Tension in Bayelsa Community over arrest of Monarch by DSS operatives over anti-Agip protest

BAYELSA: There is rising tension among indigenes of the Agrisaba community in Nembe Local Government area of Bayelsa State over the arrest and detention of the Traditional Ruler, His Royal Highness, Obenema of Agrisaba, King Walter Agri by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) over alleged involvement in a protest against the oil multinational, Agip Nigeria Oil Company (NOAC).

Leadership gathered that angry youths and Elders of the Community had on Friday staged a protest march against the management of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NOAC) over alleged non-payment of compensation over the oil spill, non- payment of contract done for remediation of creek/canal since three year, refusal to award the surveillance contract and clearing of pipe line route to indigenes.

The Agip Oil Company was also alleged to have awarded of security surveillance contract to a non-Indigene, pollution of the oil source of drinking water, the failure to honor the MOU, refusal to build police post agreed 5 years ago, refusal to pay compensation for land acquisition and refusal to demarcate the land to avoid dispute with their neighbors.

The Elders of the Community, in a statement issued yesterday in Yenagoa and signed by Chief Tobin Esau , alleged that the arrest of their Traditional ruler was preceded by armed invasion of the community by Youths and attacks on over 10 indigenes with various degree of injury.

According to the Elders,” The community is a symbolism of peace and tranquility based on the ancient and historic antecedent of our progenitor. The serene nature of the community was distorted after a peaceful protest by the community over the nefarious activities of the NAOC and the total neglect of the community in its developmental agenda on the 6th of August 2016.”

“The protest was based on the following issues non payment of compensation over the oil spill, non payment of contract done for remediation of creek/canal since three year, refusal to award the surveillance contract and clearing of pipe line, award of security contract to an Ibo man, pollution of the oil source of drinking water, the failure to honor the MOu ,refusal to build police post agreed 5 years ago, refusal to pay compensation for land acquisition and refusal to demarcate the land to avoid dispute with our neighbors .These were the reason for our mass protest .”

“The community has not benefited any thing substantial from the said company to justify its enormous contribution in terms of crude oil and gas supply production. The community was invaded by armed youths with dangerous weapons and unleashed violence on the entire community on the same day the protest was embarked upon. The armed miscreant that invaded the community were engaged by a contractor working for Agip to provide security in the power park in the community.”

“ Our properties were destroyed and some of our youths were severely injured as a result of gun shot and axe and machete deep cuts. The community was still nursing the pain of the said invasion the next bombed shell fell on the community. The King of the community  His highness Walter Agri was arrested by men of the department of state security service on the 7th of August 2016 in the night around 10pm at Omoku Agip quarter in a commando like manner.”

“We wish to condemn the barbaric manner and treatment that was visited on our king. It is a fact that the Mammam Lawal  Daura led DSS has no regard and respect for traditional institution in Ijaw land. Has the DSS arrest any village head, district head ,or an emir in the North state like Bronu ,Yobe ,Zamfara ,Kaduna, Adamawa as result of the activities of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen ? Why did they arrest the king over peaceful protest by the people to express their displeasure over the total neglect?”

“Are we back to the days of military dictatorship were the dreaded Decree 4 was used to silence critics? Are we back to the days were companies provide arms to groups to unleashed terror on perceived critics of the company activities?  We wish to state that we can not be intimidated by arrest and detention by the now dreaded disease called DSS led by Mamman Daura. It is our constitutional right to embark on peace protest in our community to express our displeasure on the activities of the company that are detrimental to our collective existence as a people.”

“We urge the DSS to concentrate on their traditional role and not to engage in act that will portray the institution as another gestapo police set up to harass innocent people .We call on the DSS to arrest those bandit that using dangerous weapons to unleashed violence on the community . We condemn the continuous detention of our king Walter Agri and called for the immediate and unconditional release from the DSS”.