Diette-Spiff, Twon Brass Monarch, flees as protesting Agip host community in Bayelsa persists

The Twon Brass community in Bayelsa, hosts to Agip’s Crude Export Terminal, has continued ongoing protests against lingering power outage in the settlement and shunned entreaties from the Monarch, King Alfred Diette-Spiff.

The people alleged that the monarch was complicit in several efforts by Agip to shortchange the community and said they no longer have confidence in his representation in talks with the oil firm.

It was learnt on Wednesday, that Diette-Spiff had addressed the protesters and urged them to disperse and leave the premises of Agip while discussions with the oil firm to resolve the dispute continues in Port Harcourt.

The aggrieved members of the community, who had blocked access to the oil firm’s office, however, resisted the appeal by the monarch and became restive and hauled missiles at the traditional ruler who was whisked out of the scene to avert violence.

The monarch was reportedly taking refuge at the neigbouring Okpoaoama also in Brass local government area.

Mr Edward Edison, Youth President of Twon Brass said that the timely intervention of the youths and armed security agencies deployed to the oil firm saved the monarch but said that a 24 year old was shot in the process.

He explained that the monarch had to leave the community in a hurry to avert escalation of the situation as the residents vowed to remain in the premises of Agip until power was restored.

The protests by members of the Agip host community had disrupted activities at the oil firm’s office premises located on Brass Island, near the Atlantic coastline.

The community members comprising women, youths and elders, had since May 14 occupied and blocked access to Agip’s operational office beating drums and singing solidarity songs, while demanding immediate restoration of power.

Chief Benjamin Obuala, Chairman, Twon Brass Community Development Committee (CDC) said the people of Twon Brass will continue to remain peaceful in ventilating their grievances over the power outage which had persisted for over two months.

When contacted for response Ms Cioni Maririna, Media Relations Official at Eni, parent company of Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) , declined comments on the development.