About 10 youths lost their lives after a boat reportedly capsized following an alleged confrontation between locals and men in military uniform over an oil spill at Oil Mining Lease (OML-55) in Kula, Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Tuesday.
It was gathered that the confrontation followed an oil spill allegedly linked to operations involving a businessman who has a contract in the area.
Locals told Daily Trust that members of the community reportedly attempted to stop further operations pending remediation of the affected environment and compensation for the spill, leading to a heated argument.
The situation reportedly escalated when the men dressed in military uniform arrived at the scene with several gunboats and attempted to move the vessel belongings to the businessman, prompting the youths from the community to intervene.
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The youths were said to have queried why the uniform men wanted to move the vessel belongings to the businessman when nothing had been said about the polluted environment, including their demand for compensation.
But the uniformed men forced their way through during which one of their gunboats collided with a boat carrying the youths, causing it to capsize, resulting in the youths onboard drowning.
A community leader and one time spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, confirmed the incident to newsmen.
Sara-Igbe alleged that the arrival of the uniformed personnel worsened the situation and undermined previous efforts to peacefully resolve the issues.
The elder statesman also called on the police and other relevant security authorities to investigate the incident and establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
He said, “The confrontation occurred amid attempts by residents to resist the alleged forceful re-entry to the site , during which a community boat capsized while trying to resist them. Ten people are feared dead.
“Now from what I gathered immediately this happened, the military people ran away. I’m told that all the persons feared dead were male, but for now, all other details surrounding the incident remain unclear.”
It was gathered that efforts are ongoing to retrieve the corpses and the identities of the victims.
The spokesman of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Lt. Col. Umar, could not be reached for comment on the development.
When contacted, the spokesperson of Rivers State Police Command, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, said she would find out and get back, but she had yet to do so as of press time.
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