Oil Theft: Gunmen Subject Bayelsa Monarchs To Secret Oath Taking At Shrine, Issue Death Threats If…

Gunmen suspected to be militants, are reportedly subjecting some traditional rulers in Bayelsa State to secret oath taking to hide their illicit crude oil theft business in their domain.

It was gathered that the militants are threatening to eliminate the traditional rulers of Igbomotoru, Oyeregbeni and Peremabiri communities of the state if they fail to pledge allegiance to them.

BIGPENNGR gathered that the militants who specialize in crude oil theft, have also allegedly compromised operatibes of Joint Task Force (JTF) in the area who are supposed to track their nefarious activities in the communities to look sideways.

It was learnt that the gunmen attack communities that resist their crude siphoning business.

The recalcitrant militants who forcefully at gun point takeover control of some communities, are allegedly led by one ‘General’ Endurance Amagbin, a crude oil theft baron in the area.

Local sources revealed that the said ‘General’ Amagbin have been recruiting unsuspecting youths for the illegal crude theft operations in the communities.

He has been a terror to traditional rulers of Igbemotoru, its satellite communities of Lasukugbene, Beberegbene and Peremabiri community whom he subjected at gun point to unofficial oath of allegiance to keep secret of his operations or either get dethroned or killed.

BIGPENNGR gathered that the affected communities are host communities to multi-million dollars Trunk 18 inches diameter Crude Oil Tebidaba/Igbomotoru/Brass pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, Limited.

The development which is brewing serious tension in the communities, on Wednesday, prompted the paramount ruler of Igbomotoru (West Bomo) Community of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council, HRH Asemighen Ayibaikie Ofongo, BUO X, to sent a petition to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, to come to the rescue of the Bayelsa communities.

In the letter made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, the traditional ruler, lamented that the militia groups have continued molestation, vandalisation of houses and looting of properties of those who go against their illegal activities in the area.

Ofongo, in the letter with reference number IGBO/Security/10102/Vol.1/32/22, pointed out that he was also a victim of the wrath of these gunmen with their leader and self-styled ‘General’ Endurance Amagbin who subjected him to personal oath of allegiance to their operations and announcing his dethronement on State radio without the approval of the state Government.

According to the petition, “the youths and elders of Igbemotoru community have become refugees in their community. The people of the community and surrounding communities have not had any positive change since the self-styled General Endurance arrived. And he has also boasted that he has connection to the top and that petitions sent out are sent back to him promising anyone writing such petition to be ready to accept any consequences of their actions. This has embolden him to recruit jobless youths into his army in other to vandalize houses, loot properties therein.”

The worried monarch, recounted that on the 11th of December,2021, the Militia leader, Endurance Amagbin, ordered his squad to bring him at gun point, “Ammanawei was escorted under gunpoint by six gunmen into a waiting horsepower speed boat to a bush and into a shrine. i was ordered by the Militia leader to take oath of allegiance to him. When I protested and insisted I have earlier before my ancestors and even God sworn to be impartial in the discharge of my duties, he ordered his gunmen to fire several rounds of bullets above my head as a warning.”

“I realized I could be shot dead in the shrine, so I succumbed to save my life and took the oath. Again, on the 12th of December, 2021, the Igbomotoru 1 community chiefs under the directive of the militia leader convened a meeting of all people of the town.

“The meeting has no other agenda besides the dethronement of the Amananawei. Some persons who attended the meeting queried the veracity of such dethronement exercise. While many walked out of the meeting and the meeting ended on that note. Within days, a special announcement was sponsored by the militia leader and his boys of the dethronement on two radio stations in the state capital.”

“The State Government reacted spontaneously and denounced the dethronement as an exercise in futility and of no effect whatsoever. The paramount ruler as well went on air and denounced the purported dethronement.

“As it is now, myself and some others who are against the notorious activities of Endurance Amagbin in Igbomortoru community are not allowed access to our own community.

“We are calling on the Government to convene a peace meeting and in synergy with the Federal Government to please mop up all illegal arms and ammunition in the possession of non-state actors like the militia group now terrorizing the innocent people of Igbomotoru community.”