Women protest against pollution at Kaduna refinery

Kaduna

Women from the Nissi, Kapam, and Rido communities staged a protest on Monday at the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company over alleged chemical pollution that has reportedly affected their health, farmland, and livelihoods.

The protesters, who gathered at the refinery as early as 6:00 a.m., accused the company of allegedly releasing a harmful chemical in August 2024, which they claim led to widespread illness, destruction of crops, and the death of livestock.

The women’s leader of the Nissi community, Mrs Juliana Abrak, said the chemical emission had rendered farming activities impossible and left many residents sick and hungry.

“We are suffering. There is no food, and we have to go elsewhere in search of something to eat. We have fertile land, but we are too afraid to farm,” she lamented.

She also criticised the company’s alleged failure to engage with the protesters, despite their presence at the premises since 5:00 a.m.

A resident of Kapam, Mrs Kelita Yaguda, recounted her own experience with the suspected chemical exposure.

“They took some of us to the hospital but only gave us paracetamol and ulcer medication. They promised to treat us for a week but only attended to a few people for two days,” she said. Punch