By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa- Following the rising tension in the riverside community of Peremabiri in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State over the deployment of gunboats and the alleged cases of harassment by soldiers, the community has petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan warning of the deteriorating security situation in the area.

The community also called on the National Security Adviser, to urgently intervene in the matter.

The deployment of the soldiers along the Diebu creek flow station to assist the two dredging companies working in the area, it was learnt was influenced by the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC.

The elders of the aggrieved community, weekend, accused  Shell of causing tension with the deployment of gun boats and soldiers to protect the two dredging companies, with alleged cases of extortion, destruction of business activities, illegal bunkering and near rape of a female indigene of the community.

The leaders of the community, including the former member of  Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Mr. Eris Paul and Chairman of the Community Development Committee, CDC, Mr. Dickson Perebode accused Shell of neglecting the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed with the community.

In the petition, the community said that Shell and the Joint Task Force, JTF should be held responsible for any crisis in the area.

The community said though the existing peace in the area was achieved with the effort of the people, the leaders and the state government, the action of Shell and the soldiers may destroy it in a few days if not checked.

They said: “Since 1959, the company signed an agreement with us and pulled out when crisis entered the area. But now that we had achieved peace and a new agreement that brought them back for work, they are repaying us with attacks, beating, and intimidation and near rape. We want a complete implementation of the agreement with the community.”