BREAKING NEWS: Tension In The Creeks As Community Youths, Women Shut Down Shell Rig In Bayelsa.

Comrade Benikama Alex

"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, contract and thereby depriving us of development." Benikama Alex 

Palpable tension has engulfed the oil rich Egbemo-Angalabiri/Agbidiama communities of Bayeksa state as youths, women numbering over 1000 on a peaceful protest, have shut down Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Rig in the community. 

Protesters in speed boats

According to reports by our reporter, Oghorobada Stanley, speed boats were sighted in the early hours of January 10, 2022, conveying indigenes of the community, armed 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. 

Pix shows the residents protesting at the Shell Rig

The protesters, lead by a notable business man from the community, Comr. Benikama Ebimotimi Alex decried the 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 indigenes of the community are shortchanged and not carried along, as against the GMOU agreement.

Another Speed boat Loaded With Protesters

"We are here for a total shut down of Shell Rig until our demands are met. 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, contract and 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 government or anyone. All we want is for Shell to show us the GMOU they signed 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.

Women, Youths Protesting

Mrs Ebikaboere Peresomene

Also speaking with journalists, a woman leader from Agbidiama community, Mrs Ebikaboere Peresomene stressed that the high rate of unemployment, poverty, joblessness and other social vices in the community is becoming unbearable. 

She decried the 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 filing this report, the Rig was fully occupied by the protesting community members who vowed to resist any attempt to disperse them with their blood until their grievances are looked into and resolved amicably. 

 ..... More details later.