A dispute over oil operations in Kula, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, has taken a tragic turn, with several people feared dead after a boat capsized amid tensions over alleged community entitlements.
The incident occurred at the Robert-Kiri axis of Kula, where some youths reportedly tried to prevent the removal of the ANAMBRA BASIN vessel over claims that an oil company had failed to meet its obligations to the host community.
A Kula elder and stakeholder, Anabs Sara-Igbe, who confirmed the incident to DAILY POST, alleged that more than six gunboats carrying security personnel were deployed to facilitate the vessel’s departure despite ongoing efforts to resolve the dispute through dialogue.
Sara-Igbe claimed that a boat carrying more than ten people capsized after it was allegedly hit by one of the gunboats as community members attempted to stop the vessel from leaving.
Dispute over vessel removal
Sara-Igbe said the ANAMBRA BASIN vessel, owned by Ibeto, had been engaged in oil operations in the area for about two years through arrangements involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Belema Joint Venture.
He said the community had raised concerns over the failure to employ local people and meet its obligations before the contract ended.
“The vessel is owned by Ibeto, and they have been working there for about two years,” Sara-Igbe said.
He explained that although the community wanted the vessel removed, it insisted that outstanding issues, including compensation, should be resolved before its departure.
Sara-Igbe said he had held discussions with the vessel owner and community representatives in an attempt to reach an agreement, with another meeting planned for this week.
However, he said he later learnt that more than six gunboats had been deployed to retrieve the vessel before the planned meeting could take place.
“And when the matter came back to me, we agreed to meet this week to resolve the matter,” he said.
“Only for me to hear that more than six gunboats were deployed to go and retrieve the boat from the place,” Sara-Igbe added.
He alleged that the confrontation resulted in a boat being struck by one of the gunboats and capsizing.
“In the process, the gunboats hit one of the boats, and the boat capsized,” he said.
Sara-Igbe put the reported death toll at ten, comprising two local security personnel and eight community members.
He said efforts were underway to recover the victims’ bodies, while teams from the police and other authorities had been deployed to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The elder said he had contacted the Defence spokesperson and the Rivers State Police Command, as well as the Nigerian Army’s Six Division in Port Harcourt, to report the development.
Kula stakeholders demand action as five bodies are recovered
In the latest development, Sara-Igbe told Daily Post that five bodies had been recovered following the incident at Robert-Kiri, near OML 25.
He said the community planned to take the bodies to the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday in protest, before proceeding to the headquarters of the Rivers State Police Command.
Youth group calls for calm, investigation
Meanwhile, the Kula Youth Organization has urged residents to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
Its President, Odasema Hewart-Sukubo, called on the government and security agencies to investigate the incident and ensure that anyone “found responsible must be brought to justice”.
Hewart-Sukubo said the organization would await the outcome of the investigation and the response of the relevant authorities, while urging youths to allow security agencies to establish what happened.
Max Shipping explains vessel retrieval
In the meantime, Max Shipping Services Limited has said it owns the ANAMBRA BASIN FSO vessel but hired it to Menal Technical Services Limited for use at Kula.
In a statement on Wednesday, the company’s Legal Officer, Ikeh Chidimma Sylvia, said Max Shipping decided to retrieve the vessel after Menal allegedly failed to pay hire fees for an extended period.
The company said the crude oil stored in the vessel had been removed before the retrieval operation, citing inspection reports issued in September 2026.
It added that its agreement placed responsibility for the “vessel’s operations, security and community-related arrangements on Menal Technical Services and the end user, where applicable.”
Max Shipping also rejected reports linking its chairman, Chief Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto, to the incident, arguing that ownership of the vessel should not be confused with responsibility for oilfield operations.
The company expressed sadness over reports that a boat had capsized, leaving several people feared dead, and called for a security investigation while urging all parties to remain calm.
Several feared dead as boat capsizes amid oil dispute in Rivers community