The operations of the American oil firm, Chevron Nigeria Limited, suffered further setback in the Niger Delta region on Tuesday as Ijaw youths occupied its Otunana flow station in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The youths reportedly dislodged the security agents and CNL workers in the oil location before occupying it.
The fate of the security agents and the oil workers in the location could not be ascertained before press time.
Our correspondent could also not confirm if anybody was injured in the encounter and it was not clear if the security agents forfeited their service rifles to the invaders. The flow station produces 6,000 barrels of crude oil per day before Tuesday’s development.
Findings by our correspondent further revealed that the Ijaw youths, reportedly from Otunana and Kokodiagbene communities in Warri South West Council, were protesting alleged failure of CNL to settle outstanding claims over oil spillage from its operations in the area in 2006.
It was gathered that the youth took the action to compel CNL to recognise Otunana and Kokodiagbene as impacted communities by the spill.
A reliable source in CNL informed our correspondent that the aggrieved villagers besieged the oil location as early as 10am in 15 speed boats.
The protesting youths were yet to vacate the facility as at 7pm on Tuesday.
CNL’s General Manager, Government and Public Affairs, Mr. Femi Odumabo, who confirmed the report in a telephone interview with our correspondent, said the youths went to the facility in anticipation of negotiation on the oil spill.
Odumabo confirmed that the protesters were still occupying the flow station as at Tuesday night.
“These people (Ijaw youths) forcefully occupied the place because they want to negotiate with us on the Abiteye spill of 2006. They came from Kokodiagbene and Otunana communities.
“The Otunana flow station is one of the flow stations closed down in Abiteye fields last week and it has not been re-opened, it produces 6,000 barrels of crude oil per day.”
Odumabo said the management of his company had established contact with the youth leaders and expressed optimism that they would be prevailed upon to vacate the flow station.
On the fate of the workers, Odumabo said, “Once we perceive threat to their lives, we will evacuate them.”
Work however resumed at Warri offices and clinic of Chevron on Tuesday morning, hours after protesting Itsekiri youths vacated the scenes.
The aggrieved youths, who seized the offices and clinic of CNL, located along NPA Expressway, Warri, in the early hours of Monday, vacated the areas at 11pm on Monday.
The youths, numbering about 1,000, left for their various riverside communities after a meeting between their leaders and officials of CNL.
The meeting resolved that 60 of the protesting youths be employed by CNL within two weeks.