PHC deplores the uncivil acts which led to the burning of a market in Lokutu following an inter-community dispute

On the afternoon of January 31, 2023, a group of young people from Lokutu broke the gate of PHC’s private dock and threw it into the river. Following this action, the youth of Bandu, a neighboring community, went to Lokutu. Upon arrival, they retrieved the gate from the river where it had been thrown and insisted that it be reinstalled.

After retrieving the gate, the youth from Bandu went on a rampage against the Lokutu community, setting fire to the market near the PHC dock before returning to their own community. The fire destroyed all the market stalls and unidentified property items, but no one was injured in the incident.

The actions of these young people seem to be motivated by disputes over control of commercial activities in the area, which were mainly taking place in the public port near Bandu before the unauthorized activities began in the company's private dock.

The gate was installed by PHC on January 23, 2023, to secure the area from uncontrolled activities that were interfering with the company's operations in its own dock. The installation of the gate also mitigated the risks associated with the company's oil reserves located in the dock that could lead to adverse consequences for the local population as well as the environment in the event of an incident related to the unauthorized activities.

PHC condemns the uncivil actions of the youth of Lokutu and Bandu, which have not only interfered with the company's operations, but have also resulted in property damage and losses to PHC and the local population. The company reserves the right to regulate traffic in its own dock.

PHC expresses its sympathy to the members of the community who suffered a damaging blow to their livelihoods in the wake of this incident. As an expression of assistance to those affected, the company is committed to rebuilding the market in a location to be agreed upon by all relevant stakeholders in a process that will take place in February 2023.

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