Tension in Bayelsa Community over arrest of Monarch by DSS operatives over anti-Agip oil protest.

There is rising tension among indigenes of the Agrisaba community in Nembe Local Government area of Bayelsa State over the arrest and detention of the Traditional Ruler, His Royal Highness, Obenema of Agrisaba, King Walter Agri by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) over alleged involvement in a protest against the oil multinational, Agip Nigeria Oil Company (NOAC).

We gathered that angry youths and Elders of the Community had on Friday staged a protest march against the management of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NOAC) over alleged non-payment of compensation over the oil spill, non- payment of contract done for remediation of creek/canal since three year, refusal to award the surveillance contract and clearing of pipe line route to indigenes.

The Agip Oil Company was also alleged to have awarded of security surveillance contract to a non-Indigene, pollution of the oil source of drinking water, the failure to honor the MOU, refusal to build police post agreed 5 years ago, refusal to pay compensation for land acquisition and refusal to demarcate the land to avoid dispute with their neighbors.

The Elders of the Community, in a statement issued yesterday in Yenagoa and signed by Chief Tobin Esau , alleged that the arrest of their Traditional ruler was preceded by armed invasion of the community by Youths and attacks on over 10 indigenes with various degree of injury.

According to the Elders,” The community is a symbolism of peace and tranquility based on the ancient and historic antecedent of our progenitor. The serene nature of the community was distorted after a peaceful protest by the community over the nefarious activities of the NAOC and the total neglect of the community in its developmental agenda on the 6th of August 2016.”

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