Six protesters shot dead at Nigerian ChevronTexaco oil terminal

international | worker & community struggles and protests | other press Saturday February 05, 2005 13:53 by redjade

McDowell still says Nigeria is a safe happy democratic country

''ChevronTexaco operates the terminal on behalf of a joint venture with state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. The government classifies oil export terminals as assets vital to national economic security and they are protected by soldiers under instructions to shoot invaders.''

Nigerian security forces shot dead six protesters on Friday at an oil export terminal operated by U.S. energy giant ChevronTexaco, a community leader said.

Hundreds of villagers from the Ugborodo community stormed the Escravos terminal near the oil city of Warri early on Friday and broke into the compound to protest against the lack of development in their village and to demand contracts and jobs.

"It was a peaceful protest, but instead of talking to us they sent the military to shoot us. About six of our people have been shot dead and about 10 critically wounded," Austin Ajurenmisan told Reuters by telephone from Escravos.

ChevronTexaco said it could not confirm the death toll from the fighting at the 300,000 barrel per day terminal, but said its production and exports from the world's eighth largest exporter were not affected.

http://www.reuters.co.za/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:42037034:b299b253a7344275?type=topNews&localeKey=en_ZA&storyID=7540176