NEWS - Nigerian Youth Raid Mobil He

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Subject: NEWS - Nigerian Youth Raid Mobil Headquarters in Lagos

Title: Nigerian Youth Raid Mobil Headquarters in Lagos
Date: 11-MAY-1999
Author: Ben Akparanta,Police Affairs Reporter
Source: Gordon D Johnson <gdjohnson2@xxxxxxxx>

Police yesterday maintained a strong presence at the Mobil
Oil Nigeria Unlimited headquarters at Maroko, Victoria
Island, Lagos, and at Igbelogun village near the Tin Can
Island Ports, Lagos, following a weekend siege by Ijaw
youths.

While the police hunkered at the premises of Mobil on
Lekki-Epe Road, Maroko, leaders of Ijaw youths were yesterday
negotiating with officials of the oil company on how best to
resolve the impasse which began on Friday when a group of
Ijaw youths from Bayelsa and Delta states stormed the oil
company, demanding payment of compensation for oil spillage
in their various communities.

Although the police from the Maroko Station moved in to
disperse the protesting youths, the management of Mobil
requested them to allow time for negotiations with the
youths.

Lagos police spokesman, Mr. Paddy Ogon, an assistant
superintendent of police, said they were still awaiting the
outcome of the talks.

But Ogon said he was yet to get the details of the clash
between Ilaje and Ijaw at the Igbelogun village near Tin Can
Island last weekend, where Akin Obapolo, the son of Chief
Nimrod Obapolo, was allegedly hacked to death by Ijaw youths.

Police at the Trinity Police Station, Apapa, have arrested
six persons in connection with the weekend violence at
Igbelogun.

The Lagos Police Command, sources told The Guardian, have
reacted to the security situation in Lagos, with Mr. Sunday
Aghedo, the Commissioner of Police, drafting anti-riot police
personnel of the 23 Police Mobile Force Squadron (PMF) to the
Mobil headquarters, while the PMF 22 are now on stanby at
Igbelogun.

Although armed men of the anti-riot police remained outside
the offices of Mobil, Chief Haisley Lamighan, Mr. Victor
Okon, Mr. James Fazei, Palbond Esaba and Mr. Stanley Dienne
representing the oil communities, remained inside the Mobil
offices till yesterday afternoon.


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