Protesting youths shut down Shell facilities in Bayelsa
bANGRY youths and women from Kolo Creek Cluster communities of Elebele, Imiringi, Otuasega and Oruma in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have shut down the Otuasega manifold and the Kolo Creek Logistics base, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, in protest over the lingering darkness in the communities while the latter base enjoys uninterrupted power supply.
Armed with placards, some which read, “No Light No Crude/Gas in Kolo Creek”, “We Need Stable Power Supply in Our Communities “, among others, the protesters who stormed the facilities in the early hours of Wednesday are demanding that the damaged generating sets that were supplying electricity to the communities be replaced with a 10 megawatt plant or mini gas turbine for improve electricity supply.
A visit to the Otuasega manifold and the Kolo Creek Logistics base showed hundreds of residents, comprising youths and women, had locked the entrance to the shut facilities, as they sang solidarity songs accompanied by rhythms from local musical instruments.
The Community Development Committee, CDC chairman of Elebele community who also doubles as the Action Committee chairman for the Kolo! Creek Cluster communities, Mr. Okala Precious, said they were angry over the failure of SPDC to restore electricity supply to the area despite several meetings.
He explained that the protest was carried out as a last resort to draw attention to their plight following several talks.
His words, “We are a peace loving people and in as much as we want our country, state and local government to survive, we will always give peace a chance. Why we are out today boils down to a meeting we had with Shell and we were invited by the state government because they were given a three day ultimatum. That meeting was held on 14th May, 2024.
However, the position of government was a two week resolution which expired yesterday. It is expected that as peace loving people we should come out to demonstrate peacefully to press home our demand which is restoration of uninterrupted power supply to the four communities in the Kolo Creek Cluster.
“It is not too much for Shell to do for our communities, after all, they cannot compare the amount of resources they extract from our land to the light we are demanding.
“Even the rationing aspect they came up with we are not seeing. The two generating sets are totally down. All that the four communities are asking is to restore power. Let it not be as if Shell base enjoy uninterrupted power supply while our communities are in darkness. The government and the law enforcement agencies are aware that this protest is peaceful.
“The manifold and rig located at Otuasega are down and the major location at Imiringi is also shut down. We know very well that by the time Shell compares and contrasts their loss and what they are supposed to give to us their loss will be much greater. So they should do the needful.
“We are demanding that a 10 megawatt generating plant or a mini gas turbine that will better serve the Kolo Creek Custer communities be installed. ”
Contacted SPDC Spokesperson, Mr. Michael Adande, promised to reach out to their personnel in the field but was yet to get back at the time of filing this report.
