The youths also blocked the two access roads to the oilfield and turned away workers in their vehicles.
They further accused the oil firm of terminating a security contract handled by an indigenous firm that employed youths from the area who lost their jobs at the oil fields.
In response, the Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom shut down operations of the company and ordered oil workers including expatriates to withdraw from the project site.
The protest held up operations at the marginal field operated by the Universal Energy Resources Ltd, owned by Akwa Ibom state government with Chinese technical partners.
Some contactors whose personnel were already at the site appealed to the youths to allow them to withdraw from the site. They promised to stay away until the conflict between the communities and Universal Energy Resources was settled.
An armed police squad from Mbo Police Division, led by Superintendent of Police, Anietie Eyoh, arrived later to disperse the protesters but was unsuccessful. The Area Commander Assistant Commissioner of Police Ene Okon has reportedly ordered the arrest and detention of the youth leaders.
Tensions mounted in the communities as the youths trooped to the Oron Ara Command headquarters to demand the release of their leaders.
Youth president Eteka Etim said they were protesting the refusal of the oil firm operating in the area to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the communities.
“We have resolved to block Universal Energy because of their maltreatment and neglect of the people of Orukun and the entire Mbo community since they started exploration of oil and gas on our land without any form of agreement.
They further accused the oil firm of terminating a security contract handled by an indigenous firm that employed youths from the area who lost their jobs at the oil fields.
In response, the Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom shut down operations of the company and ordered oil workers including expatriates to withdraw from the project site.
The protest held up operations at the marginal field operated by the Universal Energy Resources Ltd, owned by Akwa Ibom state government with Chinese technical partners.
Some contactors whose personnel were already at the site appealed to the youths to allow them to withdraw from the site. They promised to stay away until the conflict between the communities and Universal Energy Resources was settled.
An armed police squad from Mbo Police Division, led by Superintendent of Police, Anietie Eyoh, arrived later to disperse the protesters but was unsuccessful. The Area Commander Assistant Commissioner of Police Ene Okon has reportedly ordered the arrest and detention of the youth leaders.
Tensions mounted in the communities as the youths trooped to the Oron Ara Command headquarters to demand the release of their leaders.
Youth president Eteka Etim said they were protesting the refusal of the oil firm operating in the area to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the communities.
“We have resolved to block Universal Energy because of their maltreatment and neglect of the people of Orukun and the entire Mbo community since they started exploration of oil and gas on our land without any form of agreement.
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