Tension In Host Community To Forcados Export Terminal Over Arrest Of Ex-militant Leader

Tension is mounting in Ogulagha community, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, a host community to Shell owned Forcados Export Terminal, over the arrest of ex-militant leader, ‘General’ Bonny Gawei who was seized at a meeting with officials of the Delta State Waterways security Committee.

BigPen Online was told on Monday that the ex-warlord was arrested at the Naval Base, Warri on Thursday July 20, 2017 while attending a security meeting and was taken to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

Sources said that since the arrest, irate youths from the hometown of ex-militants which play host to the Forcados export terminal are seriously agitated which was capable of jeopardizing the relative peace in the oil bearing community.

Confirming the development, factional President of Ijaw Youth Council, Barr. Eric Omare, said that unnecessary and indiscriminate arrests of ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region by security agents assigned to maintain peace and protection of federal assets in the region could breach the peace process in the region.

According to him, the ex-militant leader was arrested in a commando style by security agents at a meeting called by Delta State Government official for the seek of peace in the state waterways.

“As a result of the arrest, there is now tension in Ogulagha Kingdom, Mr. Gawei’s hometown and host to the Forcados export terminal in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State with the IYC under immense pressure from Mr. Gawei’s kinsmen.

“The IYC states that the latest series of arrest of community and ex-agitators leaders is worrisome and may lead to breach of the Niger Delta peace process.

“The federal government cannot achieve its desired peace in an atmosphere of suspicion and lack of trust.

“The people of the Niger Delta region are already feeling that government is not sincerely committed to the peace process; hence the series of arrests in recent times.

“The IYC concede that security agents have the right to arrest and investigate anybody suspected of having committed any offence, however, the situation in the Niger Delta where people are arrested and kept in unground detention facilities for months and even up to a year without trial such as the case of Ezekiel Daniel, Alex Odogu and host of others is unacceptable”, Omare said.

He however called for a halt to the series of indiscriminate arrests and demand that Mr. Gawei and others in detention be released.

IYC also called on Acting President Prof Yemi Osinbanjo to take proactive steps to avoid another breach of peace in the Niger Delta region.