Don’t brand us militants, community warns

By Emma Arubi
WARRI—YOUTHS and chiefs of Labobulouseigha autonomous community in Burutu local government area of Delta State yesterday said that they should not be branded as militants, as they were merely fighting for their rights from Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) which operates in their community.

They also maintained that NAOC violated the agreement it had with the community in the area of employment and award of sub-contract, explaining this was the reason they disrupted the company’s operations in the area.

The community, in a statement issued by Pere Bakumo and others, called on the chiefs and elders of neighbouring Oyangbene community to caution their wards against unguarded statement capable of dragging both communities to the battle field.

The community leaders remarked that the NAOC Grangbene Deep A location project was predicated on an agreement that 16 job spaces would be granted to them, while sub-contracts like speed boats, tug-boats, security, labour, barges and so on would also be made available to them.

They also expressed regret that with the company entering the second phase of the job, it has not fulfilled any of the agreements reached with them.