N’Delta Youth Leaders Disown Pipeline Surveillance Protesters, ‘Fake Ex-militants’ Groups 

A coalition of youth leaders under the auspices of Delta State Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders have disowned a group of protesters who alleged attempt by Ocean Marine Services Limited to hijacked pipeline line surveillance contract of the Trans-Forcados Crude Oil Trunkline under OML 30.

The protesters, comprises of some unknown ex-militants had alleged that if the pipeline surveillance contract is given to Ocean Marine Services, it would render community youths jobless.

They claimed to be representing youths from Isoko, Itsekiri, Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities of Delta State and ex-militants from Delta State.

But addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Warri,  Delta State, the Delta State Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders disowned the protesters, saying they are not known to the four ethnic groups which they claim to represent and as such do not speak for them.

They stated that the protest was not authorized by an ethnic or community leadership of Isoko, Urhobo, Itsekiri and Ijaw but sponsored by pipeline surveillance contractors who are desperate to get pipeline surveillance contract”

The leaders said that Ocean Marine Service which currently handling the job is also an indigenous company owned by a Niger Deltan and is managed by Deltans and other Niger Deltans.

A joint statement by the ethnic nationalities leaders said: “The youth leadership of Isoko, Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo and Ndokwa nations have implicit confidence in the ability of Ocean Marine Services, a Niger Delta indigenous company to handle any oil facility security contract in Delta State and other parts of the Niger Delta region because of their track record of success and community engagement.

The statement was jointly signed by Ovie Umuakpo, President, Isoko National Youth Assembly, Agbateyinro Weyinmi, President, Itsekiri National Youth Council, Festus Oviesiri, President, Urhobo Youth Council, Eric Omare, President, Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, and Onwubolu Benjamin, President, Ndokwa National Youth Movement.

They also said the company has proven to be efficient in deploying community people in their operations, and therefore commended the community engagement strategy of Ocean Marine Services in the execution of such job in the past because of their community driven approach to oil facility security.

“We therefore call on the relevant authorities especially the Delta State Government and Federal Government to completely disregard the sponsored youths and fake ex-militants.