Metro

GMoU: Protest As Bayelsa Oil Communities Lay Siege To Agip

Published

5 years ago

November 2, 2021

Protesting residents of Isoko- speaking communities in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, have vowed to shut down the Samabiri/Buseni cluster location housing nine oil wells and operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, in their area.

The villagers alleged that the multinational company refused to keep to the Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU, reached with its host communities.

Protesters, including men, women, and youths of Osekwenike, Abuetor, and Osifo communities barricaded the access road leading to the Agip-owned facility and disrupted operations to press home their demands.

Steered by the leaders of the three communities, they carried placards which bore different inscriptions such as: “Agip give us our link road,” “Agip obey the directive of the deputy governor on the surveillance matter,” “We are tired of staying in darkness in our communities, “Agip employ our youths” among others.

Presidents-general of the three communities, Mr. Lovely Agwor (Abuetor), Mr. Anthony Okorie (Osekwenike) and Mr. Benjamin Aghoghovia (Osifo), in a joint statement, noted that they decided to embark on a peaceful protest after all efforts to reach Agip for dialogue failed.

The community leaders noted that they had written several letters seeking audience with the oil giant through the Manager, Stakeholders Management and Community Development Division, to address their demands but Agip had continued to rebuff the communities’ efforts to have a round table discourse on the way forward.

They recalled that in separate letters dated June 23, 2021 and October 14, 2021, addressed to the General Manager, District, Nigeria Agip Oil Company through the Manager, Stakeholders Management and Community Development Division, the communities forewarned about its plan to shut down the oil facility if Agip refused to listen to them.

“Some of our demands include that Agip should assign the construction of our link road which shall connect the three communities in line with our GMoU for 2001/2006 to the recommended contractor. No implementation, no production.

“To mobilize the contractor to site for the completion of our gas turbine project in line with our MoU 2001/2006. To assign the surveillance contract to a trusted indigenous contractor in Bayelsa State or to our recommended contractor and payment of two months’ salary arrears to our community. No implementation, no production.

“To respect our GMoU which comprises nine communities namely: Osekwenike, Abuetor, Osifo, Agbere, Odoni, Kaiama, Isoni Ossiama and Ogbunugbene,” they said.

The aggrieved communities are also demanding a monthly supply of 45,000 liters of diesel to the communities which Agip stopped over six months ago, for no just cause thereby subjecting them to acute darkness, while the multinational company and its staff enjoy uninterrupted electricity at the cluster location housing nine oil wells producing thousands of barrels of crude oil daily.

They used the medium to call on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri and the relevant authorities to prevail on Agip to do the needful, vowing not to vacate the oil site if their demands are not met.

Reacting, an official of NAOC, who refused to be named, simply said the matter and the demands will be resolved by the appropriate authority.

(VANGUARD)

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Two Suspected Cultists

Published

16 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Police Command on Wednesday said two suspected cultists were arrested in Ohonre community, off Adolor College Road, Benin.

This was disclosed in a statement by the command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, and made available to newsmen electrically.

Ikoedem said the arrest was possible due to operatives response to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Police Command has recorded another operational breakthrough following the swift disruption of a suspected cultists’ gathering in Ohonre Community, off Adolor College Road, Benin City.

“On 21st May, 2026, at about 19:00hrs, operatives attached to Ugbowo Division who were on surveillance patrol responded to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

“Acting promptly on the information, the police team mobilized to the location. On sighting the operatives, the suspects fled in an attempt to evade arrest. The operatives immediately gave them a hot chase, leading to the arrest of two suspects identified as Victor Peter ‘M’, 21 years and Iyemoma Ogbewe ‘M’, 35 years.

“A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of one cut-to-size gun believed to have been in their possession for unlawful purposes.

“Upon investigation, the suspects confessed to being members of the notorious Maphite cult group. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other fleeing gang members.”

She said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended the swift response of the operatives and reiterated the Command’s resolve to deny criminal elements any opportunity within Edo State.

He further urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the Police, assuring that all reports would receive prompt attention.

Metro

Troops Eliminate Two Terrorists, Foil Pipeline Attack

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Army says troops have, in the last 24 hours, eliminated two terrorists, rescued four kidnapped victims and foiled pipeline attacks in a series of coordinated military operations across Taraba, Kogi and Rivers.

This is contained in operational updates issued to reporters on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the reports, troops of 93 Battalion deployed at Akate in the Donga Local Government Area of Taraba engaged suspected terrorists in a forested area, killing two of them.

According to the report, items recovered from the scene include an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, magazines, mobile phones and other personal effects.

In Kogi, it said the troops of 21 Battalion, in collaboration with vigilantes, rescued four kidnapped passengers along the Anyigba–Itobe road in Ofu Local Government Area.

It added that the victims were reportedly abandoned by their captors while attempting to cross a seasonal stream due to sustained pressure from advancing troops.

According to the military, efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims still in captivity.

The report said that troops of 12 Brigade successfully repelled an ambush along Kabba–Okene road while withdrawing from an earlier operation, forcing the assailants to flee with gunshot wounds.

“Meanwhile, in Rivers, troops of 5 Battalion acting on credible intelligence, foiled an attempt by suspected vandals to detonate a crude oil pipeline in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

“The swift response of the troops disrupted the operation before it could be executed, with the suspects fleeing the scene,” it said.

Metro

Police Arrest Private Chef Over Alleged N150m Theft, Drugging Of Employer, Burglary

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a chef, John Cosmos Govi, over his alleged involvement in a burglary operation at a residence in Abuja, where luxury items and valuables worth about N150 million were reportedly stolen.

The arrest was announced on Monday, May 25, 2026, by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, who said the suspect was apprehended by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) after investigations into allegations of criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, theft, malicious damage and administering harmful substances.

According to police findings, Govi, who allegedly gained employment as a chef at the residence, was said to have studied the movement of occupants, internal routine and security setup before allegedly carrying out the operation on April 23, 2026.

Investigators said he reportedly worked with two accomplices identified as Peter and Moses, who are currently on the run.

Police alleged that food prepared in the house was laced with a suspected sedative substance to weaken the occupants and security personnel.

After they reportedly became unconscious, the suspects allegedly broke into the property, damaged CCTV installations and stole 20 luxury wristwatches valued at about N150 million, alongside other valuables.

Speaking on the development, DCP Anthony Placid said the suspect was intercepted around the Gwagwalada axis of the Federal Capital Territory while attempting to flee to Lagos. He added that an iPhone 17 Pro Max, believed to belong to the victim, and a suspected chemical substance were recovered.

“We remain committed to dismantling organised criminal networks and ensuring that all fleeing accomplices are brought to justice,” Placid said.

Police said efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and conclude investigations into the case.