Edo Community Denies Abduction of Oil Firm’s Barge, Crew Members …intensifies protest over marginalization

By Christopher Odamah, Benin

Kolokolo Community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State today denied abducting a barge belonging to an oil firm, Sahara Enageed Resource Limited, as well as its crew members, just as it intensified ongoing seven day peaceful protest over an alleged marginalization.

This is coming barely six days after masquerades led the Community in a peaceful protest with their neighbours, Ikara and Ajatiton Communities.

A leader of Kolokolo Community, Mr. Benson Ayokotse, who spoke with newsmen narrated how the Community’s leaders were invited by the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army 19 Battalion in Koko alongside with Oil firm for a meeting.

He said the officials of the Oil firm were absent at the meeting but after three hours, “The intelligence called on Sahara Enageed Resource Limited and they refused to come and later, the Commanding Officer (CO) asked us to go back until Sahara Enageed is ready.”

Ayokotse said his Community will not relent until Sahara Enageed Resource Limited listens and considers its plight, urging the Federal Government to ask Sahara Enageed to come to its aid.

“Moreso, we are not fighting against any of our host communities. We are fighting against Sahara Enageed Resource Limited who is taking our God given resources to punish us, deprive our children from going to school,” he added.

“Since NPDC hand over us to Sahara Enageed Resource Limited, let them come and tell the whole world that they have given scholarship to any of our children. It is the responsibility of Sahara Enageed to meet with their demands”.

Also, the Youth President-General, Comrade Sunny Etchie said, “This is the thug boat that Ajoki Community people alleged that was kidnapped” as pointed towards it.

“Right here now, this is the thug boat and all crew members as at the day before yesterday said, they are tired and have gone home and appealing to Sahara Enageed Resource Limited to settle with the Community that they are going home,” he said

According to him, “We are on peaceful protest since 6 days ago. This is the 6th day. We sleep here, eat here and cook here until Sahara Enageed Resource Limited answers us.”

Etchie also denied any plans by Kolokolo Community to blow up pipelines belonging to Sahara Enageed Resource Limite stressing, “There is nothing of such.”

While noting that some Ajoki Community leaders summoned them before the Joint Task Force (JTF) Etchie said, “We are not leaving here until Sahara Enageed answer us. We stand on this even if it will take us one year.”

Meanwhile, the border Community within Koko, headquarters of Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State have also vowed not to live the creeks where the oil firm operates until their demands are met just as they denied kidnapping a badge as well as crew of the oil firm.