A member of Delta state House of Assembly, Daniel Yingi, has called on the federal government to liaise with community leaders in the Niger Delta in its efforts to curb pipeline vandalism and other criminality in the area.
He said that such move by the federal government would bring a lasting solution to the sabotage of oil installations and other criminal acts, as well as create federal government-community relationship in the Niger delta.
He urged security agents to adhere to the rule of engagement in their search for vandals in the rural communities, following alleged excesses of security men in search of culprits of the recent pipeline bombing in Gbaramatu Kingdom.
He called on multi-national companies operating in the area to avoid moves that could spark off crisis in their operational bases, noting most of the wrangling between oil companies and their host communities were mainly due to breach of understandings and agreements among them.
He advised them to adhere to such agreements for peaceful co-existence and development of the area.
He noted that youth empowerment was key to ending youth restiveness in the Niger delta and called on all intervention agencies and multi-national companies to do enough to prevent the ugly situation in the oil-rich Niger delta.