Women from the Nissi, Kapam, and Rido communities gathered on Monday at the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) to protest alleged chemical pollution that has affected their health, farmland, and livelihoods.
The protesters assembled at the refinery premises from 6:00 a.m., accusing the company of releasing a harmful chemical in August 2024.
They said the emission caused widespread illness, crop destruction, and livestock deaths.
Mrs. Juliana Abrak, women’s leader of the Nissi community, said the pollution made farming impossible and left residents sick and hungry.
“We have fertile land, but we are too afraid to farm,” she said, adding that the company had failed to engage with the protesters despite their early presence at the site.
Mrs. Kelita Yaguda from Kapam described the health effects of the exposure. She said some community members were taken to the hospital but only given paracetamol and ulcer medication.
“No medical tests were conducted, and only a few received treatment for two days,” she added.
Yaguda also raised concerns about worsening food insecurity and rising desperation, saying some children had resorted to stealing due to hunger. She noted that fewer than 50 people out of over 500 affected received any form of assistance.
Mrs. Lydia Moses, another women’s leader from Kapam, said KRPC officials had promised compensation following damage assessments conducted in December, but no support had been provided.
“Our crops have failed, livestock have died, and some women have suffered miscarriages,” she said.
The protesters demanded urgent action from KRPC and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd to address their health issues and compensate affected families.
As of the report’s filing, KRPC had not responded to the protest.
NAN
