Igbomotoru—The management of Darlon Oil & Gas Limited, has debunked reports circulating in different sections of the media alleging that its staff was involved in the killing of a youth in Igbomotoru community in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state.
According to a statement obtained by mangrovepen.ng, which was signed by Chief Levi Wilson, Chairman, Darlon Oil & Gas Limited
The company stated that some individuals sponsored by a known politician in the local government are behind the false media reports.
The statement reads in part:
“We are aware also that the said politician sponsored some persons from the community to protest against our Principal, alleging that we are responsible for the death of seven other persons, whose identity the leader of the protest could not confirm.
“As a law-abiding company operating in Nigeria, ordinary we would not have joined issues with the sponsored protesters, but for the avoidance of doubt, we wish to put the records straight by distancing ourselves from the report which we consider as a mere imagination of mischievous elements who are bent on denting the rising political image of our Principal.
“From our investigation, it was learnt that an oil and gas servicing company had hired a gunboat to escort its staff to repair a damaged pipeline close to Igbomotoru Community.
“We further gathered that on the way back from their mission to clamp/repair the damaged pipeline, about 8pm, the gunboats escorting the team accosted a passenger boat with four persons on board.
“Our source reliably informed us that when the passenger boat was stopped for routine search, three men, including the deceased, jumped into the river and swam to the shore where they stood to observe what the occupants of the gunboat were up to.
“It was further revealed that when the boat was searched, bags containing illegally refined crude oil products were discovered inside the passenger boat, prompting the yet-to-be-identified military men to go after the men who jumped overboard the boat, and in the process, one of them was killed.
“As a duly registered company in Nigeria, we urge the agents of mischief against our Principal to fact-check their stories before going to the press, as Darlon Oil & Gas Limited was not involved in the clamping/repair of the damaged pipeline that led to the killing of the deceased in Igbomotoru Community.”
The company also sympathized with the family of the deceased as well as with the entire Igbomotoru Community.
Similarly, the management of MLJ Marine Oil and Gas, has also denied reports that it went for pipeline repairs on Friday when the shooting that led to the death of youth reportedly occurred.
In a statement signed by its founder and president, Amb. Mpakaboari Longjohn, the company stated that “during our operation, we are always on a Joint intervention Team (JIV Team), if such incident had occurred I believe all security operatives will be aware and ready to take necessary action.
“We also want to use this medium to sympathize with the family of the deceased & also the community.”
It was reported that on Friday one Young Adolphus Major, lost his life, during a shootout out between the military and some youths in the community.
