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Isoko women seal oil firm, say we no longer need Heritage Energy in our land
Women from Emede, Oleh and Olomoro, in Isoko South Local Government Area, numbering over 200, have sealed the Olomoro/Oleh flow station of Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited.
The women, who carried placards with different inscriptions, barricaded the entrance gate of the company and vowed to remain there until their demands were met.
Speaking on their grievances, Mrs. Helen Obrogo alleged gruesome marginalization of the Olomoro/Oleh cluster 5 by Heritage Energy, which she said had come to a head.
Mrs. Obrogo averred that as the proverbial goose that lays the golden egg, they could no longer tolerate the diabolical orchestration by the oil company and its cohort against the interest of cluster 5.
She said they had, therefore, declared HEOSL a persona non grata, stressing that the company was no longer needed as it had become an oppressor in their land.
According to her, they were not happy with Heritage Energy because the infield surveillance contract duly advertised by the company, bided for and won by a solely indigenous company owned by an Oleh indigene and Chief of the kingdom bided. CMD Limited, following which the company received an offer letter and was duly invited for a kick off meeting which he attended and modalities for kick off agreed.
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Mrs Obrogo said on the strength of that, CMD mobilized men and resources to the entire OML 30 Isoko area infield on January 2024 and had effectively secured the infield till date with an outstanding record of performance and stoppage of crude oil bunkering along the Uzere-Emede-Oleh line, down to Iyede and even Enwhe
Provocatively, she continued, HEOSL had refused to release payment to CMD Limited nine months running.
Also speaking, Mrs Ann Ogiale alleged that HEOSL working with the greatest conspirator and threat to peace in OML.30 and the entire Isoko nation, one Chief Iduh Amadhe and an interest driven traditional ruler wanted to impose a non indigenous contractor on them.
Mrs Ogiale pointed out that the owner of the said company was not an indigene of Oleh, as his great grand father, grand father and father all lived and were buried in Ofagbe, a community not related to OML 30 in any shape or form.
She accused HEOSL of continually engaging quack and fake contractors for fixing and maintenance of valved spots so much so that repaired valved spots frequently got bad for other rounds of repairs leading to avoidable pollution of arable farmland.
Mrs Ogiale further alleged that they had it in good authority and they affirmed that very top HEOSL personnel were insider collaborators to crude oil theft and contract fixing.
Another of the protestors, Mrs Theresa Umuneruo, said inline with the PIA law, NPDC hosted a training, induction and inauguration of the PIA Board wherein a cluster representative and indigene of Olomoro, Deacon John Oteri, was elected to lead the Board, following which he was handed a letter of incorporation as a symbol of authority.
She said sadly HEOSL had refused to acknowledge the symbolic event and authority, rather it was bent on superimposing a representative from another cluster on the Board, windering the crime of cluster 5.
In summary, the women, outraged by the excesses and inglorious manipulations by HEOSL against cluster 5, resolved to shut down oil exploration activities in their land and demanded immediate payment of the infield contractors, CMD Limited for his efficient infield surveillance service.
They also asked for the recognition of Deacon John Oteri as Chairman of the PIA Board, the evacuation of HEOSL from the OML 30 asset, while urging NPDC to look inward and, like most divested asset, engage from the pool of eminently qualified local professionals to manage the OML 30 asset.
The women said NO to a British company management of their resources and No to exploration of crude oil in all facilities in cluster 5 until their demands were affectively met.
Efforts To get the reaction of Heritage Energy personnel on ground proved abortive as they claimed they did not have the authority to speak.
News
Jehovah’s Witnesses announce fresh adjustment to blood transfusion policy
The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has announced that members can now decide whether to accept or donate the four main components of blood based on their personal conscience.
The organisation made this known in a statement issued by its World Headquarters in Warwick, New York and made available on its website on Friday.
According to the statement, “the decision to accept red cells, white cells, plasma or platelets from another person’s blood is a matter of personal conscience.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses announce adjustment to blood transfusion policy
It added that “each Witness must decide whether or not to donate blood for the clearly expressed purpose of providing components or fractions for use by another person.”
However, the organisation said its position on whole-blood transfusion had not changed.
“The long-standing refusal of whole-blood transfusions on religious grounds, a core teaching based on the command to ‘abstain from blood’ (Acts 15:20), is unchanged,” the statement said.
International spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses at the organisation’s World Headquarters, Paul Gillies, said, “Blood remains sacred to Jehovah’s Witnesses, who continue to regard life and blood as precious gifts from God.
“We recognise that medical decisions involving blood components are a matter of conscience between each Witness and their God, Jehovah.”
The organisation said the adjustment “follows earlier updates regarding blood fractions and the use of one’s own blood during medical procedures.”
It added, “Since the Bible does not comment on such decisions, they are a matter of individual conscience. That same reasoning has now been extended to the four main components of blood.”
On medical care, the statement said, “Jehovah’s Witnesses love life and want the best available medical care. They do not practise faith healing, and they seek out doctors who can provide effective treatment in accord with their wishes, values and beliefs.”
Gillies said local congregations would not interfere in members’ personal decisions.
“Congregations do not involve themselves in personal decisions that rest with the individual conscience. We will continue to respect and support the personal decisions of our fellow believers.
“We are grateful, too, for the many skilled and compassionate physicians who provide quality medical care that respects our personal wishes regarding blood,” he said.
The organisation said Jehovah’s Witnesses number “over nine million worldwide, in congregations across more than 200 lands.”
Recall that the religious group had clarified its position on the use of a member’s own blood during surgery and other medical procedures.
The clarification allowed individual Witnesses to decide whether their blood could be removed, stored and returned to them during medical treatment, while the organisation maintained its position against receiving blood from another person.
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News
Army speaks on Boko Haram, ISWAP attack alert as fake
The Nigerian Army has dismissed as fake and unverified a purported intelligence alert warning of planned Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks on schools, churches, mosques, NYSC orientation camps and other public institutions across the country.
Anele said the Army was aware of the circulation and had heightened vigilance across its formations and commands to prevent attacks on vulnerable facilities.
She described the purported intelligence as speculation and urged the public not to treat the document as an official Army security alert.
The response followed the circulation of a document purportedly signed by one A.M. Sodiq, which claimed that Boko Haram and ISWAP were planning coordinated attacks across several parts of the country.
The document listed churches, schools, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable locations as possible targets and alleged that suspected ISWAP operatives had begun surveillance of selected locations.
It further claimed that the alleged attacks could coincide with the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session.
However, the Army disowned the document, maintaining that it did not originate from the institution.
The Army assured Nigerians that security formations remained on heightened alert and were taking necessary measures to protect schools, places of worship and other vulnerable public facilities.
News
Police Allegedly Shoot Engine Oil Seller During Minna Protest
MINNA, Niger State — An engine oil seller in Minna, the Niger State capital, has reportedly sustained serious injuries after allegedly being shot during a police operation to disperse protesters.
The victim, identified as Ibrahim Mohammed Dada, was reportedly standing outside his shop at Tunga Market when he was struck by a bullet.
Ibrahim’s brother, Yakubu Dada Mohammed, said the victim was not part of the protest and was attending to customers at his engine oil stall when the incident occurred.
According to him, Ibrahim was simply trying to earn a living and support his family when a police officer allegedly fired a shot that hit him in the head and severely injured his face.
«“He was not among those protesting. He was standing in front of his shop selling engine oil when one of the police officers fired a bullet that struck his head and badly injured his face,” Yakubu said.»
Ibrahim is currently receiving treatment at Minna General Hospital, where his condition was reportedly described as critical.
The incident occurred amid protests in Minna over the reported deaths of 37 miners who were allegedly in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Reports indicate that 65 miners were arrested on September 15 and 16, with 37 subsequently reported dead while in security custody.
The protests, which began on Thursday, continued into Friday as security personnel moved to disperse demonstrators. Security forces were reportedly accused of using tear gas and live ammunition during the operation.
However, the circumstances surrounding Ibrahim’s shooting have not been independently established.
The Niger State Police Command spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, appealed for calm and said the incident would be investigated.
The case has since heightened concerns over the conduct of security personnel during the ongoing protests.
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