A Niger Delta group, Iduwini Volunteer Force, IVF, has threatened to unleash mayhem if Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, fails to adhere to a 14-day ultimatum to vacate its community.
This development was communicated in a letter addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan which was obtained by some journalists in Yenagoa, Bayela State capital.
According to the group, they were prompted to give the condition based on an illegal termination of a running contract between the community and the oil company signed in 2007.
The Iduwini Volunteer Force has consequently directed all its unit commanders to be on alert, warning that at the end of the 14 days ultimatum, should Shell refuse to see reason, it would have no choice but to commence immediate attacks and the process of restoring their full privilege as contained in the said surveillance contract document.
The letter said, “Your Excellency will recall that as Governor of Bayelsa State from 2005 to 2007, you graciously intervened in the lingering crisis between the Iduwini Volunteer Force and SPDC, where it was resolved among others.
“For peace, security and safety of oil companies activities within the Iduwini area of SPDC operations, that a running surveillance contract amounting to N8.002 milliion per year be awarded to the leadership of the Iduwini Volunteer Force and it was awarded.
“The surveillance contract which started in 2007 and was dutifully carried out by the leadership of the Iduwini Volunteer Force and payment for 2007 made and while in 2008 without any known breach of contract, SPDC, unilaterally stopped the contract till date. Our boys are, however, still rendering the services of securing oil facilities in the aforementioned areas as contained in the contract paper.”
