Thursday, April 10, 2008

Indigenes urge withdrawal of troops from Rivers community
From Rose-Ann Chikereuba, Port Harcourt

THE Egi community in Rivers State has urged the government to immediately withdraw the military troops deployed in the area.

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The community alleged that the military men were infringing on their rights and harassing their women.

On Tuesday, the community staged a peaceful protest in the streets of Port Harcourt, alleging maltreatment by officials of Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited.

Spokesman of the community, Mr. Chukwukere Ile, said the protest was to register their grievances to the world.

Ile said that in spite of the huge profits made by the oil company and the Federal Government through oil and gas produced from Egi soil, the firm has neglected its social responsibility to the people of the area.

He alleged that the farmlands and fishing ponds of the community have been destroyed as a result of the operations of the company and consequently, has made life difficult for the people.

The community leader accused the oil firm of breaching all outstanding agreements and memorandum of understanding (MoU) reached with the community.

He called on ELF to rise to its social responsibility to avoid further violation of law and order.

His words: "We are a peace-loving people and we don't want anything to cause trouble in our land. Let Elf rise up to its responsibility and the government withdraw soldiers from our community immediately".