At least 300 workers and contractors working with Chevron in the fighting-torn Niger Delta region were evacuated on Wednesday from the company’s oil platforms, according to the reports of the Lagos based evening P.M newspaper.
This followed fresh plans by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to bomb Chevron facilities.
The militant group has been targeting Chevron facilities in the wake of the hostilities between the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) and militants since May this year.
Sources at Chevron confirmed Wednesday morning that officials of the multi-national oil corporation held a meeting on Tuesday during which they resolved to evacuate the personnel and contractors working with the company.
It was gathered that Chevron officials reportedly got hint that MEND is planning fresh attacks on its facilities this week and has to act fast to safeguard the lives of the workers.
The affected workers were said to have lined up at Chevron’s yard in Escravos to take part in the formalities for their evacuation.
They were later airlifted from the Escravos airfield to Ozubi airport in Warri where they were expected to make their journey to their various destinations.
The workers were reportedly told before their departure from Escravos that they would be recalled when the situation in the region normalizes.
The MEND has issued a quit order to all oil workers in the region ahead of its operation code named Hurricane Piper Alpha.
The group has since started the operation with the bombing of Chevron flow station at Otunana last week and another one on Monday this week at Abiteye in Delta State.
The spokesman of JTF, Rabe Abubakar, has been denying claims by the MEND that it has been bombing Chevron facilities, saying it was all propaganda by the group and should be ignored.
Jun182009