Oil multinationals and their service companies operating in the Niger Delta have scaled down their operations after Wednesday�s gun duel between Ijaw militants and troops of the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Restore Hope.
Already, movement to the field locations and escort supply convoy in the region, especially from Warri to Escravos, have been suspended following the latest violence in the region.
Specifically, an American oil-servicing firm, Wilbros Nigeria Limited, which was billed to mobilise to Escravos for the construction of pipelines for the Escravos Gas Project 3 on Thursday, abruptly cancelled the movement.
Our correspondent found that Wilbros� management tentatively fixed the movement to the site of the EGT3 for Tuesday, in anticipation that the problems might be solved before then.
Four naval personnel, inducing a commander, were killed by the militants who ambushed a security team escorting supply convoy of Chevron Nigeria Limited at Chanomi Creeks in Warri South West Local Government Area of the state, on Wednesday night.
The militants impounded 11 vessels, including two gunboats of the JTF.
Findings by our correspondent revealed that the management of the oil multinationals and their servicing companies were gripped by fear in the wake of the Wednesday�s bloodbath.
Consequently, our correspondent gathered that all escort from Warri to Escravos were suspended by the oil multinationals, especially the CNL, on Thursday pending the resolution of the face off between the JTF and the militants.
Investigation by our correspondent at 93 Battalion Headquarters of JTF on Sunday in Warri, revealed that no oil firm had contacted the security outfit for escort, four days after the incident.
A reliable source in CNL, Warri, said on Sunday that the management of the American oil giant has decided to put escort convoy to Escravos on stand-by until sanity returned to the creeks of Warri and its environs.
�The management is not ready to toy with the lives of the workers, that is why it suspended movement of logistic items from Warri to Escravos until further notice.
The management also believes that the lives of the security agents are precious hence it has not approached the JTF for deployment of personnel to accompany its convoy to Escravos, since the incident of last Wednesday.
�We will commence full operation again once the problem is settled, we place high premium on security of lives and property in CNL,� added our source who asked for anonymity.
Our correspondent reported that some Escravos-bound vessels were anchored at the jetty of CNL in Warri on Sunday due to the latest security situation in the riverside areas of the states.
The General Manager, Government and Public Affairs of CNL, Mr. Femi Odumabo, could not be reached for comments before press time on Sunday, as his mobile phone consistently went to his voice mail.
However, Commander of JTF, Brig.-Gen. Alfred Ilogho, said that the oil multinationals and their service companies had not contacted the agency for assistance to escort their vessels to Escravos in the past four days.
Ilogho who said he was not aware that the oil companies had suspended escort convoy to Escravos, however, added that, �There is no fresh application for convoy movement since Wednesday, they have not contacted us for convoy.�
Ilogho said there was sense in the action of the managements of the oil companies, adding that it would afford all stakeholders the opportunity to appraise the situation.
Ilogho said sanity had returned, adding that activities would soon resume in full swing.
The JTF boss said the agency was always ready to offer assistance to ensure security of lives and property in the nation�s oil industry.