ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Suspected sea pirates on Sunday launched a multiple ambush on some workers with the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Okoroma and Ogbokiri-Akassa communities of Nembe and Brass local government areas of Bayelsa State.
The sea pirates reportedly shot dead two Agip workers and an operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The driver of their boat said to be an indigene of Okoroma community is also feared killed as he has been declared missing by the locals.
In the attack that occurred at Ogbokiri-Akassa in Brass LGA, six oil workers, who were carrying out maintenance job close to their platform were reportedly abducted and whisked away to an unknown destination.
The Agip oil workers and their security personnel were said to be attacked while working close to a manifold in Bayelsa.
Spokesman for the NSCDC, Bayelsa Command, Ogbere Solomon, confirmed the incident.
He said only one personnel of the command died in the ambush, while two others who were missing had been found and were currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa.
Solomon said: “Yes, our officers were ambushed and attacked by some sea pirates while on their lawful duty of providing protection to some Agip oil workers close to Obama manifold in Okoroma community of Nembe LGA.
“One personnel was killed while the other two that were missing have been found and are responding to treatment.”
The Youth President of the Okoroma Clan, Comrade Tarinyu Joseph, also confirmed the incident.
He said the indigenes of the community had mobilised and recovered the corpses of those killed and had taken those injured to the hospital.
He also confirmed that the boat driver, who he identified as his brother, was still missing.
While some indigenes of the Okoroma community blamed the oil company for being insensitive to issues of security of the lives of the oil workers, they claimed the company had refused to hire gunboats to protect oil workers while on official assignment along the waterways and creeks of the state.
Some community members blamed the rise in sea pirates’ attacks and ambush on the refusal of the indigenous security surveillance contractor’s refusal to pay the youths working with his company.
They also claimed that the unnamed contractor had allegedly refused to pay the NSCDC personnel attached to the company for the last eight months.
It was gathered that the unidentified gunmen had vowed to continue terrorising the waterways and creeks of Bayelsa until outstanding payments due them were paid by relevant security companies working with the oil major.
Already, indigenes of Nembe and Brass communities have started raising awareness and warning fellow indigenes of the danger of travelling home amid the rising insecurity.
An indigene of Okoroma, who spoke in confidence, warned: “I will advise that Nembe to Twon or Nembe to Okpoama is becoming preferable or they better follow the local boats from Nembe.”