THISDAYonline

The fragile peace existing between Mobil Produ-cing Nigeria (MPN) and its host community, Akwa Ibom was yesterday shattered when youths of Ibeno Local Government area embarked on a demonstration to protest the relocation of the Qua Iboe Terminal Jetty.

The youths in their hundreds converged on QIT gate, protesting the movement of the jetty and formed a barricade, stopping vehicles from moving out of the terminal.

The youths, who were throwing stones, broken bottles and other dangerous instruments instruments at the workers and policemen who were called in to keep the peace succeeded in injuring some of the policemen and one employee of MPN who was in the guest house by the jetty, causing the management of MPN to order its workers not to come to work for safety reasons.

THISDAY gathered that trouble started when the youths got wind of the fact that MPN was going to relocate its jetty to Onne in Rivers state, they grouped themselves together and marched on to the terminal, chanting war songs against MPN and vowing that the jetty would not be relocated out of their land. A detachment of mobile policemen arrived the scene to handle the situation, although one of the rioters was seriously injured and had to be flown out in a helicopter for treatment by MPN.

In its reaction to the riot, MPN issued a statement made available to THISDAY and signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Udom Inoyo, stating that ''youths from the the neighbouring community were protesting its decision to reduce activities at QIT jetty, based on safety considerations related to the jetty's structure.''