Posted by From FEMI FOLARANMI, Yenagoa on
Tension in the Niger Delta heightened on Monday as one youth from Nembe was killed as soldiers guarding the Obama flow station owned by AGIP in Nembe fired shots to disperse youths from Okoroma on a protest march.
...One killed as soldiers, youths clash
Tension in the Niger Delta heightened on Monday as one youth from Nembe was killed as soldiers guarding the Obama flow station owned by AGIP in Nembe fired shots to disperse youths from Okoroma on a protest march.
This is even as the Movement of the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, believed to be holding hostage four oil expatriates are adamant on their demands, insisting that unless the Federal Government meets its demands to release former governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Alhaji Mujahid Asari- Doukubo, the kidnapped oil workers would not be released.
According to Daily Sun investigations, the youths numbering about ten decided to stage a protest to the Obama flow station over the non- payment of compensation claims due the Okoroma community.
Checks revealed that the soldiers on sighting the youths and not wanting a repeat of the experience at Benesede flow station where soldiers were killed, opened fired on them.
One of the bullets was said to have hit one of the youths, whose identity could not be immediately ascertained. However, he did not die immediately but later lost the battle for life as others scrambled for their safety and abandoned him.
Already, tension is building in the area as youths are said to be mobilizing to carry out a reprisal attack.
Police sources in Yenagoa confirmed the incident but said the full report is yet to reach the headquarters.
At the AGIP office in Port- Harcourt, the management was locked in a crucial meeting when Daily Sun called.
An official who refused to mention his name said the company would soon issue a statement after on-the-spot assessment of the flow station.
Sources close to the Bayelsa State government said government would issue a statement as soon as it gets the whole picture of the incident, adding that one youth has been confirmed dead.
Meanwhile, as the Nigerian military begins a manhunt for the kidnappers and their hostages, members of MEND have warned against the consequences of any military action.
Some of the youths recruited by the government to establish contact with the kidnappers have told government that the lives of the hostages could not be guaranteed if the military goes ahead with the use of force to get the hostages.