Niger Delta rumbles: Tunu, Benesiede, Kussi flow stations shtdown

Odidi Flow Station: Niger Delta rumbles: Tunu, Benesiede, Kussi flow stations shtdown

The Niger Delta is rumbling and Shell and other multinational oil companies are shaking. Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), has reportedly shut down its flow stations in Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State due to anxiety that ex-militants may attack the facilities because of the outcome of the presidential election.

The incumbent president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who lost last Saturday’s presidential election to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), is from Bayelsa State, had accepted defeat and urged his supporters to eschew violence. However, Nationalists quest has been growing ever since the highly manipulated election results was announced in favour of Buhari. One of the nationalist leaders Asari Dokubo in a recent press statement stated that the conditions that made the soldiers of Niger Delta to embrace the creeks has once again been re-energised. According to Dokubi, “The conditions that advanced the need to embrace the creeks have been sadly re-energised, it is clear that a vicious government who may maim and murder the voice of the so called minorities may have just been birthed. Indeed integration is nonexistent as regional gang ups and supremacy is symbolic with this victory."

Among the flow stations reportedly closed down are Tunu, Benesede, Kussi, all in Bayelsa State.

A SNEPCo official, who spoke anonymously, said: “Tunu flow station was shut down but not because of threat by ex-militants. Can we not shut down for operational reasons? What is the big deal if Tunu station is closed down for operational reasons, why are they eager to drag Shell into all these?”

However, Shell’s Corporate Media Relations Manager, Mr. Precious Okolobo and the company’s spokesman in Port-Harcourt, Mr Joseph Obari, in an SMS to our reporter, said: “Our operations are continuing and we will not comment on security issues.”

A source, however, said: “It is not as if SPDC shut down its operations at Tunu but it is carrying out skeletal services in the Central and Eastern operations of Niger Delta to resume in full swing next week as cautionary measures, given the tense political atmosphere in the Niger Delta.”

An informant said: “The truth is that militants sent a threat that oil companies should vacate the region and the company took precautionary measures by shutting down its operations in Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor councils.

“The whole thing is about the fear of possible attack on its facilities over the loss of the presidential election by President Jonathan. There was intelligence report that militants might bomb facilities and security agencies are already on the alert.”

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Hausa-Fulani-Yoruba gang up against Biafra and Niger Delta a show of regional conspiracy and supremacy - Asari Dokubo

-Vanguard