The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has raised the alarm over an alleged ongoing deprivation and oppression of host communities in Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa States by some International Oil Companies (IOCs).

National spokesman for IYC, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, made the claim on Monday at a world press conference at Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

He said the Ijaw nation is troubled and angered by the alleged ongoing deliberate deprivation and oppression against indigenes of host communities by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and others.

Ekerefe stated: “We are one of the major producers of crude oil in Nigeria and in view of our agitations for improved regulations of the oil and gas industry, bloody sacrifices were made for peace to prevail for an improved crude oil explorations and end to militancy in the region.

“Despite the known sacrifices that had led to the existing Local Content Act and the Petroleum Industry Act, it is worthy of note that these companies that are supposed to abide by the laws are not obeying them.

“These are laws meant to regulate the involvement of indigenes of host communities in the businesses of crude oil exploration and the benefits to the people that keep the peace and assist in the security of the nation’s wealth.

“But it is an open fact that these oil multinationals, including the SPDC, have shown a high level of disdain for host community indigenes with little or no benefits. Even the few small jobs being handled by indigenous contractors are being taken away from them.”

The spokesman claimed the SPDC had already sent termination notices to the indigenous contractors before the process was suspended after much protests from host communities.

He also alleged that just as they gave contracts that ought to be done by local contractors to their relatives and subsidiary companies, they also gave available employment opportunities that ought to be given to the indigenes to their relatives to the detriment of the people of the host communities.

Ekerefe noted: “Despite several correspondences from the affected contractors and intervention of the leadership of the NNPC/SPDC joint venture, particularly the Managing Director of the SPDC, the suspected officials of the security department of the SPDC have been identified as those resisting the peaceful overtures from their bosses and trying to trigger violent confrontations with the people of Ijaw communities.

“We wish to put it on record that the IYC is ready to shut down the exploration activities of the SPDC ‘even if it means to be killed by the trigger-happy security operatives in the region’.”

“The IYC hereby calls on the SPDC to stop the deliberate deprivation and oppression against indigenes of host communities. We are not going to issue an ultimatum as expected but we are ready to occupy the platforms of the affected oil multinationals.

“We would make our position known by following the laid down rules of engagement with these oil multinationals.

“We are calling on the Federal Government, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the heads of security agencies to advise the SPDC to do the needful. If they fail to ensure the status quo in the handling of the contracts, they will regret unpleasant outcomes.”