Governor Seriake Dickson
An indigene of the host community of Azuzuama who was sent to accompany the joint investigation visit team by the Community Surveillance contractors was also burnt to death in the fire incident.
Sources close to the state Ministry of Environment said, following persistent calls from journalists, an official statement would be issued after a meeting among state Commissioners for Information and Environment with the state Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson.
Meanwhile, a terse text message from the state Commissioner for Environment, Iniruo Wills, simply stated that: “It is a tragedy for us all.”
The state Police Command however in its preliminary report confirmed the death of serving military officer in the explosion.
According to the police, “On the July 9, about 1600hrs, a pipeline exploded when Agip workers were carrying out routine maintenance at Gbaraun/Tebidaba in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. 12 persons were burnt beyond recognition, which included a soldier on guard duty while six other bodies were recovered.
“Four persons were rescued alive and are undergoing treatment while two persons are still missing. The search for the missing persons is ongoing.”
Meanwhile, a group known as the Niger Delta Renaissance Movement (NDRM) at the weekend lamented and called on President Muhammud Buhari over the rising attacks and explosion of pipeline and facilities owned by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), alleging that such explosions were suspicious and should be investigated.
The group announced that reports from the preliminary investigation conducted showed that the multiple explosions at the multi-millionnaira Agip Company oil facility at Ebeocha oil field in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local council of Rivers State is suspicious and should be looked into immediately in the interest of the nation’s economy.
NDRM in a statement signed by its President, Gabriel Elliot and the Secretary, Ebiri Emmanuel, lamented that preliminary investigations indicated that the multiple explosions which were as a result of dynamite detonation may have been coordinated by some elements familiar with the internal workings of the oil facility.
Elliot said: “We considered this as a clear case of sabotage with the sole aim to destroy the multi-millionaire facility and trigger an inferno which destroyed lives and property thereby pitched the oil communities against Agip.
“Those who are behind this incident want to create a situation of insecurity in the area which would ultimately affect exploitation and exploration activities of Agip and hinder its development of its host communities.
“As a group, we are worried that days after this explosion, security agencies are yet to arrest anybody remotely or directly connected to the incident. We consider this unacceptable and therefore demand a full scale investigation and arrest of the perpetrators no matter how highly placed to make them face the full wrath of the law for working against the economic interest of the country.
“We advised the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the security agencies to stop these acts of impunity and rescue the oil industry from vandals, economic saboteurs and disgruntled workers who are out to injure the investments of the oil companies and Nigeria’s economic interest.
“We appeal to Niger Delta youths to allow peace to reign and provide the conducive atmosphere for oil companies to operate in the region. The era of violence and militancy is gone in the region. Under the prevailing economic global realities, now is the time to ensure that oil companies are given the maximum cooperation to operate for the mutual benefit of host communities and Nigeria.”
Source: Thisday
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