9 Injured As Protest Against NLNG Takes A Violent Twist

 

Nine Injured As Protest Staged By Finima People Against NLNG Turns Violent Following Counter-Protest By Bonny Youths. 

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas station in Rivers state witnessed unrest following the Clash from a protest by Finima youths in Bonny Local Government Area and a Counter-Protest by another group of youths from the same LGA.

The entrance of NLNG industrial area was barricaded on Thursday by Finima people who carrying placards with inscriptions such as ; 'NLNG Give Us Our Rights As Host Communities'  demanded that they be given recognition as 'landlords' of the gas company. A protest which first appeared peaceful, suddenly turned violent after another group of youths from same Bonny LGA countered the first set of  protesters .

According to Dagogo ; all avenues to have a dialogue with the Management was blocked and all attempts proved futile adding that the people of Finima had even engaged the Nigeria  Content & Management Development Board but greater politics was alleged to have played out.

He said, 

" The NLNG has refused to obey the Nigeria Oil ad Gas Industry Development Act of 2010 which clearly defend as host community and their rights. 

" Finima is the landlord of NLNG and we needed to be recognized as such. Finima will not rest until what we deserve by law of Nigeria is given to us." 

Mrs Prinye Kabaka the  woman Leader in Finima while speaking on the matter called on the Federal Government to caution NLNG

The other group of youths from Bonny who staged a Counter-Protest are alleged to have attacked Finima people who were protesting earlier. 9 persons were injured while a bus belonging to Finima Youths Congress was destroyed alongside 6 other vehicles.

Mr Princewill Brown one of the persons who sustained injury during the attack by the second group while narrating the incident accused the traditional leaders in Bonny of sponsoring the youths against a peaceful protest.

He said,

Before we knew it, hoodlums from Bonny carrying weapons like guns, bottles and machetes attacked us. "

The Management Eyono Fatayi Williams the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development of the NLNG in a statement revealed that the protest was a disagreement between the two groups.

" We can confirm an ongoing disagreement between two groups on Bonny Island, which has led to protests and blockades of some major routes.

" The NLNG wishes to state that as a good corporate citizen it applies the principle of fairness and inclusiveness in engaging with its stakeholders."