No fewer than 10 persons are feared dead at an oil facility in Robert-kiri community Kula, in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS reports.
The incident reportedly followed a boat mishap which occured on Tuesday at Oil Mining Lease(OML)-55 Kula.
An elder statesman, Chief Anabs Sara-igbe broke the news to newsmen in Port Harcourt.
In a voice message he circulated to the media, the PANDF Board of Trustees member, said the victims died after the engine boat they occupied hit a Tugboat.
The State police command confirmed the incident, but said investigation is still ongoing to ascertain the actual number of casualties involved.
Speaking through the spokesperson, Grace Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), she said.
“The Rivers State Police Command is aware of the incident in Kula Kingdom, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, which reportedly resulted in the loss of lives. Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the exact number of casualties and the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
Meanwhile, in a swift reaction to the news, Max Shipping Company expressed deep sadness in the death of the victims, but denied polluting their operational environment, adding that their vessel ANAMBRA BASIN FSO used in the operation at the site, was inspected and declared clean and free from crude oil content when it was inspected last month, and that there is no way it could have caused any pollution, especially when no further oil was stored in it after the examination.
The Firm also seriously frowned at the attempt by the community to link Chairman of Ibeto Group, Chief Clement Ibeto to the issues surrounding the disagreement at the operation site and the tragic outcome, insisting that it’s principal has nothing to do with it.
The company spoke through its legal Adviser, Chidinma Ikenna.
It said, “Tank inspection documents issued by Checkirem and GSV Inspection Services Limited in September 2026 recorded that the inspected tanks were free and clean of crude oil at the time of inspection.
“The reports contain allegations linking the vessel’s recovery operation to an oil spill, the deployment of armed personnel allegedly authorised by Chief Dr. Cletus Ibeto, and a boat capsizing in which several persons are feared to have lost their lives.”
Narrating the incident, Sara-igbe said, “two years ago, the NNPC and Belemaoil joint venture hired vessel from Chief Cletus Ibeto. The name of the Vessel is M V ANAMBRA, as a storage tanker to store crude oil from OML-55 Robbert-kiri.
“In the course of the operations, there were a lot of oil spill around the area, the community demanded for employment and compensation from the company. Employment because no member of the community works in the Firm for this two years of their operation in the area; but the company refused to pay the compensation and also refused to employ the community members.
“This was the situation untill their contract with NNPCL ended recently and the community insisted it would not leave with its equipment until it had paid the compensation.
“When they matter was reported to me, I advised the Company to ensure they settle peacefully with the community and also take their vessel, which they agreed to settle after several talks and appeals.
“While expecting to hear that the company had complied with the settlement as agreed, the news I got this morning (Tuesday) was that he had gone to hire Army Gunboats to forcefully take their equipment from the site, but the community resisted the attempt and in the process one of the boats by the community hit one of the Tug-boat and the boat sank.” the chief explained.
The affected boat was said to be occupied by 10 community youths, including two members of Asari Dokubo Private Security group, popularly known as Amama Soldiers. All the occupants are feared drowned, as non of them have been spotted since the incident and the boat yet to be seen.
Sara-Igbe further noted that the six Gunboats allegedly deployed by Max Shipping services disappeared immediately the community boat sank, without any efforts to rescue the occupants.
Ikenna earlier in the statement said, “Max Shipping Services Limited has noted with deep concern recent media reports concerning an incident at Kula community, Rivers State, involving its vessel, ANAMBRA BASIN FSO.
“In view of the seriousness of these allegations, we consider it necessary to clarify the facts concerning our company’s involvement.
“First, Max Shipping Services Limited is the owner of ANAMBRA BASIN FSO, not the operator of the oilfield or the underlying petroleum operations at Kula community.
“The vessel was hired to Menal Technical Services Limited under a Marine Equipment Hire agreement dated 20 September 2024, subsequently amended by an Addendum. Our company’s contractual relationship in respect of the vessel was with Menal Technical Services Limited.
“We were not a party to the separate operational arrangements that Menal or the end user may have had with the host community.
“Under the Hire Agreement, Menal Technical Services Limited assumed specified responsibilities relating to operational exigencies, community settlements, security of the vessel and personnel, and demobilisation.” They insisted.
