MOSOP Calls For Security Intervention In Ogoni Community

MOSOP Calls For Security Intervention In Ogoni Community

as attacks rage over oil well dispute

By Faith Kordoo

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has called on the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to take urgent steps to address the declining security situation in Ledor, a community in Tai local government area of Rivers State, which has been under violent attacks by gunmen following a dispute over an oil well in the community.

President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke, who made the call over the weekend in Port Harcourt, stressed that the state government must, as a matter of urgency, protect the people from attacks.

He demanded an immediate security intervention to bring the situation under control.

According to reports, conflicts ensued last week after an oil well in Ledor was assessed by some people who claimed to be representatives of the NNPC.

The people allegedly turned them back on the grounds that their claims were not verifiable.

It was gathered that two days later, armed youths raided the Ledor community, shooting at community dwellers who are predominantly farmers.

Nsuke lamented that so far, at least two people in the Ledor community have been confirmed shot by the gun in the last five days following the violence, and community life has been severely altered with attendant consequences for children, women, and others.

“On Saturday, one Uebari Adoole was shot by the attackers, and there is growing concern about the safety of the entire Ledor community.

“Our information suggests that mercenaries have been hired to conduct the attacks on our people, and preliminary checks indicate that an oil well in Ledor community, which is currently in Tai local government area, has been allocated to Oyigbo local government area in efforts to activate the well without the consent of the Ogoni people.

“In response, the Ledor community protested the nomenclature on the oil well, the MOSOP president stated.

MOSOP blamed the NNPC for the attacks and called on the Rivers State governor to act quickly and bring the situation under control before it escalates into a larger conflict.

“I will call on the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to fulfil his responsibility as governor of Rivers State and to assure the people of Rivers State that he is there to protect them in difficult times like this.” Nsuke empathized.