Five Express /Shebah Oil Company workers held hostage since Sunday by youths of Awoye Community, have been released.
They were late Wednesday, handed over to the State Deputy Governor, Otunba Omolade Oluwateru, by Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, (OSOPADEC) Chairman, Chief Adewale Omojuwa, who said parties to the dispute signed a communiqu� at the end of their meeting.
At the handing over ceremony, representatives of the oil companies, the community and government agencies explained what led to the confrontation. Omojuwa said the youth took the action, following a breakdown in communication between the community and the oil company over payment of royalties, issuance of scholarship and provision of job opportunities.
He said a court injunction restraining oil companies from relating with the community started the imbroglio, adding that the company refused to resume the relationship after the vacation of the injunction. Omojuwa said with the signing of the communique by the parties, implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) could now resume and urged the parties to abide by the MOU.
Apr42008