Trouble brews in Bayelsa as youths shut down oil firm operations

By Timipre Ndoni, Bayelsa

Trouble is brewing in Koluama community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State following a forceful close- down of oil facilities belonging to Conoil Producing Limited by angry youths.

It was gathered the the shut down of the community was sequel to alleged non-implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding with host communities.

A community source who spoke with our correspondent said the shut down facility produced over 30,000 barrels per day.

The angry indigenes of the community, including women, youths, and elders, took security personnel on guard unaware and abruptly shut down the facility.

The protesters were armed with placards of different inscriptions such as “No MoU, No Crude oil exploration”, “Conoil pack and go”, “We are tired of suffering” and “Koluama people are suffering”.

Meantime, the Chairman of Koluama Clan Oil and Gas Committee, Chief Jonathan Amabebe, who spoke with news, added that some of the community’s demands include, clean-up of oil spill sites in the various communities and carrying out medical outreach to communities affected by the oil spills.