Rivers explosion: Youths threaten to drag Shell to ICC
A youth group in Rumuekpe community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, has threatened to drag Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria to the International Criminal Court, to claim damages resulting from the explosion that killed several persons and burnt down vehicles in their community last Friday.
Last Friday, several persons were killed from an explosion that erupted from illegal refined crude in Rumuekpe community.
Speaking in a press briefing at the community, the President of Rumuekpe Youth Elites; Maxwell Agala, said the Department of State Service will also explain before the ICC, the role it played in the destruction of properties in the area and the arrests it carried out in their community.
Maxwell accused the multinational of laxity, in addressing reports of pipeline sabotage, adding that SPDC waits until there is a disaster, like the recent one that claimed the lives of several persons and properties destroyed.
“I am telling the world that SHELL is to blame because they have failed to carry out their Corporate Social Responsibility to our community. They are the cause of everything that is happening in Rumuekpe today. They are the cause of the fire outbreak.
“They are the major connivers. I have their details with some of their security agencies, most importantly the DSS, coming to the community for arrests, looting the community, youths, properties, valuables worth millions of naira.
“They are all connivers of what is happening in Rumuekpe today. If SHELL say they are not connivers, then the ICC is not afraid of SHELL or the DSS.”
In the meantime; Shell Petroleum Development Company has claimed ownership of the pipeline, where the fire ignited.
The oil multinational accused the people of sabotaging their pipeline, which resulted in the disaster of last week Friday.
