Tension as N’Delta ex-militant leaders threaten Shell

There was tension in the Niger Delta region on Tuesday after ex-militant leaders threatened to unleash violence on the Shell Petroleum Development Company if it failed to recall Mr. David Alabrah, whose employment was terminated by the company in March.

Prior to his sacking, Alabrah, an indigene of Agbere Town in Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, worked in the company as an Information Technology and Business Support Analyst.

The associations of ex-militant leaders, under the aegis of Ex-Niger Delta Militant Agitators Leadership Forum and the Coalition of Niger Deltans for Justice and Development, described the sacking as illegal.

The ex-militant ‘Generals’ in a statement  by their National President, Pastor Reuben, claimed that Alabrah was a victim of personal vendetta asking the company to immediately reverse its decision in the interest of peace in the region.

 The  former agitators, in the statement in Yenagoa, alleged that the people behind the sacking of Alabrah  also blocked his ‘computer e-mail access’ and identity card, his only means of gaining access into the company premises, before sacking him.

The statement said, “We wish to inform SPDC that enough is enough on the use of our people as guinea pig and fodder to some unscrupulous elements, ethnic bigots and persons in Shell employment who serve the needs, whims and caprices of SPDC in their capacity as PENGASSAN union leaders.

“We hope and believe Shell management, by this information, will use its good offices to bring about quick justice and restore Mr. Alabrah to his job, without which we will make Shell to face dare consequences in the days ahead.

 “We believe SPDC will not fail to heed this warning and accede to our wish in resolving this matter amicably in favour of the victim before we resort to very radical and aggressive means necessary and available at our disposal to pursue and persuade SPDC to recall Alabrah.”

The ex-militant leaders in the statement also decried the protracted internal rivalries within their ranks, adding that the development was against the general interests of their struggle for resource control and self determination.

Our correspondent learnt that the prolonged dispute between two of the ex-militant leaders, Mr. Government Ekpemukpolo popularly known as Tompolo and Mr. Ebikabowei Victor aka Boyloaf was threatening to tear the ex-agitators apart.

It was gathered that Tompolo and Boyloaf had been on a battle of supremacy.

But the ex-militant leaders asked the duo to stop washing their dirty linens in public insisting that the acrimony was capable of portraying the ex-militant leaders as “selfish individuals and leaders pursuing individual gains”.

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