Edith CHUKU
Saddened by the tragic boat mishap that occurred in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, where seven persons lost their lives, the Ijaw Youth Council IYC, has called for speedy investigation of the incident.
IYC also declared absolute support of the seizure of the crude oil vessel and two tugboats involved in the accident, even as it called for the immortalization of the victims by renaming the seized crude oil vessel after them.
These demands where made when the IYC delegations from the Eastern and Western zones paid a joint solidarity visit to the scene of the accident and the affected satellite communities in Kula Kingdom.
The council called on security agencies and the state government to expedite action on the matter, insisting that the owner of the crude oil vessel and tugboats involved in the accident should as a matter of urgency, be arrested and prosecuted.
IYC Chairman, Eastern Zone, Prince Datolu Sukubo, warned that “if the vessel owner is not arrested, the IYC will be forced to apprehend him to face the full wrath of the law.”
Sukubo who also lost his younger brother in the boat mishap called on the Chief of Army Staff and the GOC of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, to order an immediate investigation of personnel of the Sector 3 command, Okrika, involved in the unfortunate incident.
Further, he called on NNPC Limited and regulatory agencies in the oil and gas industry to check what he described as “the insensitivity and unfair practices of contracting firms in the crude oil evacuation chain against host communities and the Niger Delta environment.
“The recent tragic incident on the Kula waterways would have been averted if NNPC Limited and the regulatory bodies had closely monitored the actions of the Ibeto Group in relation to the host communities.
“IYC is fully in support of the seizure of the crude oil vessel as well as the two tugboats involved in the incident. The leadership of Kula Kingdom should immortalize the victims by renaming the seized crude oil vessel and tugboats after them.”
On his part, the IYC Chairman, Western Zone, Nicholas Igarama, accused the Ibeto Group of “insensitivity to the rights of host communities and disregard for the sacredness of human lives.”
While commiserating with the bereaved families, Igarama warned that the IYC would no longer fold its arms and allow oil and gas service companies to trample on the rights of host communities in the Niger Delta.
He assured that IYC would be in the forefront of the matter to ensure that justice was served to the victims, their families, and host communities.
An Elder of the Ijaw Youth Council and former Chairman of the Elders Council of IYC, Kalabari Clan, Chief Lolo Braide, described the sudden death of the promising and vibrant Niger Delta youths as deeply troubling and devastating.
He demanded sdnadequate compensation for the bereaved families and urged the Rivers State Government, NNPC Limited, and regulatory agencies in the oil and gas industry to put measures in place to amicably address conflicts that arise between host communities and industry players to forestall a recurrence of such tragedy.
Also speaking, another Elder of the IYC, Eastern Zone and Kalabari Clan, Anaye Kio, warned that if their demands for a speedy investigation into the matter, as well as the arrest and prosecution of those found culpable, are not met, they may be forced to embark on actions without notice to ensure that justice is served.
