By Emma Amaize
WARRI—POLOBUBO (Tsekelewu) Federated Communities in Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, has criticised the arrest of its surveillance supervisor at the Opukeba field, Mr Barry Ebidinana, allegedly by security operatives attached to Chevron Nigeria Limited.
POLOBUBO Advocacy Group led by Mr Paul Toruwei in a statement, yesterday, gave the oil firm a 48- hour ultimatum to release Ebidinana, saying, “This is pure intimidation and abuse of power by Chevron and Nigeria Police.
“On July 18, 2019, some youths from Polobubo community were arrested by Chevron security operatives at Opuekeba platform in the course of their official duty as Pipeline facilities surveillance team, due to the Ipkpalakpalabou Oil well head that was on fire from April 18 to June 30, 2019.
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“Ebidinana, who is the surveillance supervisor at the Opuekeba field was arrested on allegations that are callous and unfounded. Ebidinana is a peaceful and law- abiding son of Polobubo, we therefore, call on Chevron and Nigerian Police Force to release our son without any further delay.
“Polobubo youths are not known for vandalism and destruction of public properties. To prove this further, in the era of the ethnic crisis, Polobubo and Opuama youths were the ones, who secured Opuekeba platform and other facilities with their lives and not even a pin of Chevron properties were damaged or destroyed, yet Chevron keep paying us with a bad coin.
“We are calling on all well meaning Nigerians, Warri North, Delta and Federal Governments and International Community to come to our aid, we cannot stand this oppression any longer,” the group added.