By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, has expressed concern over a new trend in oil bunkering, saying children and women are being used as human shields at illegal refining camps.
The Bayelsa governor disclosed this at a meeting with the first class traditional rulers and the local government chairmen in the state at Government House, Yenagoa.
He said the ugly situation was discovered by security operatives on reconnaissance operations and called on traditional rulers to educate their subjects on the dangers of the illegal business to human health and the environment.
Governor Diri urged the monarchs and council chairmen to take steps to curb the menace which he said occurred in Southern Ijaw, Ekeremor, Brass and Nembe council areas.
He also charged the monarchs to report to him oil bunkering sites in their domains, stressing that the ugly trend could be addressed through collaborative efforts.