The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has strongly condemned the killing over oil resumption, which has led to ongoing attacks on Ogoni communities of Gbaken, Ledor, and neighbouring communities in Tai local government area of Ogoni.

As at the time of this report, one person, simply identified as Befii, has been killed in Gbaken community, while the village has been completely deserted following continuous gun attacks on the communities and hostilities from neighbouring Afam are still going on.

Alex Akori, Secretary-General of MOSOP, in a statement made available to The Guardian, strongly condemned the government’s complacency in the face of ongoing attacks on the Ogoni community dwellers, despite several warnings and complaints from representatives of the Ogoni people about the attacks on the villagers.

The group called on President Bola Tinubu to act swiftly to restore calm and to protect the lives and properties of people within oil-producing villages, adding, “We regret that when dialogue is being proposed and hopes of a peaceful resolution of the protracted oil conflicts, oil-producing villages in Tai local government area are being subjected to attacks and killings, forcing them out of their homes.”

According to MOSOP, the renewed attacks have escalated in recent times, particularly following the federal government’s recent aggressive push to resume oil production in the Ogoni region.

They further expressed regrets that despite its dialogue initiatives, Ogoni lives continue to be endangered by sponsored attacks on community dwellers in desperation to dispossess them of their naturally endowed ancestral lands.

“We note that the governments cannot act in ignorance of the crises affecting the communities in Tai local council, nor can they absolve themselves of their failure to give protection to the natives.

“However, we believe this is a constitutional duty of the government to protect the lives and property of citizens. We urge the authorities to take urgent actions to resolve these sponsored, oil-related conflicts on the Ban-Ogoi axis of Ogoni and ensure peace returns to the affected communities.”

MOSOP therefore called for urgent emergency humanitarian support for displaced people, especially children, women, and the elderly who have become refugees in their own lands and have become vulnerable to increasing social vices.