The protesters emphasized that their community has not shown hostility towards Chevron or other firms in Ekpan. However, they arrived early in the day, threatening to disrupt Chevron's operations, which resulted in workers being stranded both inside and outside the company's premises.

Some of the demonstrators accused Chevron of violating the Local Content Act, which requires companies to hire a certain percentage of their workforce from host communities. The protestors' actions reflect a growing frustration over perceived employment discrimination and a demand for Chevron to honor its obligations under the law.