SPDC confirms invasion, shut down of facility in Bayelsa community

Anglo-Dutch oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Tuesday confirmed the invasion and shut down of its Opukushi oil facility by community folks in Ekeremor  Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. A Spokesman for Shell Development Company (SPDC) Michael Adande in a statement said: ” A large number of men and women invaded a contractor-owned and operated rig working for The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited Joint Venture in Opukushi in Ekeremor Local Government area of Bayelsa State in the early hours of Monday 10 January 2022.

“The invaders forcibly shutdown the facility and occupied the safe muster area. Nobody was hurt in the process and the incident was promptly reported to government authorities.” Egbemo-Angalabiri community, host to SPDC, in the council area had shut down a crude oil drilling rig over failure to provide basic needs and continued dealings with the outgone leadership of Tarakiri Cluster Development Board, TCDB. The community folks, including women and youths, armed with placards besieged Specialty Drilling Rig BR 301, a major SPDC drilling rig in the early hours of Monday, asking the company to stop dealing with the leadership of the outgone TCDB.