Residents of Kaduna protest the Kaduna Refinery’s alleged pollution of farmland.

Residents of the Kapam village in Kaduna State’s Chikun Local Government Area have protested against the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) for allegedly contaminating their fields and community’s environment.

The demonstrators, who were primarily women, said that the Kaduna Refinery’s chemical leak three days prior had destroyed their crops, killed their animals, and negatively impacted the health of the locals, particularly the women and children.

The demonstrators prevented the Kaduna Refinery’s employees from entering their offices by blocking the main gate with signs bearing a variety of messages.

The women complained that their livelihoods and health were being negatively impacted by the pollution of the air and water.

They also vented their anger at the refinery for not compensating impacted communities and for not putting in place proper safety measures.

They are requesting that the refinery’s management and the federal government act right now to address the environmental risks that the refinery’s operations represent.

Regarding the accusation made by the irate demonstrators, the Kaduna Refinery management has not yet released an official statement.