Gladys Nweke
Some Councillors in Akuku-toru LGA of Rivers State have petitioned Governor Nyesom Wike against an indigenous oil firm, Belemaoil Producing Limited, over alleged sponsorship of thugs to disrupt the operations of the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, in OML25.
This comes as Belema flow station in OML25 which lies 50 kilometres southwest of Port Harcourt in the onshore eastern delta and is part of the NNPC/Shell Joint Venture, has been occupied by indigenes of the community allegedly sponsored by Belemaoil, since August 2017.
The Councillors, Mr. Nelson Whoknows and Victor Sam, representing Ward 15 and Ward 16 in Akuku-Toru Local government Area of Rivers State, are calling on the Rivers State Government to intervene on the alleged impending crisis in the area
The two councillors said they have first hand information that the Founder of Belemaoil Producing Limited, Mr. JackRich Tein, has hired thugs to terrorize oil fields in OML25 and vandalise oil facilities belonging to SPDC, Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company as well as Newcross Exploration and Production Limited, in the area.
Whoknows and Sam further alleged that plans are underway by Belemaoil to attack all constituted authorities and communities who are not in support of her agenda.
According to them “We have been informed by the members of the communities in the two wards that President and Founder of Belemaoil, Tein Jack-Rich has hired thugs and militants from neighboring states to disrupt the operation and production of SPDC following the renewal of the company’s license to operate in the area.
“The thugs have taken over OML25, resorted to terrorizing the sea routes and vandalizing pipelines belonging to SPDC and AITEO.
” A meeting was held by some persons in the area where they agreed to shut down the operations of Newcross Exploration and Production Limited”
However, as at the time of filing this report, the management of Belemaoil Producing Limited is yet to respond to these allegations.
