There was security breach in the sleepy Koluama community of Southern Ijaw Local Government area of Bayelsa State following the invasion and shutting down of the Chevron Oil Platform by youths over the refusal of the company to pay adequate compensation for January 2012 KS Endeavour rig fire disaster in the area.
Niger Delta Herald gathered that the armed soldiers guarding the Oil facility ,identified as the Chevron's North Apoi platform,were taken by surprise by the irate youths.
The youths,from the thirteen host communities, stormed the offshore facility on Sunday at about 11am and were yet to vacate the facility at the press time.
The elders and chiefs from the Chevron host communities had in a meeting held late last month had warned that failure by the company pay compensation and carry out mitigation measure to restore the devastated environment, would lead to shut shut down of the entire Funiwa oil field.
The host communities comprising Koluama I &II , Sangana, Fishtown, Ezetu I & II, Forupa, Ekeni, Bilabiri, Amatu, Bisangbene and old Ekeni are protesting among others the alleged refusal of Chevron to pay compensation for the January fire outbreak at the offshore rig which lasted about 46 days with its attendant environmental, health and economic damage.
The youths noted with regret the refusal of the company to pay adequate compensation for the alleged colossal environmental devastation that has kept their people in pain, sickness, poverty, hunger and death of some of the natives.
"The deliberate refusal of Chevron and relevant authorities to carry out environmental impact assessment and mitigation has brought misery to our people.
"The drill rig explosion is the cause of the ocean surge which had wiped away several of our communities, destroyed properties worth billions of naira and consistently hindered our lifestyle," a community source said.
The youths, who are demanding shoreline protection for the troubled communities, according to the Secretary of Koluama II Comrade Leghemo Ebrasin Stephen, resorted to taking over the facility due to failure of the company carry out mitigation measure to restore the devastated environment and pay adequate compensation to the impacted communities.
Source:http://www.nigerdeltaheraldonline.com/coverpage/157-youths-invade-chevron-oil-facility-over-compensation
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