Community leaders and youths from Kokodiagbene and others affected by the August 2008 crude oil spill from the Otunana platform of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) yesterday made good their threat to invade the facility.
The action was carried out shortly after the people from the affected communities completed the mapping and demarcation of the area.
Sources said the vital oil installation was not shut down during the short siege by the youth and elders from nine communities.
They were called off barely one hour after they stormed the scene, it was learnt.
Yesterday’s action was the latest in the face-off between the oil giant and the communities over the oil spill, which occurred on the Jackets 8D and 7 of the Otunana and Abiteye facilities of Chevron.
The exercise carried out by the communities may only be an exercise in futility as the oil giant may not accept its result.
“That result cannot be binding on Chevron because the due process was not followed and I do not think that we have reached that point. For such exercise to be valid, the regulatory and mandatory agencies such as NOSDRA must be present,” a source, who craved anonymity, said.
But a Kokodiagbene leader said his kinsmen were not bothered about the acceptability of the exercise, adding: “Our intention is to force Chevron to follow due process over the spill incident.”
Having conducted their own mapping of the area, the communities’ representatives might not be willing to be part of a similar exercise by the company or NOSDRA, a development that could lead to further crisis.
“If neither side participate in a similar exercise, it becomes difficult for the outcome to be binding on them because the representatives of the interested parties must append their signatures on the report for it to be valid,” an oil industry expert said.
The community’s General Secretary, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, who confirmed the short siege on Otunana on the telephone, appealed for calm.
He said: “I was told this afternoon that our people invaded the place (Otunana Platform) and I had to appeal to them to leave to pave the way for peace and amicable resolutions of the issues.
“I also want to use this opportunity to appeal to the management of Chevron and the relevant agencies not to drag their feet on this spill issue, they should follow the normal process and do all that is right in good time to maintain the cordial relationship between the communities and Chevron,” he added.