Nigeria Alert: Gunmen kill seven workers near oil facility in Assa Community, Egbema LGA, Imo State on August 16

Aug 2021

17:47 UTC

Please be advised

Reports indicate that a police officer and six other workers were killed by unknown gunmen after an attack on their convoy in Assa Community in Egbema LGA Imo State on August 16.
The workers and their police escort were en route to the under-construction Assa North Gas development project site when they were attacked by gunmen.
Following the incident, a prominent Dutch oil company, through its Nigerian arm, confirmed that the Assa North Gas Facility had been shut down temporarily. The company stated that it was cooperating with local authorities on investigations into the incident.
Imo State police spokesman Michael Abattam stated that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the gunmen, and reinforced measures have been taken to protect oil workers in the area.

Assessments & Forecast

The attack on the oil company workers is notable, given that it comes after President Muhammadu Buhari signed into the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) on August 15. The bill which essentially overhauls the energy industry in Nigeria has been widely disputed especially in the Niger Delta area, which includes Imo state. Local communities have long suffered the environmental impact of oil production and extraction, including myriad oil spills and associated pollution.
Given these conditions, local communities and lawmakers had lobbied for a 10 percent share of annual operating expenditure of companies in their territory; however the House approved 5 percent, and the Senate approved only 3 percent. Thereby, it remains plausible that the oil facility workers were attacked as a response to the passing of the bill by armed groups operating in the region, with a view of positioning themselves as protectors of the local interests. Such a scenario is made more credible by the fact that gunmen specifically targeted the workers, while they were on the way to the energy facility, thereby undermining the likelihood of the attack being opportunistic or criminal in nature.
That said, there remains another possibility that the attack was carried out by gunmen associated with the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). IPOB had issued a weekly sit-at-home order on Mondays to protest against the detention of their leader Nnamdi Kanu, who was extradited to Nigeria from Kenya to face treason and militancy charges. While the group had suspended the sit-at-home order on August 15, the strike notice was widely adhered to, especially in Imo state, where all banks, business centers, eateries remained closed. Indeed, local police have regularly conducted raids in Egbema LGA, often detaining young men who they accuse of being IPOB supporters. In this context, the attack possibly further underscores the strong entrenched local support for IPOB, making it plausible that gunmen associated with the group attacked the convoy, given their perceived displeasure that the oil company was disobeying the sit at home order.
FORECAST: Given the relative paucity of information regarding the incident, the motive is likely to remain unclear until the conclusion of the police investigation into the matter. Given the importance of oil and gas production to government revenue, particularly during the current COVID-19 induced economic slowdown, the government is likely to quickly investigate the incident and arrest suspected perpetrators. Authorities will also deploy additional troops to the area in order to assure domestic and foreign investors of their ability to secure their assets. However, given that local resentment towards oil companies is slated to increase post the passing of the PIB, and the fact that IPOB remains strong in the area means that similar attacks are likely to recur sporadically over the coming months.

Recommendations

Travel to Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt can continue while exercising increased vigilance and adhering to stringent security precautions regarding criminal and security threats.
Those operating or residing in Nigeria are advised to avoid nonessential travel to outlying areas in the southeast states due to frequent security incidents involving pro-Biafra agitators.

High

Assa Community, Egbema LGA, Imo State

Medium

Credible

Please be advised

Reports indicate that a police officer and six other workers were killed by unknown gunmen after an attack on their convoy in Assa Community in Egbema LGA Imo State on August 16.
The workers and their police escort were en route to the under-construction Assa North Gas development project site when they were attacked by gunmen.
Following the incident, a prominent Dutch oil company, through its Nigerian arm, confirmed that the Assa North Gas Facility had been shut down temporarily. The company stated that it was cooperating with local authorities on investigations into the incident.
Imo State police spokesman Michael Abattam stated that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the gunmen, and reinforced measures have been taken to protect oil workers in the area.

Assessments & Forecast

The attack on the oil company workers is notable, given that it comes after President Muhammadu Buhari signed into the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) on August 15. The bill which essentially overhauls the energy industry in Nigeria has been widely disputed especially in the Niger Delta area, which includes Imo state. Local communities have long suffered the environmental impact of oil production and extraction, including myriad oil spills and associated pollution.
Given these conditions, local communities and lawmakers had lobbied for a 10 percent share of annual operating expenditure of companies in their territory; however the House approved 5 percent, and the Senate approved only 3 percent. Thereby, it remains plausible that the oil facility workers were attacked as a response to the passing of the bill by armed groups operating in the region, with a view of positioning themselves as protectors of the local interests. Such a scenario is made more credible by the fact that gunmen specifically targeted the workers, while they were on the way to the energy facility, thereby undermining the likelihood of the attack being opportunistic or criminal in nature.
That said, there remains another possibility that the attack was carried out by gunmen associated with the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). IPOB had issued a weekly sit-at-home order on Mondays to protest against the detention of their leader Nnamdi Kanu, who was extradited to Nigeria from Kenya to face treason and militancy charges. While the group had suspended the sit-at-home order on August 15, the strike notice was widely adhered to, especially in Imo state, where all banks, business centers, eateries remained closed. Indeed, local police have regularly conducted raids in Egbema LGA, often detaining young men who they accuse of being IPOB supporters. In this context, the attack possibly further underscores the strong entrenched local support for IPOB, making it plausible that gunmen associated with the group attacked the convoy, given their perceived displeasure that the oil company was disobeying the sit at home order.
FORECAST: Given the relative paucity of information regarding the incident, the motive is likely to remain unclear until the conclusion of the police investigation into the matter. Given the importance of oil and gas production to government revenue, particularly during the current COVID-19 induced economic slowdown, the government is likely to quickly investigate the incident and arrest suspected perpetrators. Authorities will also deploy additional troops to the area in order to assure domestic and foreign investors of their ability to secure their assets. However, given that local resentment towards oil companies is slated to increase post the passing of the PIB, and the fact that IPOB remains strong in the area means that similar attacks are likely to recur sporadically over the coming months.

Recommendations

Travel to Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt can continue while exercising increased vigilance and adhering to stringent security precautions regarding criminal and security threats.
Those operating or residing in Nigeria are advised to avoid nonessential travel to outlying areas in the southeast states due to frequent security incidents involving pro-Biafra agitators.

High

Assa Community, Egbema LGA, Imo State

Medium

Credible