Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria, has demanded the immediate removal of Indorama-Eleme Petrochemicals and Fertilizer Company’s Surveillance Coordinator, Major Fidelis Omunakwe Akandu (rtd), accusing him of mishandling the multiple deaths reported around Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
YEAC-Nigeria, in a statement by its Executive Director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, said Akandu should be retired or disengaged, alleging that his earlier denial of the incident and deaths had damaged Indorama’s reputation and undermined public confidence in its surveillance operations.
The Centre said the demand followed confirmation by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, that four deaths had so far been verified in connection with the incident, with investigations still ongoing.
YEAC-Nigeria recalled that on September 5, Akandu had addressed journalists at NNPC Jetty following the Centre’s earlier claim that at least 37 people had died.
According to YEAC-Nigeria, the Indorama surveillance coordinator had said there was “no such incident” around the jetty and that “nobody died,” while challenging journalists and members of the public to produce evidence of dead bodies.
The Centre said subsequent confirmation of deaths by security agencies had rendered the earlier denial untenable.
“Major Akandu’s conduct has brought shame to Indorama. He has demonstrated a lack of competence, empathy and moral standing to continue in charge of Indorama’s surveillance operations in Okrika,” YEAC-Nigeria stated.
It alleged that the surveillance coordinator had failed in his responsibility for facility protection and early warning, and urged Indorama to replace him with “a competent Okrika indigene who understands the terrain and the people better.”
YEAC-Nigeria said it had lost confidence in Akandu continuing in his position in Okrika, accusing him of attacking the source of information about the deaths rather than responding to the concerns raised by affected communities.
The Centre also alleged that the incident involved the inhalation of “Indorama Fuel” or Crack C5, but said investigations by relevant security agencies, including the Department of State Services, DSS, were still ongoing.
YEAC-Nigeria further gave Indorama a 14-day ultimatum to retire Akandu or terminate his contract if he is a contractor.
It threatened to mobilise a peaceful protest to the company’s gate if the demand is not met within the stipulated period, saying protesters would remain there until his termination letter was presented.
The Centre commiserated with families of the victims and called for justice over the deaths, which it linked to what it described as alleged facility protection failure and leakage of Crack C5.
However, the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the cause of the incident remain subject to ongoing investigations by relevant authorities.
“Akandu must go,” YEAC-Nigeria declared.
