The following is from a memo issued by Shell to all staff.
“It is with extreme sadness that I inform all of you that a short while ago, we received confirmation that our colleague, Mr Nelson Ujeya is dead. His body was brought to Warri this afternoon from Bomadi.
We have been informed that Nelson died on Sunday 20th August together with some community leaders and representatives from the Bayelsa State Government engaged in his release from captivity. We are informed that his death occurred during a security incident that took place at Brass Creek between the Joint Task Force (JTF) and militants in which a member of the JTF, some community leaders and representatives of Bayelsa State Government as well as a number of militants were also killed.
We are extremely pained at this terrible loss of lives and express our heartfelt sympathy to all families and communities involved in this most unfortunate incident. The family of Mr Ujeya has been informed of the tragic event which led to his death.
I hereby express, on behalf of all of us in the Shell Companies in Nigeria and in particular, his colleagues in SPDC, our hearfelt sympathy to all members of Nelson Ujeya’s family.
As already advised in previous notification, Nelson was abducted by the Letugbene community during a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) together with government officials on 8th August 2006. Since the abduction, continuous and intensive efforts have been made to secure his release in negotiations led by the Bayelsa State Government.
Nelson Ujeya was a Community Relations Officer (Southern Swamp) in the SPDC Western Operations run from Warri.
Nelson was aged 44 and has worked with SPDC for 17 years. He leaves behind his wife Josephine and two children, daughter Deborah, 9 years old and son Precious, 4 years old.
May the soul of our dearly departed colleague rest in peace.
The Shell flag will fly at half mast in all locations of the company. Also, one minute silence will be observed in all locations at 09.00 Hrs tomorrow Wednesday 30th August, 2006.”
OyibosOnline join with Shell in sending our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Ujeya.