By Steve Temienor
UGHELLI/Nigeria: Following an alleged plan by heritage oil company to hire foreign security personnel in the management and securing of their facilities in OML 30 in Ughelli north, Community youth leaders and ex-militants who were saddled with the responsibility of surveillance has threatened to shut down the operations of the company if anything happens to the facilities in their domain.
Speaking to newsmen in Warri during a peaceful protest to register their grievance, the ex-militants and Community youths expressed displeasure over the plan of foreigners to take over their job. Noting that “OML 30 has been enjoying peace for the past six to nine months now, since heritage came on board, but wondered why their surveillance job was being given to other NGOs.
Also speaking to newsmen during the protest, Comr Lord Tennison from Ogor described the action as inimical to the peaceful coexistence in the area as the youths and ex-militants were capable of providing relative peace in the facilities. “We don’t want anybody to be on that line because we are the indigenes of that Community and we want to control our resources. If any vandalization goes in the facilities we will destroy any of their offices.”
Although the representative of Heritage Company could not give a response to the press, but a strong assurance was given to the protesters that their grievances will be attended to, while urging them to go home.
