Warri — ONE of the largest oil platforms in Bayelsa State, the Middleton oil flow station, located about 25 miles offshore, was yesterday over-run by Ijaw youths, with the Navy swiftly responding by deploying its fast attack craft to the platforms to recover the flow station. Middleton oil flow station is responsible for producing about 350,000 barrels of crude oil per day is operated by the Chevron/Texaco oil venture.

According to sources, the youths who seized the platform, used the creeks in the swampy waters leading to the flow station and were heavily armed with such weapons as grenades, submachine guns and AK-47 rifles.

Among many other things, the youths are demanding payment of N260 million to a security outfit made up of Bayelsans living in Foropa Bakolgo for the provision of security to the flow station in the past. They are also demanding compensation in respect of the recent oil spill to be paid to all the Chevron/Texaco host communities.

They want another N3 million paid to the territorial security outfit (Bini-Oru) and employment given to the Bini-Oru surveillance team and 1,000 persons employed at N150,000 as salary per person.

Also demanded is the provision of two speed boats with double seven-horse power Yamaha engine and the provision of a technical college to be sited at Foropa Kingdom, and construction of major roads in Foropa Kingdom, a town hall project as well as construction of a landing jetty at Foropa Kingdom.

Informed sources told Vanguard that following the seizure of the platform, Nigeria would be losing about $145 million in income daily.

The hijacking of the Middleton oil platform is coming barely two weeks after Ijaw youths issued an ultimatum to Chevron/Texaco operated Okan oil fields located between Warri and Bayelsa to either meet similar demands or risk the seizure of the platform.

Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered that Naval warships stationed in Warri with responsibility for provision of off-shore security for the Niger Delta, NNS Kyanwa and NNS Ologbo had swung into action with a view to dislodging the youths. According to sources, the lives of expatriates workers in the platform as well as equipment are so important that the Navy would not want to take chances during the operation.

The two Naval warships (C-cat series) which recently apprehended seven ships engaged in bunkering have closed capabilities to engage close range and medium range aggressors as well as trained seamen for on-shore patrol confrontation.