The People of Snagana Community in Brass local government of Bayelsa State have called on the relevant authorities to beckon on Conoil to do something concerning the death of their youth who was allegedly shot at the company’s platform and two more that were still missing.

Recall that on the 29th of May, 2023, the youths were said to have gone to the Conoil platform located in the community to lay complaints as usual and to remind Conoil of the MOUs the community had with them which has not been fulfilled.

It was gathered that instead of Conoil to give the youth a listening ear, some military men attached to the platform opened fire on them allegedly killing one while two youths were still missing and others sustained various degrees of injuries.

Speaking to some selected journalists on Monday in Yenagoa, ThankGod Robinson Angadega who led a delegation from the community regretted that the company was still busy operating and being adamant as if nothing has happened.

He disclosed that all the MOUs signed with Conoil have been neglected the reason why the youths went to the platform to remind them.

He stated “In 2019, 120 million Naira was agreed to be paid in a round table discussion in Lagos as regards a project fund. That is still pending as we speak.

“November 1st, 2021, a gas explosion occurred leading to the death of most of our fish. Based on the pressure of the community and assistance of the government, paltry foods stuff were dispatched to the community on December 1st and we agreed that after the dispatch of those foods items, discussion as regards compensation will commence and medical experts will be sent to check the health of the people, none was done.

“In 2020, an oil spill occurred at Celtic One. A series of letters were written. No ministry has not seen our letters, even the military parastatals. Including the mineral resources ministry. Nothing was done.

“Twenty-five years now, no single Sangana youth has been employed. We have graduated. Go to the history of Conoil, where any Sangana person is there? Nobody.

” In 2021, it was agreed that 3.3 million naira will be paid to the Sangana community monthly, till today none. If you calculate it is about 136 million naira.
Conoil is having about 35 well heads in our community and more are coming and yet the people are suffering.

“Because of their daily activities, the sea level is down affecting the community. Go and see, there is an erosion problem because we are in the Atlantic Ocean. We are crying to the world.

“Just last year, a new leadership of the youth came on board and they started meeting the company to follow up with the demands, but the company seems not to yield. Lots of efforts were made we reported to our big brothers at the state level to make sure that Conoil listens to us, but they didn’t listen.

“So we go to the platform to let them know about any letter we want to dispatch to Lagos. This has been a long tradition. Those youths went in demand of the outstanding issues on that 29th May they went to dispatch this letter to Conoil. These military people shot them.

“These youths were not armed. They were not violent. They went peacefully on that fateful day. Two are wounded, and two are missing. It is a bitter pill for us to swallow and Sangana will not keep quiet because society is not a graveyard that we will continue to be silent.

“Conol dosent have a laison office in Bayelsa. And before we could dispatch a letter to them, no way sometimes when we go, they will block us and the letter will bounce back.

Another speaker who gave his name as Awotimitebekumo Boussa maintained that Conoil has a method they use adding that raised small boys that they are paying small stipends that give them information.

He said that he wouldn’t be that all the bitcoins at the meeting were being heard by Conoil.

He said” I may not be surprised that as we are talking, Conoil is hearing all. Whatever Coniol is doing is best known to them. From the way it is happening now, if it is allowed to continue, that little Ireland that is remaining called Sangana, we will even leave there for Conoil.

“We are crying to you people, help us send our voices to the world. Could you imagine the 29th of May till today nobody is talking.

Reacting to the development, Ebieri Jones, commissioner of mineral resources in Bayelsa State who said that he has not sighted any letter from the community said he was aware of the matter.

He said the issue borders more on security and not on oil stating that the government took the wounded youths to the hospital and took the corpse to the mortuary.

He said “We are not talking of Uo now. We are talking about host community development funds. The time of MOU us over.

“But I know that Conoil has not employed anybody from the community since they are working there. They are not a responsible corporate citizen. You can quote me on that.

“We have held several meetings and Conoil is not a responsible corporate citizen. And previous MOUs have not been fully met. Comparatively based on the number of years they have stayed, there is nothing that the community has gained from Conoil.

All the calls put across to the public relations officer of the company, Richard Edegbai couldn’t not be responded to as at the time of filing in this report.