PORT HARCOURT — No fewer than 10 persons are feared dead, while several others remain missing following an alleged gunboat attack on a community boat in Kula Kingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident reportedly occurred when six gunboats were deployed to retrieve a disputed vessel from the community, despite ongoing negotiations between residents and Ebeto Company over alleged oil spills, compensation and employment opportunities for indigenes.
Two members of Amama Soldiers, a private security outfit reportedly engaged by the community to prevent the vessel’s removal, are also among those feared missing.
The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the incident, saying investigations are underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and determine the actual number of casualties.
A traditional ruler in Kula Kingdom, Anams Sara-Igbe, who confirmed the incident, alleged that the confrontation occurred while efforts were being made to resolve the dispute peacefully.
Sara-Igbe, a pioneer spokesperson of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), traced the disagreement to MV Anabra, a vessel reportedly hired from Chief Cletus Ibeto by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and Belema Oil joint venture about two years ago for crude oil storage at Oil Mining Lease 65.
According to him, the community accused the company of failing to address alleged oil spills linked to the vessel’s operations and demanded compensation, employment and empowerment opportunities for its people.
He said residents refused to release the vessel after its contract expired because the outstanding issues had not been resolved.
The traditional ruler disclosed that he had intervened in the dispute and advised the vessel’s owner to reach an agreement with the community before removing it.
“The matter came before me, and I advised him to ensure that he settled with the community peacefully and take his vessel. After a lot of boosts, he agreed to settle,” he said.
However, he alleged that the situation turned violent despite progress in the negotiations.
“We were in the process of settling when all of a sudden, I got a message this morning that he has sent in six gunboats to forcefully take his vessel from the community,” Sara-Igbe said.
He alleged that one of the boats conveying community members was struck by a gunboat during the confrontation and sank, leaving its occupants missing and feared drowned.
Sara-Igbe further claimed that the gunboats withdrew without attempting to rescue those who had fallen into the water.
The traditional ruler said he contacted the commanding officer at Bori Camp to establish whether the military had deployed the gunboats but was reportedly told that the officer was unaware of the operation.
He added that subsequent inquiries suggested the gunboats might have originated from Section Two or Section Three in Okrika, although the claim had not been independently verified.
Efforts were reportedly ongoing to locate and recover the missing persons. Sara-Igbe said any bodies recovered might be taken to Port Harcourt and possibly to Government House to draw the attention of the Rivers State Government to the incident.
He disclosed that the Rivers State Police Command and the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division had been notified.
“We quickly called the police PRO, the Rivers State Police Command PRO, to inform them of what has happened, and also called the spokesman of the 6th Division to inform them of what has happened,” he said.
The traditional ruler accused the vessel’s owner of prioritising financial and political interests over the welfare of the host community. He maintained that the community’s concerns over alleged environmental damage and demands for compensation and employment should be addressed.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command said it was investigating the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and establish the number of casualties.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe, confirmed that the Command was aware of the incident, which reportedly resulted in loss of lives.
“The Rivers State Police Command is aware of the incident in Kula Kingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, which reportedly resulted in the loss of lives.
“Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the exact number of casualties and the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Agabe said.
As investigations continue, the reported deaths and missing persons have heightened concerns over the dispute and the circumstances surrounding the alleged deployment of gunboats to retrieve the vessel.
