By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—Bayelsa State communities’ elders and youth leaders have condemned the rising wave of attacks on crude oil bearing pipelines by suspected oil thieves operating in the creeks of the state.

Rising from a meeting, yesterday, in Yenagoa, tagged ‘CDC Chairmen Forum’ with participant drawn from the Bayelsa Agip Swamp Area Oil Producing Communities, the elders and youth leaders, described as worrisome illegal bunkering activities, pipeline vandalism and the attendant loss of lives and despoliation of the environment and charged security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.

Among those present at the meeting were the community development committee chairman of Olugbo Kingdom, Sabi Morgan, CDC chairman of Akakimama community of Okoroma clan, Imiebi Martins and Jonathan Appah, CDC Chairman of Ogboinbiri community.

The meeting condemned the rising attacks on oil facilities and activities of illegal bunkerers, lamenting that the very existence of the people revolves around the already fragile environment.

“Attacks on pipelines are impacting negatively on the environment and the revenue profile of the state,” the forum said, noting with sadness the recent pipeline explosion along the Clough Creek-Tebidaba trunkline, operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company at Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state in which 13 persons lost their lives as work was ongoing to clamp a damaged section of the pipeline.

The forum called on all stakeholders to accord the oil bearing communities the deserved attention since they sustain the economy of the country.

The forum said: “Cases of sabotage against the economic interest of the country abound in the Niger Delta and it is high time the Federal Government and security agencies move to stem the tide before criminal elements destroyed the country’s oil investment.”