A group of young people from the Niger Delta, specifically from communities involved in oil production, had a heated argument in Abuja.
The disagreement arose because a meeting that was initially planned for their region was moved to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Originally intended for members of the oil-producing community from Delta State at the Sandralia Hotel in Jabi, Abuja, the gathering turned violent on Tuesday.
Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a peaceful meeting ended with several people sustaining bloody injuries.
This incident, resulting in at least three serious injuries, has raised concerns about how internal conflicts within oil-producing communities are handled and the potential impact on advocacy efforts in the Niger Delta.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are now advocating for future discussions regarding oil-producing communities to be relocated to Warri. One person with critical injuries was swiftly taken to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention.
Calm was restored only after security operatives from the Utako Police Division and the hotel management intervened.
Addressing the press about the tumultuous events, Victor Udoh, the President-General of the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders, explained, “This impromptu press address is necessary to shed light on the unfortunate events that unfolded over the last three hours.
Our attention was drawn to the fracas within the aforementioned hotel, where members of the oil-producing community from Delta State were gathered to hold a meeting.”
Udoh expressed dismay over the exclusion of certain groups from the meeting and emphasized that choosing Abuja as the meeting venue caused “unnecessary embarrassment” for the Niger Delta.
He stressed the importance of inclusivity and urged the Delta State structure of the oil-producing community to hold all future meetings in Warri, a significant city in the Niger Delta, known as the Oil City and deemed more suitable for oil-related discussions.
Furthermore, the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders called on federal agencies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), to refrain from mobilizing community members to Abuja.
They cited the “stress and uncertainties” involved in such travel. Udoh underscored the need to involve the region’s youth in every engagement to ensure peace and tranquility.
