The Bonny Youth Federation (BYF) has called on the Federal Government, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the various regulatory agencies to ensure the interest of youths in Iloamatoru Community are mainstreamed in the engagements around the recent fire outbreak there.

The BYF also urged the relevant authorities to immediately provide relief materials, pay compensations and begin immediate remediation of the environment in Iloamatoru Community.

In a statement signed by its Leader and General Secretary, Anthony Banigo and Omoni Sylvanus, the BYF said it is closely monitoring the situation at Cawthorne Channel 1 and warns against any attempt to undermine the wellbeing of youths of Iloamatoru.

A facility in Cawthorne Channel 1, which is in Iloamatoru Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, belonging to the NNPCL went up in flames about 2pm on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.    

Kristina Reports investigation revealed that the fire occurred during the loading of crude onto a vessel and led to explosions of some of the barges and vessels around the area which sank upon impact.

The BYF alerted that youths of Pollyn Chieftaincy House, owners of Iloamatoru Community, are the most affected by the incident and thus their interest was critical to the conversation around the incident.

“We must state clearly that our brothers, the youths of Pollyn House, who are resident in Iloamatoru and the various settlements in the area are the most impacted and thus must have their interest accommodated in the discussions around the incident.”

“Our youths have now lost their direct and indirect livelihoods, their health and economic assets such as economic trees, fishing waters, farmlands, among other sustenance factors. These cannot be ignored, overlooked or swept under the carpet.”

“We call on the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to protect the interests of the youths of Iloamatoru Community and ensure the various regulatory agencies and NNPCL engage the youth leader of the community in the whole process.”   

The Bonny Youth Federation (BYF) is the apex youth body in Bonny Kingdom and is populated by youths from the 34 chieftaincy houses of the Kingdom.