Victor Ezeja
Residents of Kapam community, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, staged a protest on Friday morning at the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), over alleged spill of toxic chemical that has polluted the environment.
In a live broadcast on Arise News on Friday morning, protesters mostly women blocked the refinery gate and were seen wailing about the destruction of their farmlands by toxic chemical allegedly released from the refinery.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSome of the protesters claimed that the chemical has affected some children who probably inhaled it. They also said the chemical has killed some of their livestock. They demanded compensation for damages.
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The protesters reportedly blocked the refinery’s gate as early as 6:00 am, preventing staff from accessing the facility. They carried placards with inscriptions such as “Kapam Community in Danger” and “KRPC has Destroyed Our Crops Completely,” and displayed leaves of dead crops from their farms.
In an interview, one of the farmers said he took a loan to buy yam seedlings he planted but all have been destroyed by the toxic emission from the refinery.
Prime Business Africa understands that the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, though not in operation for over a decade, has been undergoing turn around maintenance.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
