Tejiri Ebikeme,
COMMUNITY leaders from two Delta oil communities have cautioned youths in the areas against pipelines vandalization, assuring Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) of the protection of its facilities from vandals.
In an interview, Godwin Olufemi, a community leader from Benikrukru Community and Humphrey Bibogha (JP), a community leader from Kenyangbene community, all in Warri South-West Local Government Area of oil rich Delta State warned youths in the two communities to desist from pipelines vandalization or be ready for unpleasant consequences.
The communities’ leaders enjoined all youths in the two oil rich communities to be patriotic by protecting Chevron facilities in the areas, declaring war against all trouble makers in the areas.
The Benikrukru Community leader, Godwin Olufemi said that “It is very disturbing that some of our youths are still vandalizing pipelines belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) at this time when they are supposed to be protecting them and other government property in our various communities.”
Olufemi added, “We want to make it known to our youths that leaders of both communities are no longer going to tolerate the pipelines vandalization any more as this is giving us a bad image, enough is enough. You will face the law if you are caught vandalizing pipelines.”
“No pipelines vandalization should occur again in our various areas, if it happens again, we are going to fish out those involved and hand them over to the law enforcement agents,” Olufemi stated.
He also added, “We are law abiding citizens and we will remain so. We want to reassure Chevron that we are committed to the protection of its facilities from vandals in our various communities”.
On his part, Humphrey Bibogha (JP), a community leader from Kenyangbene community held that; “Pipelines vandalization is a serious offence and all those involved should desist as we are not going to spare any effort to fish out those bad elements bent on tarnishing our reputation; we need peace in our various communities and we need to safe guard against pipelines vandalization.”
He enjoined youths in the two oil communities to continue to protect CNL facilities in the areas, saying that “We the leaders of Benikrukru and Kenyangbene communities want to tell Chevron that we are very sorry for what have been happening in the area and we want to assure the company that it will not happen again as we have put machinery in place to check vandalization of its facilities in our various communities.”
Humphrey Bibogha (JP) also said “We need Chevron and Chevron needs us too. The relationship that has been built over the years between Chevron and the two Communities (Benikrukru and Kenyangbene) must be sustained. And we are reassuring the company that we will do everything possible to protect its facilities from vandals and other bad elements even in the face of threats to our lives.”
