Orient Petroleum Refinery: NUPENG Sues For Peace Between Kogi, Anambra

The Lower Niger Unit of the National Union of Petroleum and National Gas Workers (NUPENG-Marine) on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, decried the recent attack, which resulted in killing of innocent staff of the Orient Petroleum Resources and destruction of property worth millions of naira in  Enugwu-Otu Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State by unidentified gunmen suspected to be from Asonwa village in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The Chairman of the Lower Niger Unit of the union, Bash Maaji, called on governors of the two states of Kogi and Anambra states to go for a round table meeting and dialogue rather than allow their citizens to launch attack on each other.

The oil refinery at Enugwu Otu Aguleri has been in controversy since 2012 when it was commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan. It has been frequently invaded by armed men from Kogi who killed three persons and burnt about 10 caterpillars and houses, leaving scores injured last week.

The two communities lay claims of the ownership of the land where the oil was discovered.

But reacting, Maaji called on Kogi and Anambra states government to down their arms and route for dialogue.

He said: “Let the two governors, Captain Idris Wada of Kogi State and Chief Willie Obiano of Anambra State  come together and agree on one thing and once that is done, I don’t think that anybody will take up arms again but if it is difficult for them, they can make such recommendations to the presidency to wade in.

“We have boundary adjustment committee in this country and I believe they know their work. Let us take sentiment and politics out of this matter.”

While condoling with Orient Petroleum and immediate families of those who lost their lives during the attack, Bash stated that Lower Niger Unit of NUPENG-Marine  has  written a report to their headquarters  over the incident, stating that no man’s interest worth the blood of any Nigerian.

He also called on Nigerian Navy in Anambra and Kogi states to step up surveillance in the wate ways to forestall future occurrence of the ugly trend, adding, “There is need for dialogue and there is need to obtain peace in the area to enable Orient Petroleum have conducive working environment”.