Angry Bayelsa Youths ask Conoil to stop operations in their area and leave over Killing of community Protesters

…seeks N1b compensation for bereaved family

Sangana community youths in Brass LGA, Bayelsa State are protesting that Conoil should stop operations in the area and leave.

This is coming after security operatives attached to the offshore oil platform OML 59 operated by Conoil, shot at peaceful protesters, killing one of them who earlier went there to protest, demanding for Conoil to implement MoUs and accumulated project worth N400 million

Because of the killing of the youth and non implementation of MoUs, the Sangana youths are now demanding that Conoil should stop operations and leave

The Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman of Sangana, Reuben Preboye, said that Conoil, which had been operating in the community for about 25 years, has delayed the implementation of the MoUs

“Unfortunately, in the 25 years they have operated in our community, they haven’t employed anybody from Sangana despite the community having many qualified persons.

“Even on the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) implementation, Conoil doesn’t want to comply with the federal government’s law to set up a Host Community Development Trust as stipulated in the PIA”

At a press conference held in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Friday, the people of Sangana demanded N1b as compensation for the family of the deceased and the immediate implementation of the four consecutive MOUs the community had signed with Conoil in the last 12 years. 

Some of the speakers include HRH Moses Theophilus, the paramount ruler of Moko-Ama, the Sangana youth leader, Mr. Ambrose Timpre Ayah, Mr. Ayebakuro Bina, Miss Iyamokumo Felagha, inter alia.

According to the speakers, Conoil is yet to provide medical relief and duly compensate Sangana residents for the November 2021 toxic gas explosion that occurred at Adriatic-1 a contracted rig operating within OML 59.

Conoil is yet to recognize the Board of Trustees constituted by the Sangana leadership as provided by the Petroleum Industry Act, thereby denying its benefits as a host community, they alleged.

They equally frowned that since the brutal attack on the defenseless youths, Conoil has kept mum and refused to engage any stakeholder of the community.

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