Two people were feared dead, five missing and several others injured as different youth groups engaged each other in a free for all at the Federal Ocean Terminal of the Oil and Gas Free Zone in Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, according to a Punch report.
Eyewitnesses say a group of youths from Okrika began a peaceful protest at about 5:30am on Monday, November 17, 2014 over the Federal Government’s refusal to accord their community the status of host community as the recent expansion of the Federal Ocean Terminal extended into their territory.
Their protest was however shortlived as youths from Onne came in, leading to a fierce fight between both groups, leaving to people dead.
A witness, simply identified as John said: “It is unfortunate that we are not recognised as a host community while Ogu and Onne are listed as host communities. This is not fair because the expansion of FOI makes the facility to extend to Okrika.
“What happened today; I mean the attack on Okrika people was unnecessary because we were only protesting so that our community will be part of host communities. The protest was peaceful, but a group of persons from Ogu attacked Okrika youths.”
