By ETOP EKANEM

Ijaw People Congress, IPC, has called on Joint Task Force, JTF Commander, Major-General Debiro, and authorities of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to order Integrated Data Servicing Nigeria Limited, IDSL, to hold talks with Akparemogbene, Oyangbene and Ayakoromo communities in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State over its ongoing data-collection in the area.

National President of the group, Mr. Ekanpou Enewaridideke, in a statement, said that IPC was demanding “an immediate cessation of the data-gathering operation of IDSL, which is a subsidiary of NNPC, because the aggrieved communities are warming up for a legal action against them.

“The ongoing exercise is being embarked upon without consensual discussion with these communities. IDSL claims to be engaged in data collection and gathering in preparation for seismic exploration and we guess this is how they give wrong data to NNPC and later create problems for generations unborn and label the Ijaw as militants, when they agitate for corrective reversal. Must data-collection be carried out without the involvement of the people in the territory?”

IPC urged NNPC to ignore any data collected and given to them for operational activities in the area, alleging that the approach was flawed.

“As a proactive move, the JTF should wade into the matter and stop further invasive desecration of the forests. The company must discuss with the communities before it steps into the area,” the statement added.