Tina Amanda
Youths of Omoku in Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni local government area of Rivers state, have protested over alleged brutality and inhumane treatment meted out on them by the Nigerian Army in collaboration with Agip Oil Company.
The Youths under the aegis of Omoku Youth Federation took to the street of Port Harcourt on Monday to demand justice for the alleged violation of their human rights by Agip, while carrying out a peaceful protest on 30th June 2021, against non-employment, payment, promotion of Omoku Youth and marginalisation after several years of operations in their communities.
Speaking to newsmen at the protest scene, Leader of the Youth, Dr Lucky Oguelor-Ojobo, threatened legal actions against the Nigerian Army and Agip Company, while asking for compensation for the level of brutality that was unleashed on Omoku youths.
He however called on Human Rights Advocates and Civil Rights Groups to intervene for justice to be served.
“Omoku plays host to Agip Company for over fifty (50) years, Omoku has more than one hundred Oil wells with ninety-one functional Oil wells from which the Nigerian economy is being fed daily. Unfortunately, the level of deprivation Omoku communities has experienced is better imagined for decades.
“It is surprising to note that for over eighteen years, Agip has been secretly employing people without the consent of Omoku people. We have written severally to Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited, not just for the reason of oil exploration or exploitation in the area, but for the level of marginalisation, enslavement and unemployment of Omoku youths. There is no way a landlord will become a tenant in his property and tenant a landlord.
“Agip claims not to be employing anybody but people keep retiring from Agip. Does it mean those retiring are not been replaced? Agip has been having series of promotions. Does it mean no Omoku son or daughter qualifies for the higher promotion? The Agip General Manager Human Resource, Mrs Calista Asuquo, has been secretly employing people from a particular ethnic group and this has continued unabated.
“It is so annoying that Omoku youths who have been suffering over these years wrote letters to know Agip modus operandi in the local content act, this we did in a civil manner, but those letters fell on deaf ears to the point we resulted to a peaceful protest.
“On 30th June 2021, we the Omoku youths decided to drive home our demands with a peaceful protest to Agip Company, but surprisingly while on the protest venue, Agip Company in their own Machiavellian approach organized hoodlums who beat up mercilessly, the peaceful protesters of Omoku communities under the supervision of the Nigerian Army led by Lieutenant Colonel Garba Umar.
“Military that is supposed to protect the Nigerian territories brutally manhandled the Omoku peaceful protesters that were demanding for their rights, asking to be employed, asking to have a better life after being marginalized for several years. They were mercilessly beaten, their vehicles and property destroyed.
“We demand justice for the level of dehumanization, brutality and infringement on our fundamental rights that was unleashed on Omoku people that very day. We also demand adequate compensation, because most victims of the peaceful protest attack are still hospitalized to date.”
In their reactions, Human Rights Advocate, Barrister Higher King and State Chairman Civil Society Organization, Enefa Georgewill, condemned the actions of the Army and Agip Company for attacking peaceful protesters, called on the government to resolve all issues causing agitations in all Oil host communities in the Niger Delta.
They expressed concerns that the Nigerian Army and Police are still carrying out dehumanizing actions against peaceful protesters which is a repeat of the Lekki Tollgate Saga.
They noted that as long as there is marginalisation, unfair treatment and injustice to Oil host communities in Niger Delta, agitations and protests will continue.
The human rights activists said that in a democracy, citizens have the right to associate and protest, noting that it is unlawful to stop people from exercising their civic rights. They call on the Army to immediately apologize and pay adequate compensation to resolve the problem or be ready to face legal actions.
