By Igoniko Oduma - Yenagoa
A group, the Niger Delta Renaissance Movement (NDRM), has blamed penultimate week’s multiple explosions at the Nigeria Agip Oil Company’s multi-million naira oil facility at Ebocha oil field in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State on what it called “dynamite detonation coordinated by some elements from some contracting firms that are familiar with the internal workings of the oil facility”.
The NDRM position was contained in a statement signed by its President, Gabriel Elliot, and the Secretary, Ebiri Emmanuel respectively and made available to newsmen in Yenagoa at the weekend.
It would be recalled that the explosion which occurred late June had caused panic among the residents of Ebocha and neighbouring communities as it shook buildings and destroyed means of livelihoods in the area.
NDRM said its investigation showed that the multiple explosions “were a result of dynamite detonation coordinated by some elements from some contracting firms that are familiar with the internal workings of the oil facility.”
It added that “We considered this as a clear case of sabotage with the sole aim to destroy the multi-million naira facility and trigger an inferno that would consume lives and properties and thereby pitch the oil communities against Agip”.
The group while condemning the attack said that sabotage against the economic interest of Nigeria abound in the Niger Delta, stressing that it was high time the Federal Government and the security agencies moved to halt the ugly trend.
It expressed worry that many days after the life-threatening explosions, the security agencies were yet to arrest anybody remotely or directly connected to the incident, adding that even Agip had yet to respond promptly to save lives of people and demonstrate corporate social responsibility.
“We consider this unacceptable and therefore demand 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”, NDRM said.
It also appealed to President Muhammad Bukhara to direct the security agencies to be proactive and rescue the oil industry from the grip of pipeline vandals, economic saboteurs and disgruntled workers that were out to destroy Federal Government’s investment.
While sympathising with the management of Agip for the loss it had incurred from the explosions, NDRM also called on youths in the region to allow peace to reign and provide the conducive atmosphere for oil companies to operate.
“The era of violence and militancy is gone in the Niger Delta. Under the prevailing economic global realities, now is the times to ensure that oil companies are given the maximum cooperation to operate for the mutual benefit of host communities and Nigeria”, it added.
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