2 killed over petroleum pipeline protection jobs in Bayelsa

- Two people have reportedly been left dead in clashes that happened at southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa

- Chief Peresho Erefawari acting paramount ruler of the community said the clash was caused by some youths over their exclusion in the petroleum pipeline protection jobs

- Erefawari, however, decried the frequent clashes by armed gangs in the area

Residents of Ondewari, a coastal settlement in southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa have fled the area following clashes between rival gangs in which two persons were reported dead.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the most of the residents observed the New Year in the bushes were they are hiding.

A residents and renowned environmentalist, Alagoa Morris said the community has been deserted since the crisis commenced on December 30, 2017.

He said two persons were killed last July in similar clashes.Morris urged relevant security agencies to intervene and restore peace to the community.

According to him, ''Our pain is that this crisis was avoidable; the community leadership had cried out to state government and drew the attention of the security agencies to the raging issues bordering on pipeline surveillance jobs at oilfields in the area but nothing happened.

“The situation would have been nipped in the bud, but here we are, four youths have been lost to the oil industry induced conflict that has left the community in a mourning mood.”

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Chief Peresho Erefawari, Acting Paramount Ruler of the community decried the frequent clashes by armed gangs in the area and urged the state government to halt the bloodshed.

He said: ''The clash was caused by protest by some youths in the community who are aggrieved over their exclusion in the petroleum pipeline protection jobs in the area.

“We have tried in vain to broker truce so that peace will prevail but to no avail.''

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that a traditional ruler Gambo Makama was killed alongside his pregnant wife in Sango local government area of Kaduna state on Monday, January 1, by gunmen who invaded his palace.

Also, 14 people were reportedly killed by gunmen in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of Rivers state on January 1, between 12.10am and 1.am.

Southern Kaduna killings: part 1 - on NAIJ.com TV:

Source: Naija.ng