Diette-Spiff Escapes Attack as Agip Export Terminal Host Community Protests Power Outage

By Onungwe Obe

The Amayanabo of Twon Brass in Bayelsa State and former Military Governor of Old Rivers State, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, reportedly escaped mob attack yesterday from members of his community who blocked the Agip Export Terminal in protest against power outage in the community.

Diette-Spiff was said to have tried to pacify them to go home and await discussions between the company and representatives of the community when they reportedly hauled missiles at him.

The protesters alleged that Diette-Spiff was complicit in the several attempts by Agip to shortchange the community, so they no longer have confidence in him representing them in talks with Agip.

During the attack on him, Diette-Spiff was said to have been whisked away to the neighbouring community of Okpoama.

The youths’ President of Twon Brass, Mr. Edward Edison, said the timely intervention of the youths and armed security agencies deployed to the terminal saved the day.

But he said a 24-year-old youth was shot in the process. Though he did not say what the state of the gunshot victim was.

The protests by members of the Agip host community had disrupted activities at the oil firm’s office premises located on Brass Island near the Atlantic coastline.

The community members, comprising women, youths and elders, had since May 14 occupied and blocked access to Agip’s operational office, beating drums and singing solidarity songs, while demanding the immediate restoration of power.

The Chairman, Twon Brass Community Development Committee (CDC), Chief Benjamin Obuala, said the people of Twon Brass would continue to remain peaceful in ventilating their grievances over the power outage which had persisted for over two months.

Meanwhile, the Media Relations Official at Eni, parent company of Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Ms. Cioni Maririna, declined comments on the development.