Orient Ptroleum facilities it would be recalled was last week invaded by unidentified gunmen suspected to be from Asonwa village in Ibaji Local government Area of Kogi State, which is a neighbouring community to the Enugwu-Out which houses Orient Petroleum.
The oil refinery at Enugwu-Out, Aguleri has been in controversy since 2012 when it was commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan and both communities have been laying claims of the ownership of the land where the oil was discovered.
Reacting on the recent attack of the Orient petroleum workers, the Lower Niger Unit chairman of NUPENG-Marine, Comrade Bash Maaji, however called on Kogi and Anambra State government to down arms and route for dialogue rather than launching attack on each other.
“Let the two governors, Captain Idris Wada of Kogi State and Chief Willie Obiano of Anambra State come together and agree on one thing and once that is done, I don’t think that anybody will take up arms again but if it is difficult for them, they can make such recommendations to the presidency to wade in. We have boundary adjustment committee in this country and I believe they know their work. Let us take sentiment and politics out of this matter” Bash urged.
While condoling with Orient petroleum and immediate families of those who lost their lives during the attack, Comrade Bash stated that Lower Niger Unit of NUPENG-Marine has written a report to their headquarters over the incident, stating that no man’s interest worth is the blood of any Nigerian.
He also called on Nigerian Navy in Anambra and Kogi States to step up surveillance in the water ways to forestall future occurrence of the ugly trend, adding that” there is need for dialogue and there is need to obtain peace in the area to enable orient petroleum have conducive working environment”
Maaji also commended the Anambra State Commissioner of police, Mr. Hassan Karma for deploying police personnel to the area to safeguard lives and properties of the petroleum resources.
