Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has condemned the what it termed military-backed laying of pipelines in K-Dere in Gokana local government area and other parts of Ogoniland by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Shell International.
It described the situation as an invasion of Ogoniland by Shell with the backing of the Nigerian government.
The body in a statement by it Publicity Secretary, Feghalo Nsuke said, “We see the current invasion of parts of Ogoniland by Shell with the backing of Nigerian soldiers as a clear signal to Shell’s determination to kill local people and members of civil society groups especially MOSOP who have consistently protested against oil resumption in Ogoni without a broad-based engagement with the Ogoni people”.
MOSOP maintained that oil related activities in any part of Ogoniland must be properly negotiated, not forced and must be done in good faith with the people’s free, prior and informed consent.
The body recalled that Shell”s injustices in Ogoniland had sparked up a conflict between the people, the government and the company since 1993 which led to the killing of over 4,000 Ogonis between 1993 and 1999.
The statement said the current action by Shell is another plot to further dehumanize, kill, abuse, rape and torture the people.
MOSOP said it, “strongly condemn Shell’s penchant for human rights abuses and disregard for the wishes of the Ogoni people. We insist that Shell will not push forward forceful resumption of oil production in the region and that Shell will end its use of Nigerian soldiers to intimidate, harass and torture our people”.
The body said it is deeply concerned about the danger posed by Shell’s presence in Ogoniland particularly as it affect the safety of local people who have consistently protested against the company.
MOSOP is demanding that Shell immediately withdraw its facilities from Ogoniland and desist from further actions that threaten the peace and security of our people.
