Yet-to-be-identified gunmen have abducted five
persons working for an indigenous oil firm in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area
of Rivers State.
It was gathered that the victims were working at an
oil facility within OML-55 operated by an indigenous oil company, Belemaoil
Producing Limited in the high seas in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state
when they were kidnapped last Monday.
The oil workers are personnel of a subsidiary of
the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Integrated Data Services
Limited (IDSL) and a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation, BGP,
who are contractors of Belemaoil.
“They were working at a site of on-going seismic
operation by Belemaoil when they were abducted on Monday 13th May 2019,” a
source said.
The state police command confirmed the incident,
saying the Commissioner of Police in the state, Usman Belel, has ordered a
manhunt for the kidnappers.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO),
Nnamdi Omoni (DSP), said the police was working to ensure the safe and
unconditional release of the victims.
“We are aware of the incident. The commissioner of
police has ordered a serious manhunt to ensure that the victims are released
unhurt and unconditionally,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Kula Supreme Council of Traditional
Rulers, in whose territory the incident happened, has condemned the kidnap of
the five contract workers of Belemaoil by unknown gunmen.
The Chairman, Kula Supreme Council of Traditional
Rulers, King Kroma Eleki, in his reaction said the act is inimical to the
development of the area and could cause social disorder in the area.
He called for immediate and unconditional release
of the oil workers and for improved security along the Kula waterways.
Eleki further lamented that the kidnap of the five
oil workers confirms their earlier position that a multinational oil company
was colluding with some persons in Kula to undermine the security of the area
in a bid to forcefully resume oil operation in the Kula territory.
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