Hundreds of protesters from the Kapam community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State blocked the entrance to the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company on Friday, demanding compensation for damages caused by a toxic chemical discharge from the refinery.
The protesters, mostly women, who began their demonstration at dawn, carried placards and displayed dead crop leaves, alleging that the chemical discharge had destroyed their farms, killed their animals, and posed a significant threat to their health.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as: “KRPC has completely destroyed our crops”, “KRPC has poisoned us with toxic chemicals”, “Kapam Community in danger: KRPC’s actions are devastating us,” “KRPC has ruined our lives. We will not tolerate this!” among others.
Rose, a mother and protester, fought back tears as she described the devastating impact of the chemical discharge on her community.
“Our children are suffering because of the negligence of KRPC. They inhaled the toxic chemical and now they are lying in the hospital, fighting for their lives. We can’t afford to lose them.
“We demand justice and compensation for our suffering. The refinery must take responsibility for their actions and ensure that this never happens again,” she said.
A distraught woman protester pleaded with KRPC to address the community’s plight. “We’re worried about our health, but we have no access to medical care. Our food is contaminated, and we’re struggling to survive. KRPC needs to step in and provide us with the necessary assistance. We can’t do this alone.”
Community leaders estimate that the chemical discharge, which occurred on Tuesday, has resulted in financial losses totalling millions of naira.
They alleged that the refinery has neglected the host community, citing a lack of essential services such as schools, hospitals, electricity, and basic healthcare facilities.
A community leader, Jatau, expressed the community’s frustration: “We have endured years of neglect, but this latest incident has pushed us to the breaking point.
“We demand comprehensive compensation for our losses and immediate action to mitigate the environmental and health impacts of the refinery’s operations.”
As of the time of filing this report, the management of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) has remained silent on the protesters’ demands, and has yet to address the media or provide a statement regarding the situation.
