Angry elders and youths of six communities of Ewoama, Dieama, Opuorubou, Akabele, Igbabele and Mbikiri in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have sent a save-our-soul letter to President Goodluck Jonathan and the authorities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to investigate alleged N7.5million bribe offered communities by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NOAC, to cover up the controversial oil spillage in the area.
The petition, which was written separately by the umbrella body of youths
known as Okpoama Vanguard and the Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria, ARFAN, accused the authorities of NAOC of adopting a divide and rule tactics among eight impacted communities in Brass Local Government Area with alleged bribe of N7.5million.
In a statement issued by the Okpoama Vanguard and signed by its secretary, Comrade Tarinyo Akono, the alleged N7.5milion bribe was shared through youth leaders of Okpoama, Twon Brass and Odioma communities at N2.5million each.
“Our investigation showed that Agip Oil Company is not interested in compensating the fishermen affected by the November 28 oil spillage but instigate divide and rule and provoke violence in the area.”
The group called on the authorities of the EFCC to intervene and investigate the alleged case of professional misconduct and bribery by the management of the oil company.
On the alleged clean-up done by the NOAC, Okpoama Vanguard described the conduct of the staff of Agip as a “death trap” set for indigenes of the affected communities.
According to Akono, “The purported clean up was done with a chemical known as corexit. The after effect causes nausea, vomiting and other strange illnesses. Days after the strange chemical was used, dead turtles were found by the shore of the Atlantic Ocean and fishes were nowhere to be found. This is the same chemical used in the British Petroleum clean-up scandal. The chemical is not environmental friendly.”
Also in its statement, the Bayelsa chapter of Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria called on President Jonathan to intervene in the controversy rocking the recent spillage affecting eight communities of Brass Local Government Area of the state.
The statement signed by Princess Elizabeth Egbe alleged that the hundreds of fishermen affected by the oil spillage were dissatisfied with the conduct of Agip.