Bloodbath as 3 civilians killed in another Rivers’ community military invasion

Tension brewed in Okobe community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, following the killing of three persons by security men, allegedly attached to a pipeline surveillance team of Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC.

Congress learned that the security team also burnt down about three houses in the area during the operation in the Okobe community on Friday and Saturday.

A close source said the community had been under fire by the surveillance team led by one Mr. Brown, narrating that over 10 people from the community had been arrested.

Reacting to the ugly incident, a lawyer, Tuduru Ede, SAN, who hails from the community, condemned the development, urging Agip to call its surveillance team to order.

Ede lamented that the invasion had affected economic and social activities in the area, adding that many persons have deserted the community.

He stated: “I am calling on Nigeria Agip Oil Company to ensure that its security operatives and its contractors do not go to Okobe to be harassing community indigenes. They should not go there to indiscriminately arrest anybody at all in the name of looking for people indulging in illegal oil bunkering.

“There are no Agip pipelines in Okobe town. There are no fuel dumps there. Okobe indigenes and traders are going about their lawful businesses. But this current situation where Agip and its contractor go into that community every day to arrest people is becoming too alarming. Agip should be prepared to face the trouble its contractor is doing.

“Instead of policing their pipelines, they come to Okobe to burn houses, property, and cars.
Agip is using the guise of illegal oil bunkering to harass the people. As we speak, some people have deserted the community.

“It is enough. The directors in Agip should stop it immediately. We are not in a military regime. They have arrested more than 10 persons. They killed two persons on Saturday. Is it in the community that contractors should come and show any form of force?”

The senior legal practitioner said the community would take steps against the firm if the proper thing was not done immediately, noting that the people now live in fear over the development.

Meantime, when contacted, a Senior official of the firm, who did not want to be mentioned declined to comment on the development.

Source: Vanguard