Allegations of sponsoring killings and communal clashes in the Niger Delta levelled against the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) attracted the attention of the House of Representatives yesterday. The Lower House has summoned the SPDC management to appear before its Committee on Petroleum Resources on Upstream.
The oil giant was alleged to be involved in the series of killings and clashes in the Niger Delta during the late General Sani Abacha regime, especially in Rumuekpe Village, Rivers State.

The summon was sequel to a motion raised by Andrew Uchendu from Rivers State under matter of urgent national importance that the House should investigate the allegations with a view to coming out with the truth.

Uchendu drew the attention of the lawmakers to publications in some newspapers which reported that investigations had revealed that the company sponsored and fuelled crises in the region.

While introducing the motion, he said Shell had been accused of doing too little to develop the communities it has operated including Rumuekpe Village.

The lawmaker maintained that the company has often times been accused of directly funding rival groups in its areas of operation, an allegation for which Shell has always denied.

He informed his colleagues that “despite the glaring fact that a non-governmental organisation and a London-based oil and gas group have, in their recent publications, fingered Shell of directly funding rival groups in the Niger Delta over the years leading to the death of 60 persons and destruction of communities, nothing official has been done to investigate the allegations”.

He, however, urged the House to invite Shell to explain its position as regards the allegation which he described as “very serious”.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, after the motion was unanimously adopted by members, directed the Petroleum Committee to carry out investigations on the matter and submit its report very soon.


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