Max Shipping Denies Ibeto’s Involvement In Rivers Protest Incident

Max Shipping Services Limited, owner of ANAMBRA BASIN FSO, has denied the involvement of its chairman, Chief Cletus Ibeto, in the recent incidents in Kula community, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

No fewer than 10 persons are feared dead after a boat reportedly capsized during a confrontation over an oil spill at OML-55 in the community on Tuesday.

The incident reportedly occurred after community members protesting alleged unpaid royalties, outstanding vendor payments and environmental pollution blocked the movement of MT Anambra Basin, operated by the Ibeto Group.

The protesters are demanding compensation, relief materials and environmental clean-up, alleging that more than 36 communities and fishing settlements have been affected.

However, Max Shipping Services Limited, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt and signed by its legal officer, Ikeh Chidimma Sylvia, said Ibeto did not authorise the deployment of armed personnel to confront the protesters.

The company said its involvement was limited to retrieving its vessel, which had been hired to Menal Technical Services Limited under a Marine Equipment Hire Agreement dated September 20, 2024, subsequently amended by an addendum.

According to the statement, the company exercised its contractual right to recover the vessel following prolonged delays in hire payments and repeated efforts to secure settlement.

“Max Shipping Services Limited has noted with deep concern recent media reports concerning an incident at Kula community, Rivers State, involving its vessel, ANAMBRA BASIN FSO,” the statement said.

It added that the reports contained allegations linking the vessel’s recovery operation to an oil spill, the deployment of armed personnel allegedly authorised by Ibeto, and a boat capsizing in which several persons were feared dead.

The company stressed that it owned the vessel but was neither the operator of the oilfield nor a party to the underlying petroleum operations in Kula community.

It said its contractual relationship was with Menal Technical Services Limited, which assumed specified responsibilities relating to operational exigencies, community settlements, vessel and personnel security, and demobilisation.

The statement further said Menal and the end user had separate operational arrangements with the host community, adding that the shipping company was not a party to those arrangements.

On the condition of the vessel before the recovery operation, Max Shipping Services Limited said the crude oil stored in it had been discharged.

It cited tank inspection documents issued by Checkirem and GSV Inspection Services Limited in September 2026, which it said recorded that the inspected tanks were free and clean of crude oil at the time of inspection.

The company said the documents formed part of the evidence being preserved for the relevant authorities.

It also said its representatives had met community leaders and other representatives on several occasions to explain its contractual relationship with Menal Technical Services Limited and clarify that it was seeking to recover its equipment.

According to the company, the meetings were intended to resolve misunderstandings and secure a peaceful resolution rather than confrontation.

The company said it was concerned by reports attributing responsibility for the incident and the alleged loss of life to Ibeto or presenting the vessel’s recovery operation as an action undertaken by him in connection with the oilfield activities.

It reiterated that ANAMBRA BASIN FSO was owned by Max Shipping Services Limited, a subsidiary of the Ibeto Group, and had been hired to Menal Technical Services Limited for deployment at the location.

It maintained that ownership of the vessel should be distinguished from responsibility for the petroleum operations and community-related arrangements in Kula.