MOSOP vows to resist resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has warned against a possible crackdown on the Ogoni people to forcefully resume oil exploration in the area.

President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke, while addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, claimed allies of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) disguised as Ogoni leaders to champion the plan.

He explained that government’s orientation to forcefully begin oil exploration in Ogoni using the military would not help matters, but would endanger people’s lives.

“Attempts to force oil resumption in Ogoniland without the consent of the people have always been resisted. We know that government will deploy soldiers to kill inhabitants.

“Killing Ogoni people over oil could attract sympathy from the rest of the Niger Delta and possibly throw the region into crises,” he warned.

He, therefore, described the campaigns for resumption of oil exploration as an invitation to state repression, noting that the Ogoni environment could not support any form of oil exploration.

“The implication is that every attempt to coerce oil production in Ogoni will be resisted by the people. It is therefore imperative that is halted, to save lives.

“Shell’s crimes against the Ogoni people are still very fresh and affecting lives severely. Plans to start oil drilling again without the people’s consent could cause civil protests,” Nsuke added.