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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
No fewer than 10 persons are feared dead following the capsize of a community boat during a confrontation over the blockade of an offshore crude oil storage vessel in Kula Kingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The tragedy occurred during a protest by youths and community leaders over an unresolved oil spill in Kula River, alleged unpaid debts owed local contractors and vendors for 18 months, and what residents described as neglect by companies operating in the area.
The protesters had barricaded the ANAMBRA BASIN Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel, linked to operations at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 55, to press their demands when the situation reportedly escalated following the arrival of armed military personnel in gunboats.
Community sources alleged that the security personnel were deployed to dismantle the blockade and facilitate the vessel’s departure. A confrontation reportedly ensued, during which a boat conveying community members capsized.
Community leaders, including Anabs Sara-Igbe, put the number of persons feared dead at 10. However, the casualty figure had yet to be independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident and said an investigation had commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The incident has heightened concerns over the handling of disputes between oil companies and host communities in the Niger Delta, particularly the deployment of armed security personnel during protests over environmental pollution and alleged contractual obligations.
Reacting, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) condemned the incident and called for an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the boat’s capsize.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, the organisation said it received reports of the incident with shock, expressing concern over the reported loss of lives.
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While acknowledging the right of host communities to protest environmental pollution and demand corporate accountability, YEAC-Nigeria warned against the militarisation of civil disputes in the oil and gas sector.
The organisation urged the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Navy to investigate the cause of the capsize, the circumstances surrounding the deployment of armed personnel and the events leading to the confrontation.
It also called on the Rivers State Government, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the companies concerned to intensify search, rescue and recovery operations.
“No crude oil vessel is worth the blood of community people. The Niger Delta has seen too many avoidable deaths over oil,” the group stated.
YEAC-Nigeria appealed for restraint and dialogue, warning that further confrontation could worsen tensions in the community.
It also urged the Ibeto Group to address the grievances raised by Kula residents, including the alleged oil spill, environmental remediation and settlement of verified debts owed local contractors and vendors.
Meanwhile, Max Shipping Services Limited, owners of the ANAMBRA BASIN FSO, has distanced itself from responsibility for oilfield operations and the alleged environmental pollution, maintaining that it only leased the vessel to another company.
In a statement signed by its Legal Officer, Ikeh Sylvia, the company said the vessel was hired to Menal Technical Services Limited under a Marine Equipment Hire Agreement dated September 20, 2024.
Max Shipping maintained that its contractual relationship was with Menal and not the Kula community. It added that the hirer assumed responsibilities relating to operational requirements, community settlements, security arrangements and demobilisation.
According to the company, its decision to retrieve the vessel followed prolonged outstanding hire payments by Menal, prompting it to exercise its contractual rights as provided under the agreement.
