private Limited Company (PLC) in 1990, ostensibly to accentuate the industrialization of the product that is in nearly everything. Without any scintilla of exaggeration, the product is in close to 50% of unpackaged and packaged products we find in delicacies prepared in virtually every household, supermarkets, everything from pizza, doughnuts and chocolate, to deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste and lipstick. It is also used in animal feed and as a biofuel in many parts of the world.

As gathered, Okomu’s ambition is to develop responsible tropical agriculture as shown in its commitment to produce palm oil and rubber. Since its establishment over 40 years ago, Okomu has always dedicated itself to the production of palm oil and rubber in a way that benefits all concerned, including, but not limited to its employees, smallholders and communities helping them build a better life for future generations. Thus, the leadership asserted in one of its Statements made available to the public, says. “We strive for high performance agricultural, industrial, environmental, social and ethical management of our resources to ensure the Company’s long-term success, while enhancing rural livelihoods and natural resource management.

The company’s leadership has also stated that its commitment to the development of her employees and communities is directed towards the sustainability and conservation of the planet and transparency with all its actions geared to the creation of value for all while ensuring the economic viability of the company, its operations and stakeholders in the long term, and Nigeria at large.

To ensure the implementation of its commitments, the company has certified its activities and developed the necessary policies and standard operating procedures (SOP’s), which all its stakeholders must comply with.

Mr. Ben Esiegbe, an Agropreneur, said the benefits that are inherent in the business activities of the Oil Palm industry may not be gained by Nigerians, Edo State; being its immediate environment and Nigeria in general as the company has periodically been attacked by criminals. He said, “Many benefits that are derivable from the project may not be achievable as the company has been periodically attacked. Throwing light to the benefits, he said “Oil Palm is an edible vegetable oil that comes from the fruit of oil palm trees, the scientific name is Elaeis guineensis. Two types of oil can be produced; crude palm oil comes from squeezing the fleshy fruit, and palm kernel oil which comes from crushing the kernel, or the stone in the middle of the fruit. Oil palm trees are native to Africa but were taken to South-East Asia just over 100 years ago as an ornamental tree crop. Now, Indonesia and Malaysia make up over 85% of global supply but there are 42 other countries that also produce palm oil.”

To add voice to Esiegbe’s view in this context, it will be recalled in this context that in 2015, specifically in February, that unknown gunmen reportedly killed two workers of Okomu Oil Palm Plc. The gunmen, as reported, allegedly invaded the oil palm plantation of the company where about seven workers were working and shot at them, killing two of them, while the other five escaped with bullet wounds.

It was also gathered that prior to the foregoing attack that a large portion of the plantation was set ablaze by the unknown hoodlums over alleged refusal of the company management to ‘settle’ them, even as the news was rife that several workers were before then attacked in the past but the management usually kept mum about the incidences.

It can also be recalled that in mid-2020 that suspected gunmen killed two of the company’s unarmed security guards to which the management of the company pledged N3 million reward for any information that will lead to the arrest of the suspected gunmen.

The company’s Managing Director, Dr. Graham Hefer, who made the pledge in Benin described the unknown gunmen as ‘cold blooded assassins’, and commiserated with surviving personnel of the security firm who protested the killing of their colleagues by criminals who came to steal palm fruits and rubber cup lumps from the company.

Hefer added that the death of the security personnel was a big loss to the company and urged the protesters to volunteer useful information that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of the dastardly act, and assured that the management would work together with the company and the security agencies until those responsible for the act were apprehended and brought to book.

As if the attacks carried out so far on the Oil Palm Company were not enough, Fidelis Olise, its Communication Officer on Friday, last week, issued a Statement that the company has suffered more attacks on its plantation by suspected “terrorists”. According to him, the attacks were carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In another message, same day, Fidelis said “The hoodlums set ablaze another part of Okomu rubber plantation”, explaining that that was the fourth attack on the company in less than three weeks.

The oil palm company said the attacks pose a great threat to the current and future investments in Edo State and Nigeria as a whole, especially the agricultural sector.

“The time has come for the Buhari and Obaseki Administrations to take concerted and decisive actions against these terrorists, otherwise investment in the agricultural sector will be greatly discouraged just as was the case with pipeline vandalization in the past, with the resultant negative effect on livelihoods and revenue accruing to both State and Federal Government coffers,” the statement said.

It urged the police to immediately undertake a thorough investigation and bring all those linked to the heinous attacks to book, thereby showing that they are a force to be reckoned with, and reinstating confidence in their ability to fight crime.

“The army too should be deployed to ensure that this area of Ovia South West LGA is safe for all concerned and terrorists and cultist groups are routed from this area for good,” the company said.