Stolen crude oil trigger crisis in Bayelsa Communities

OPERATIVES of the Joint Military Task  Force (JTF) yesterday averted a bloody communal clash between the youths of the Odogwuama and Tamana communities of Oporoma in the Southern Ijaw Local Council area of Bayelsa State over alleged disagreement on the proceeds from stolen crude oil and illegally refined products.

The crisis, which had last week escalated and led to exchange of gun fire between youths of the warring communities, led to the visit of the Council Chairman, Chief  Tiwei Orunimighe.

Also, the two factional chiefs parading themselves as traditional rulers of the warring communities were sacked.

It was gathered that the crisis was provoked by the struggle for the control of the proceeds from illegal bunkering  in the area, a situation which led to the emergence of two youth bodies and traditional rulers for the warring communities.

Following the continued crisis in the communities, operatives of the Joint Military Task Force were deployed in the area to protect oil facilities belonging to the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

On sighting officers of JTF some of the  youths escaped while, one person was arrested and some firearms recovered.

Orunimighe at a peace meeting removed the chairmen of the communities development committees and selected compound chiefs to take over the affairs of the villages pending the election of new paramount rulers.


Orunimigha pleaded with the feuding factions in the communities to maintain peace as they could not install a new leadership through violence.