No fewer than 1000 protesters predominantly youths and women in a peaceful protest shutdown Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Rig in the oil rich Egbemo-Angalabiri/Agbidiama communities of Bayelsa State.
In the early hours of January 10, 2022, speedboats conveying the community indigenes with various placards with inscriptions “Shell stop dealing with Kenneth Oboku”, “Stop giving our wealth to strangers”, “Stop dealing with expired GMOU board and constitute a new one now” amongst others stormed the facility and shut it down.
The protesters led by a notable businessman from the community, Comr. Benikama Ebimotimi Alex, decried the alleged divide and rule tactics of the Dr. Jude Ebibokefie’s GMOU Board whose tenure has since expired over a year ago.
Benikama Alex, stated that community indigenes are shortchanged and not carried along regards the GMOU agreement.
“We are here for a total shut down of Shell Rig until our demands are meant. We cannot be living in abject and debilitating poverty in the midst of plenty while few individuals who are not members of Egbemo-Angalabiri community cart away all jobs, contracts, thereby depriving us of development” he said.
“We are not leaving this Rig until our issues are addressed. Nothing is happening here today. We are not fighting govt or anyone. All we want is for Shell to show us the GMOU they sign with our fathers thereafter we sit down and dialogue.”
“We cannot continue to sit down while our common wealth is being plundered by total strangers” Benikama said
Also speaking with Journalists, a woman leader from Agbidiama community, Mrs Ebikaboere Peresomene said the high rate of unemployment, poverty, joblessness and other social vices in the community is becoming unbearable.
She decried the purported high level corruption and evil conspiracy of Dr. Jude Ebibokefie and Kenneth Oboku.
Attempts by Journalists to speak with Shell Management was unsuccessful as top staff at the Rig refused to speak to press men.
As at the time of filling this report, the Rig was fully occupied by the protesting community members who vow to resist any attempt to disperse them with their blood until their grievances are looked into and resolved amicably.
Source: GreeNews
