THERE was apprehension by oil companies in the Niger Delta on Monday, less than 48 hours after youths in the region withdrew from peace talks with the Federal Government
Investigations by our correspondent showed that the oil operators were apprehensive that militants might resume fresh hostilities in protest against attacks in some coastal communities in the region by operatives of the Joint Task Force.
Ijaw youth leaders, under the aegis of Ijaw Youth Leadership Forum, had on Saturday announced their withdrawal from the talks in a seven-point communique.
The IYLF took the decision at a meeting in Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State to protest last weeks attacks on suspected militant camps and some Ijaw communities in Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Ondo states by operatives of the JTF.
The Leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujaheedeen Asari-Dokubo, the President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, his two predecessors Dr. Felix Tuodolo and Mr. Oyinfie Jonjon as well as Mr. T.K. Ogoriba and an activist in Delta State, Chief Government Ekpomupolo, signed the communique.
Our correspondent gathered that the managements of the oil majors and service companies in the region took some security measures on Monday to protect their employees and strategic equipment.
Sources said that top officials of some of the firms visited the 93 Battalion, headquarters of the JTF and the NNS Delta, Warri Naval Base, to request for tighter security around their offices and facilities.
They added that the oil majors only made skeletal deployment of workers in their offshore locations.
One of the sources, a worker in Chevron Nigeria Limited, said, We read the communique by the Ijaw youths to the effect that they are withdrawing from the peace talks and our management has taken some steps to protect the workers and strategic facilities because of the apprehension in the oil industry.
We are watching events but the management was not ready to take chances or toy with the safety of the workers.
You know that the oil workers and facilities are usually the target whenever these militants are unhappy with the government and its agencies. They do not confront the government directly but prefer to vent their anger on the oil companies.
When contacted by our correspondent on Monday, the Nigerian Navy assured the oil companies that there was no cause for alarm.
It urged the workers to go about their normal business without fear of molestation or intimidation in any part of the region.
The Commanding officer, NNS Delta, Navy Captain Samson Ojediran, said adequate arrangement had been made to secure lives and property in the region.
Ojediran added that the waterways had been fully secured for easy passage by law-abiding citizens.
I have instructed my men to remain on the alert to ward off any surprise attack from any group of militants,� Ojediran added.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Federal Government Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Niger Delta,Mr. Kingsley Kuku, has blamed the JTF for the collapse of the peace talks.
Kuku, in an interview with our correspondent in Warri, therefore, asked the government to hold the JTF responsible for the withdrawal of the youths from the peace initiative.
He said, The latest development in the Niger Delta as demonstrated by the decision of the Ijaw youth leaders to pull out of the peace talks with the Federal Government was a product of the unfortunate military attacks. The JTF is to blame for the collapse of discussion between the government and the people of the region.
The Federal Government should call JTF to order and do what is reasonable in the region. The President( Umaru YarAdua) through the service chiefs should prevail on the authorities of the JTF to stop attacking innocent persons. They are attacking law-abiding citizens who have keyed into the peace initiative.�
Kuku, however, urged his kinsmen to remain calm and avoid violence. He said the Presidency was looking into their protest against the JTF.
He condemned the attacks on the Ijaw communities, describing them as ill-timed.
Kuku said, It is provocative and we join the people to condemn it. The military must carry out their operations in line with the political solution that is ongoing in the region. We cannot be talking about peace and the people have appreciated the essence of peace, only for the military to embark on this mission.
It is unacceptable and every government official who does not tell the government the situation on the ground is not helping government.
We are not encouraging violence but now that we are extracting peace from our people and there is peace, this action is going to provoke every other person in the region.�