Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26 -- Villagers in Nigeria who took over three Royal Dutch Shell PLC oil platforms in the Niger Delta Oct. 25, have agreed to end their siege and allow operations to resume.
Shell said members of the Kula community living near the Ekulama 1, Ekulama 2, and Belema oil pumping stations invaded the facilities, accusing the company of failing to meet the terms of an agreement to provide them aid.
The villagers were persuaded to leave the facilities after intervention by the Rivers State government in charge of the area. Shell officials also confirmed that an agreement was reached with the protesters to quit the facilities.
A Shell official said the company planned to reopen the platforms immediately following the departure of the villagers. The spokesman said no hostages had been taken.
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