RIVERS COMMUNITY DEMAND COMPENSATION FROM SHELL FOR KILLING 36 YEARS OLD MAN

Written by

Elfredah Kevin

A 36 years old man has been killed and three others sustained bullet wounds in K-Dere community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers state by suspected military men attached to Shell Petroleum Development Company  following an oil spill

It was also gathered that goods in the community daily market and other properties worth millions of naira were also allegedly damaged during a siege by suspected men on military uniform who are believed to have escorted official of Shell Petroleum Development Company to the area.

The development has spark tension among the people of K-Dere as the leadership of the community summon meeting and demand for justice and compensation from the Shell.

Speaking to newsmen, the Chairman of K-Dere Town Council, Elder DORNU GODSWILL expressed concern over the lost of lives and properties in the community even when current spillage did not affect K-Dere community.

DORNU GODSWILL complained that the people of K-Dere have suffered so much in the hands of the multinational and demanded for compensation of those whose lives were lost and properties destroyed.

The leader of  community daily market women, VICTORY OLULU recounted what transpired during the invasion and demanded compensation from the SPDC or risk been stopped from carrying out further operations in the area.

''People from the community comes here to sell even farmers children, suddenly, there was a gun shot, women ran due to fear with their children and their goods were destroyed, I had to also run for my life,  we are calling on shell if they don't come and pay compensation we are here still taken statistics of what is happening and they will not work on this community as long as women of this community is concern. They even throw stones on us, these were the bullet picked.'' She said.

A Cousin to the victim who was shot died, CHARLES KPEGBARA said ENE-ELKPEGE LEGBARA who is the only son of his parents was shot on his neck inside the community secondary school where he was doing a work just as he called for intervention from the government to bring justice, adding that the decease mother is 86 years old with a wife.

''The Army came in and started shooting, others ran away,  when they got there the man was there he has a leg problem he couldn't run and they shot him directly at the neck. He is lying there. He has an age mother of 86 years old, he is the only surviving son of this woman. See the wife and children who takes care of them, the man is 36 years old''. He said.

Meanwhile, all efforts to meet the management of SPDC  has been abortive, and Nigeria Army is yet to react to the allegations.