Nigeria Security Update #1 220707

Air Tragedy Averted at Lagos Airport (This Day)

Tragedy was averted yesterday at about 10.55am when a Virgin Nigeria aircraft with registration number, VK 44 that was landing at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, from Abuja almost collided with another aircraft that was taking off a few meters from the runway.

Passengers in the in-coming flight, including the pilot agreed that the near-collision was too close. The passengers agreed that the tragedy was averted due to the dexterity of the pilot of the Lagos-bound flight who was quick to notice the aircraft that was taking off, and immediately gained altitude until it stabilised in the air, and landed after another 10 minutes.

Among the passengers on the flight were World Bank officials who were coming to Lagos for a meeting, senators, businessmen and women and other Nigerians and foreign nationals.

Senator Ganiyu Olarenwaju Solomon of Lagos West Senatorial District who was on board of the Lagos-bound flight said it was the pilot who saved the situation, as the aircraft had less than a minute to touch the runway when the pilot sighted the other aircraft that was taking off.

"My God, it was very close. The pilot had told us that he was landing. He directed the crew to prepare for landing. We could see everywhere the grasses before the runway. Then all of a sudden, the plane took off again because as he was trying to land another aircraft was taking off," he said.

The Senator said when the aircraft stabilised in the air, the pilot explained to the passengers what happened and apologised for taking their time, noting that the two aircraft were very close.

Solomon, who was yet to shake off the shock of what happened, observed that the aircraft had to gather more energy to reverse its course because it had already prepared for landing and needed renewed velocity and resurgence to gain altitude again, describing the situation as "a very, very close shave."

Director of Communications, Virgin Nigeria Airways, Larry Agose, confirmed the incident and explained that the flight was about to land and when the pilot noticed that another aircraft was taking off, it gained altitude again to make way for that aircraft. He added that the aircraft that was taking off was not Virgin Nigeria's airplane.

Agose explained that the pilot merely took precautionary measures, noting that such incidents happen all over the world, advising that it is not necessary to magnify it.

The Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Capt. Ado Sanusi, said the pilot that took off again into the air was observing normal safety procedures, which every pilot is acquainted with, noting that a pilot can abort take-off or landing, depending on the signals he receives.

Sanusi also explained that this happens in all the airports in the world, adding that passengers who don't know about this usually panic when they observe it happen, stressing that publishing such in the media may create fear in the flying public.

Reacting to the allegation that the near-collision may be due to the closure of one of the two runways which has been undergoing repairs, the General Manager, Public Affairs, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Akin Olukunle, said the cause of the incident should not be attributed to the runway. He noted that FAAN does not want to join issues with NAMA and urged the agency to work on its radar, adding that air traffic controllers seemed to be under pressure and therefore may be making mistakes when monitoring and directing aircraft movement.

Peace Summit Efforts Intensified (This Day)

The Presidency at the weekend, literally relocated to Lagos as President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan visited the former federal capital in pursuit of peace in Niger Delta region and economic co-operation between two neighbouring South western states controlled by different political parties.

While President Yar'Adua met with Governors Gbenga Daniel and Babatunde Fashola of Ogun and Lagos States at Dodan barracks, Lagos, Jonathan used the visit to hold parleys with several groups from the Niger Delta areas, who came to Lagos from the Creeks.

Yar’Adua also met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the same venue.

THISDAY gathered that Jonathan's visit to Lagos was in connection with the proposed summit on Niger Delta being planned by the presidency.

The summit aimed at bringing together all stakeholders in the oil-rich region to discuss solutions to the crisis was scheduled for last month in Abuja. The summit was later postponed to give room for wider consultations.

A source close to the Presidency said Jonathan had been involved in "cross-sectional and multi-layer consultative meetings with all groups, both militant and moderate, radicals and conservative, peoples movements and tradtional institutions".

The source further said that the wide consultations have enabled the presidency to extract commitments from the stakeholders.

It is expected that the next step of the preparation would be to formulate the specifics of the summit itself.

"The next step after the series of consultation is to get effective representation that will mirror the ethnic groupings and ideological persuasions of the various people.

"We will then move to the level of confidence building projects which are intended to show that the administration is serious in its efforts to resolve the crisis in the Niger Delta. These projects will be targeted at job creation, ensure security and also bring development to the communities in the area," he said.

Another top official involved in the preparation for the summit said government is also determined to isolate the "criminal elements that have attempted to hijack the genuine struggle of the people of the Niger Delta".

The conference proper is expected to be facilitated by credible Nigerians, which all the stakeholders can trust. The Niger Delta issue is one of the seven-point agenda which President Yar'Adua set as priorities for his administration.

President Yar'Adua's meeting yesterday with Daniel and Fashola deliberated on the proposed Lagos mega-city to be established between Ogun and Lagos States. It was conceived by the Obasanjo administration which appointed Prof. Akin Mabogunje as the chairman of the implementation committee.

The project will include residential and industrial estates as well as a free trade/export processing zone. It is expected to create economic co-operation between the two states with the Federal Government as a major muscle behind it.

Obviously mindful of the different political affiliations of Daniel, who belongs to Yar'Adua's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Fashola's Action Congress (AC), the President came to Lagos with a bi-partisan message for the two state chief executives.

According to sources, the President's discussion with the governors centred on how to get the project off the ground with minimum hitches.

THISDAY also learnt that President Yar'Adua held a secret parley with his predecessor, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

The meeting reviewed developments on state and PDP affairs, particularly those arising from actions of the Obasanjo administration, which were inherited by the new government.

Another Chief's Son Kidnapped

AGAIN, suspected militants have struck in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, kidnapping the son of a prominent Eleme community chief, Prince Awala Nta-Oluka, who is said to be in his late thirties.

Four men reportedly abducted the chief's son from his residence at Eleme yesterday evening, thus shattering the lull in kidnapping of single individuals particularly children.

In the past weeks, militants, who demanded ransoms from victims' parents, abducted two three-year-olds, who were later freed after widespread condemnation and pleas from individuals and groups, including President Musa Yar'Adua.

The Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, Mrs. Ireju Barasua, told The Guardian last night that the gunmen abducted the chief's son from his residence at Eleme.

Barasua said the Police were still investigating the matter to ascertain the motive for the abduction.

But sources in Eleme revealed that the abduction of the chief's son might be connected with the staunch anti-terrorism campaign he had organised with the Eleme Petrochemical Company some of which workers were kidnapped recently.

However, no group had claimed responsibility for the abduction as at press time.

Nigeria Security Update #1 190707

Lagos BRT - Disaster in the Making? (This Day)

Since the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) started creating another traffic lane for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) between Mile 12 to CMS, commuters have not been finding it easy on the Lagos-Ikorodu road which was constructed over 30 years ago.

However, the roads when completed will rely on the use of dedicated 'interference' free segregated lanes to guarantee fast and reliable bus travel times. Though apart from the BRT, there are other major components the Lagos Urban Transport Project (LUTP) is concerned with, which will be implemented with $100 million credit from the World Bank.

These include, institutional strengthening and capacity building; urban road network efficiency improvement, bus services enhancement, water and non-motorised transport promotion and rail mass rapid transit. The BRT, which is said to be a good idea if there is good design for it right from the scratch, however has been widely criticised. The on-going project has been given a poor mark by many as a result of increased road accident, especially along the Ikorodu road, where the first phase of the BRT project has started.

On the other hand, traffic congestion, incessant breakdown of vehicles either as a result of over-heating and other mechanical problems equally compounds the situation on the ever busy road. Speaking on the project, Prof. Oluwole Adegbenro, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos (UNILAG), said that it doesn't require one to be an engineer or a professional to know the implications of demarcating the roads.

He said, "It is obvious that when you design a road there are many things that are taken into account. The road carrying capacity and the traffic size that it has been designed for. So when all of that has been done and the road has been put in place then you now want to modify it, you have to go back to the drawing board to address some issues about the implications of the new modification and its consequence.

"For instance, if I have a building that was not originally planned to carry another building on top, and somebody is tempted to put another building up there. Definitely it will create a lot of problems. There could be structural failures. So you can't do that kind of thing. You must go back to re-design and make sure that what you are going to modify can adequately cope. If it can't cope, then you have to do additional work".

Essentially, he said what the operators of the BRT could have done, is to build additional roads either underneath or on top to take care of the new innovation. "You cannot just put a new innovation into an old system. I mean it will cause a lot of chaos. We have seen part of it already", Adegbenro emphasised. But at the back of his mind, he said it takes many years to build such new system that will accommodate the new design.

Prof. Sulaiman Owolabi Talabi, Head of Department, Mechanical Engineering, also of Unilag, said the demarcating of the roads was un-called for as the project has compounded traffic in an already worsened situation in Lagos. Instead of building the calve or demarcation, he said all the operators of the BRT could have done is to put double yellow line and then test-run the project the way they envisioned and allow the people to see the outcome.

"You see with this curve they are laying right now, am suspicious that it is not going to work. Even danfos and molues will possibly use the BRT lanes when their vehicles break down because one cannot afford to stay in-between because they are not more lanes remaining", he said.

He said the construction is already affecting the economy because a lot of man hour is spent on the road as a result of heavy traffic. With the two service lanes left for other buses and other road users it is obvious that it will be inadequate to accommodate them, he argued.

"I believe they did not do a lot of feasibility studies and I also believe that the BRT road is too narrow for the vehicles they want to put there. And I am sure that within six months the vehicles will have dents and which may be affecting their tyres", Talabi told THISDAY.

Talabi suggested that the project should be suspended, while they try a pilot scheme for about six months and get some ideas. For Adengbenro, the BRT project will not stand the test of time because vehicle traffic on the road will always be on the increase despite the new transport system.

"By putting barriers may not even stop other road users using the BRT road, because circumstances may arise that will demand the use of the road either by force or pressure from commuters. Also there are other areas where BRT will not cover. So when you get there, what do you do.

"The solutions government is trying to proffer, hopefully will work but by and large, they are reasons to believe that it will not work. Scientifically and technologically, it is not going to work. It will lead us to nowhere and later we will start thinking of the right thing to do", Adegbenro said.

However, despite criticism trailing the BRT project, LAMATA's Managing Director, Mr. Dayo Mobereola, insisted on telling people the core benefits of the BRT buses. The buses which is expected to run on separate lanes he explained, will make buses run faster in a situation where there is traffic congestion. Also, there will be a stable fare which will not be subject to adhoc increase.

According to LAMATA's view, Ikorodu road is no longer an expressway which it was when it was constructed earlier. It has now been categorised as an urban route which has brought the need for users to maintain low speed limit. On what sounds as experts view, Mobereola suggested that if all motorists drive sensibly, observe road signs and care for other road users, traffic will flow on Ikorodu road at a speed commensurate with urban function of the road.

BRT, according to him is not a new trend in the world as many countries have adopted the innovation as a means of reducing traffic congestions. Countries like Hong Kong, Mexico, Kuala Lumber and Bangkok have similar projects with different capital cost and capacity.

To support his argument on why Lagos deserve the BRT as soon as possible, he said that the population of Lagos State has risen to about 15 to 17 million people, with about six million passenger trip per day. Also, that there are 224 vehicles/km on national average, two to three hour journey time during peak periods and finally, that Lagos record about 75,000 danfo/molue in un-regulated operations.

Though Lagos State Government in 2003 set up LAMATA to plan, regulate and develop public transport infrastructure in Lagos, however they are still faced with challenges. These include, absence of articulated and adopted policy and strategic framework for the transport sector; too many agencies responsible for transport provision and services in Lagos, leading to jurisdictional confusion; poor enforcement of traffic regulations and absence of standard procedures for technical and economic evaluation of programmes and projects.

Others are congestion; too many drivers and owners transport operators; undisciplined behaviour of drivers; swinging changes in fare levels; lack of modern transport infrastructure; poor road condition and inadequacy of funds. Nonetheless, Mobereola said that BRT will be characterised by use of segregated lanes, closed stations, use of comfortable and high capacity vehicles. Others are frequent services on every one to two minutes, pre-board ticket purchase and inspection and use of intelligent transport system.

As things appear presently, it expected that commuters plying the Ikorodu road will soon heave a sigh of relieve going by what the Technical Advisor, Public Transport and Traffic Management, Mr. Gbenga Dairo said. He revealed that operations on the Mile 12 to CMS road will commence on August with 180 high capacity buses. For now, the buses will be operated by LAGBUS and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) with hours of operation between 6 to 10 pm daily.

On the fears entertained by the public on the BRT road, Dairo promised that they have been taken care of. For instance, when completed, well trained and equipped security personal will be attached to each bus shelter stations, while LASTMA's role on traffic management will increase. To further ensure there is proper flow of traffic, BRT will also provide monitoring team to complement the operation of other traffic agencies.

In addition to that, Dairo explained that LAMATA has a franchise agreement to ensure that buses comply with the new regulation to guide transportation in Lagos metropolis. Not only on the roads, he said on-street parking, side-street trading and less speed limit will be monitored. At nights, he promised that there will be provision of lightings that will aid driving at such a period.

Adegbenro is not impressed by the LAMATA operators' explanation. He said when something of such nature is to be done, what the operators should do is to take views from all manners of people and carry everybody along. He said such sampling of opinions will either reveal whether such a project will work or not.

"If BRT really want to do a good job, it is not what they would rush into. What feasibility studies have they done to know the implication of what they are doing. Have they involved people from engineering, designers, planners and even people in population control on how to reduce the population of certain areas so that the pressure will not be much on the those roads.

"But even if they have done that, did they subject it to a reasonable time frame to know whether it will work or not. Probabaly people are saying that it is political anyway. But am not sure that the people they are designing it for will enjoy the benefits. At the end of the day, I will be pessimistic not because of any other reason than a thorough job ought to have been done. Even the implementation strategy has to be worked out so that it doesn't encroach on the existing roads", Adegbenro said.

Nearly 54 Million Nigerians Go to Bed Hungry (This Day)

Reports have revealed that 53.6 million Nigerians, or nearly one-third of the nation's 140 citizens, go to bed hungry every night. Also in Sub-Sahara Africa, 31 million people allegedly go to bed hungry every night, while around 854 million people across the world undergo the same hunger process.

Above worrisome statistics formed part of the reason why a campaign against hunger was launched last week in Nigeria.

The campaign, titled 'Hunger-Free Campaign' was kicked off by ActionAid Nigeria, in conjunction with some other civil society organisations.

The event which held in Abuja was witnessed by a crowd made up of the nation's labour movement, members of international and national non-governmental organisations and youth activists.

Speaking at the rally held at the Old Parade Ground, Area 11, Abuja, ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Otive Igbuzor explained that hunger is a very painful experience.

In a statement issued by Mr. Tunde Aremu of ActionAid, the rights group leader said, "hunger is a very painful experience, especially when you are hungry not because you are fasting, when you are hungry not because you are too busy to eat, but you are hungry because you have nothing to eat".

At an event which was reportedly marred by violence and alleged harassment by some task force officials, Igbuzor, quoting from statistics from the Nigeria's official Bureau of Statistics, said "53.6 million Nigerians go to bed hungry every night. This translates to one in every three Nigerians going to bed hungry".

"It is outrageous that in this world we live in now, where we have enormous resources, where we have enormous technology that can feed the entire world, we have 854 million people across the world going to bed hungry every night. We are saying this is un-acceptable. In Sub-Sahara Africa, we have 31 million people going to bed hungry every night", he disclosed.

According to him, "this situation is unacceptable in a country that is the sixth largest exporter of crude oil in the world. This is a country that has enormous human and material resources".

The ActionAid Nigeria chieftain reiterated the commitment of his organisation, her partners, the United Nations agencies, Nigeria central labour movement, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Union of Teachers, National Council of Women Societies, the Federal Capital Territory (F.C.T.) rural communities and poor people in the country to fighting to end poverty.

Other speakers at the campaign launch include, labour activists, representatives of the rural communities around the FCT, some representatives of women groups and youths.

The Hunger-Free campaign reportedly moved in a convoy through the main street of Abuja to create awareness on the issue of hunger, which is one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) expected to be successfully tackled by 2015.

To express support for the campaign, popular Nigerian actress and minority rights activist, Hilda Dokubo has also called for a hunger-free Nigeria.

The actress who spoke at a global youth campaign against hunger (Activista) held at the University of Jos, North Central Nigeria, told a crowd of students, youth activists and other performing artistes that they all need to come together to fight hunger in the oil rich nation.

Dokubo said "I do not know how you woke up this morning, but I know how over 30 million children did not sleep at all. I do not know if you have had some meals today, but I know how seven out of every ten children in my area of this country do not eat". The actress, who has been engaged in development works especially in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria, gave a graphic detail of the situation of poverty and hunger in the area, where she hails from.

Hilda Dokubo, a very famous actress in the Nigerian film industry, said, "seven out of ten children do not go to school. Whereas, 67 per cent of children elsewhere go to school, 70 per cent of children in my area do not go to school. The hospitals are simply inaccessible. Our roads are more of death traps".

Also, Obo Effanga of ActionAid Nigeria and Coordinator of Activista in Nigeria explained that "Activista is a global youth movement campaigning in ten countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America against hunger".

According to him, the movement is an initiative of ActionAid International to raise the awareness of youths all over the world to the realities of hunger; as well a way of raising the consciousness of the youths globally to the cause and effect of hunger.

"We want to tell the whole world that there is so much hunger in the world today. We are hungry and we are angry. This situation is unacceptable," Effanga said.

Port Harcourt Refinery Sale in Question (Vanguard)

BLUESTAR Consortium, comprising the business interest of Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Mr. Femi Otedola, has pulled out of its purchase of the Kaduna and Port Harcourt Refineries, belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The implication is that Nigerians may have to contend with the problems associated with imported petroleum products for much longer.

The consortium is also demanding the refund of the of $721 million (about N92.288 billion) it paid for 51 per cent equity interest in both refineries, from the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE).

The consortium had emerged the preferred bidder in a competitive exercise which saw them submit a bid of $150 million for 51 per cent equity in the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) and $561 million for 51 per cent equity in the Port Harcourt Refining Company.

The remaining 49 per cent was to remain in the control of the NNPC on behalf of the Federal Government.

Vanguard gathered that Bluestar served notice of its decision to discontinue the transaction in a July 17, 2007 letter to the BPE, citing untoward criticisms of its move to acquire controlling interest in the refineries.

In the last nationwide strike called by organised Labour to protest hike in fuel prices and VAT, the sale of the refineries was tabled as one of the issues in contention.

The NNPC had in a submission before the Senate ad-hoc Committee probing the sale of the refineries stated that it was not carried along in the transactions leading to the sale and that it could run the plants efficiently and make it operate at 90 per cent installed capacity if given the opportunity.

However, Bluestar Consortium, in its letter to the BPE, noted that since the NNPC claimed it could run the refineries efficiently, a period of 12 months be given to the corporation to make good its claim.

Similarly, militants in the Niger Delta had in a statement decried the circumstances surrounding the sale of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, pointing out that they would rather blow it up than have it run by “strange elements.”

An official of Bluestar who did not want his name in print said the consortium felt it was doing the country a favour when it made the bid for the refineries, adding that it is cheaper to build a new refinery than “purchase only 51 per cent controlling interest at such exorbitant cost and spend so much more to revamp the units.”

The official decried the new position of the NNPC before the Senate ad-hoc committee, noting that Alhaji Abubakar Yar’Adua, the corporation’s Executive Director in charge of Refining and Petrochemicals, participated all the way in negotiations with the BPE.

“We were motivated by patriotism and nothing more. Why is it so difficult for people to see this? We had even planned to list the refineries on the Capital Market as a way of giving part of it back to the Nigerian people,” he said.

Contacted, Mr. Joe Anichebe, spokesman for the BPE, said he was not aware of any move by Bluestar Consortium to withdraw from the process and promised to call as soon as there was a new development.

Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, Group General Manager in charge of Group Public Affairs at the NNPC, reacting to questions on the development said the corporation had made a presentation before the Senate ad-hoc Committee looking into the transaction.

He said since the committee was yet to conclude its work, he could not comment further on other developments.

Also speaking on the development, an official of the Ministry of Energy, who pleaded anonymity, decried what he described as double speak on the part of the corporation, adding that petroleum products imports may not cease in the immediate or medium term.

Militants Present Cease-Fire Terms (Vanguard)

Niger Delta militants will today propose four terms including the release of former Governor Diepereye Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa State and a general amnesty for a general cease- fire in their quest for self determination.

The terms of the cease-fire will be conveyed by Asari Dokubo, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteers Force (NDPVF) during a scheduled meeting between a delegation of the militant groups and President Umaru Yar‘Adua in Abuja.

Senator David Brigidi chairman of the Federal Government instituted Niger Delta Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee confirmed the terms as laid down by the militant groups from his preliminary contacts with the groups.

Besides the release of Chief Alamieyeseigha, the militant groups are also asking the federal authorities to create the enabling environment that will allow the leaders of the militant groups to unmask themselves and appear in Abuja for the negotiations.

“They just want some preliminary conditions to be met so that they could create a ceasefire for the dialogue to take place. Our duty is to put the ceasefire in place so that the leaders, opinion moulders and delegations from the ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta will be able to come to Abuja and discuss,’’ Senator Brigidi who was picked by the Federal Government to broker the talks with the militant groups told Vanguard.

Nigeria Security Update #1 050707

Kidnapping After Promised End to Truce (BBC)

Unknown gunmen have attacked and snatched five foreign workers from an oil rig in Nigeria's volatile Niger Delta, security sources say.

The attack comes a day after the main militant group in the area said it had called off a month-long truce.

But the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) says it has nothing to do with this new attack.

The hostages - two New Zealanders, an Australian, a Venezuelan and a Lebanese - were captured in Soku, Rivers state.

Kiwis Brent Goddard and Bruce Klenner were taken hostage at gunpoint along with three others from a Shell oil rig at Soku on the Niger Delta on Wednesday. The others are: Jason Lane from Australia, George Saliba of Lebanon and Andreas Gambra from Venezuela.

Their employer, Lone Star, understands the kidnapped men are unharmed at this stage.

Mr Goddard's partner, Gilly Sannazzaro, says she has always been concerned for his safety, and has been in regular contact with Lone Star. She received a call from Nigeria at 10.30am on Thursday (NZ time), saying contact had been made with the kidnappers, but no demands had been made yet.

Ms Sannazzaro says Mr Goddard began working in Nigeria this year and was enjoying it. He had returned there two weeks ago.

The wife of Bruce Klenner says she was aware of the risks of working in Nigeria. However, Linda Klenner says she remains hopeful that he is okay.

Mrs Klenner says the managing director of Lone Star is very upset at the kidnapping and is doing all he can to free the men.

Both women and their families say they will be staying close to the phone over the next few days as efforts continue to secure the release of the men.

NZ working with consulates

Prime Minister Helen Clark says New Zealand is working with the Australian and British governments, who have consulates in Nigeria, to find more information about what has happened to the five men.

She says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has contacted the men's families to offer advice and support.

Miss Clark says she understands other New Zealanders are working in similar jobs in Nigeria and is urging them to make sure their companies have appropriate safety arrangements in place.

Money seen as motive

New Zealand's High Commissioner for Nigeria, Jonathan Hunt, says money is likely to be the motive for the kidnapping.

New Zealander Frank Brindle, who has worked as an oil engineer in Nigeria, says kidnapping has become an increasing hazard for oil workers in Nigeria. He says kidnappers there were originally politically motivated, but they are increasingly more interested in receiving a ransom.

Mr Brindle says the official line from oil companies is that they do not pay ransoms, but usually money is paid - often after negotiations via the families.

An estimated 200 foreigners, mostly oil workers, have been kidnapped in the region since the beginning of 2006. More than 100 foreigners have been taken hostage so far this year alone in the region.

The hostages are usually released unharmed after ransom payments that the Nigerian government and oil companies involved always deny.


Nigerian Navy and Militants Clash (BBC)

Earlier on Monday, another clash between the militants and the Nigerian Navy also left two junior officers missing and a gunboat destroyed.

"Two of our men are missing, but we are currently searching for them," Nigerian Navy spokesman Capt Obiora Medani told the BBC News website.

On Tuesday, Mend announced that it would not extend its month-long ceasefire called to give the new government a chance to set up talks on the restive region.

The group said it had been kept on the sidelines of government-led talks about the future of the highly impoverished Niger Delta.

It also warned it would resume its attacks on oil installations and the kidnappings of foreign oil workers.

The militants are campaigning for larger control of revenues coming from oil exploration in their region.

Although the Niger Delta accounts for over 90% of Nigeria's income, the region remains highly impoverished, a situation the militants say they want to change with their campaign.


Second Toddler Kidnapped in Port Harcourt (AP, Vanguard)

Kidnappers snatched the 3-year-old daughter of an expatriate worker as she was being taken to school Thursday in Nigeria's restive southern oil region, police said.

The child taken in the oil city of Port Harcourt is British, said Rivers state police spokeswoman Irejua Barasua. British Embassy officials were not reachable for comment, and early reports of nationalities given by security forces have been wrong in the past. Barasua had no more immediate details.

Criminal kidnappings have become common in the region, where the crude in Africa's biggest producer is pumped. More than a dozen foreigners are currently in captivity and more than 200 have been taken since the end of 2005.

The targeting of women and children is uncommon, however, with attackers generally focusing on male employees of large, international companies that are presumed to have money for ransom payments.

Hostages are generally released unharmed after a ransom is paid - often by state governments that control huge, unregulated security slush funds, according to industry officials. At least two hostages have been killed in the crossfire when security forces crossed the kidnappers.

On Wednesday, gunmen attacked an oil rig in the southern oil heartland and seized five expatriate workers - an Australian, two New Zealanders, one Lebanese and one Venezuelan. Royal Dutch Shell said it owned the rig, but that there were no production cuts reported.

The two New Zealanders were identified as Bruce Klenner and Brent Goddard by Klenner's wife, Linda.

The New Zealand government has ruled out paying any ransom for the pair.

Nigeria Security Update #1 040707

Communities Confronting Problems in the Niger Delta -- Analysis (This Day)

The negative effects of hostage taking in the Niger Delta has reached an axiomatic acceptance leading to the communities taking up the gauntlet to confront the issue. Ahamefula Ogbu writes on the latest community-based efforts to sensitise and check the ugly trend.

Social scientists would always argue that a society gets the type of government and practices it deserves. By that, they mean that society permits the practices as they have the capacity to reject and curb them. This is further justified by the fact that criminals and hostage takers live within the same setting as the victims so that if information and collaborative efforts are well articulated, the society has the capacity to check them. When the issue of hostage taking debuted with the kidnap of Daewoo workers at Cawthron Channel, it was purely a political thing without the issue of monetary demands as often obtains in other parts of the world where hostage taking is used to exert pressure for political ends.

Then the Joint Revolutionary Council claimed responsibility and demanded for the release of their leader, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari who had been whisked into detention and added a few lines about resource control. Then, hostage taking was limited to the creeks until when there was a realisation that a business angle could be added to the political angle.

Later, skin pigmentation became a variable in the business so that foreigners became endangered species. The problem was further worsened by the fact that some government officials who were contacted to effect the release of such hostages helped to commercialise it through adding their markups.

Once money became a factor in securing the release of such hostages, it became business. Information had it that there was a case in Bayelsa State where almost a billion was spent to release some hostages and the boys involved became multi millionaires overnight, bought expensive cars and started living on the fast and expensive lane.

Unemployed youths who had been watching good life from the sidelines then saw having informants on the movement of prized expatriates, often insiders in the companies that employ the expatriates as a way of making quick money. All that were needed include information, a vehicle, arms and ammunition and a safe place to keep them pending negotiations.

Soon, the practice started entering into towns with the areas of influence under some powerful militant or cultists heads. It was said that most of the kidnaps which took place in the Port Harcourt metropolis and Emuoha axis were organised or sponsored by the late Prince Clarke Igodo while in the creeks, some other groups were responsible.

Things got so bad that some firms decided to pull out their workers from the Niger Delta for fear of security. Rivers State government suffered most as its contractors who had been mobilised were said to be unable to stay to execute the contracts due to security scare.

On the day Governor Celestine Omehia had interaction with the media, he shifted all the blames to militancy as he said that the former government of Peter Odili had awarded some contracts which stalled because the companies pulled out their expatriate staff for fear of kidnap.

Such projects include road contracts, drainage, water supply and other contracts in all spheres of the State. However, the communities which had been supporting their boys on the ground that they were not getting their fair share from the oil drilled from their backyards keyed into the practice of hostage taking by refusing to assist the security agencies with information.

Meanwhile, some host communities who had been having it good with the oil companies and other investment concerns had been mutely protesting the practice. It was not until an Indian firm, Indorama which bought the former Eleme Petrochemical Companies Limited and turned it around that the first notable attempt by any community to come to the open and address the issue.

First, some unknown groups had stormed the Indian quarters where Indorama camped their expatriates and made away with two of them. Negotiations started on their release where about N240 million was said to have been demanded by the abductors. Before long, there was another attack and on each occasion, the police and military personnel attached to the expatriates were alleged to have taken to their heels thereby making the job of the abductors easier.

It was not however until the militants again struck and in the process, took away the Managing Director of Indorama Mr. Arun Huectane and nine others that the bubble started bursting. Initially, reports had it that it was only seven people that were kidnapped including women and children. The facts were not fully disclosed till the day they were released and handed over to Governor Celestine Omehia.

Immediately the managing director and others were kidnapped, there were moves by Indorama to close shop. This they did by first moving out some of the experts that operate the sophisticated machines. At a point, they quietly moved out over 40 per cent of the expatriates and even considered shutting down in what they called a temporary measure to prune down production.

When THISDAY spoke with the Corporate Affairs Head of Indorama, Chief Jossy Nkwocha, he denied that they were closing down but rationalised their action through explaining that, "When the experts to handle the machines are not there, there is no how we can continue full production. That however does not mean that we are shutting down".

First to start the campaign were Indorama Nigerian workers who appealed for the release of their colleagues before the communities stepped in. On June 5, 2007, after several appeals by the paramount ruler of the Eleme Kingdom, HRH S. Ejiro had appealed to the kidnappers to stop the practice as it was capable of driving investors out of their kingdom.

"Indorama has revived a plant that didn't work many years, and has given many of our Niger Delta people jobs to feed their families. Our wellbeing is better now than before. It is unfortunate that this kind of thing is happening to Indorama," the King noted.

Thereafter, youths from the host community on the early hours of that June 5, barricaded the Eleme end of the East-West road which links Rivers State to Akwa Ibom and Cross River. They blocked it with tankers and refused any vehicular and pedestrian traffic for almost a whole day. People intending to go to neighbouring states from the road had to make a detour to Abia State.

When the government of the State went to placate the youth to open the road, they refused and used he opportunity to impress it on the team that they would only open the road if either Governor Celestine Omehia or his Deputy, Tele Ikuru personally came to address them. Even at that, they demanded for a concrete action on stemming hostage taking as well as explanation on what they were doing to ensure the release of the Indian hostages.

The government team that first arrived the scene was spurned. It was not until about 2.30 pm that the youths agreed to vacate after they were told that the Governor and his Deputy were not within the State that they agreed to open the road. By then blockade had cause a queue of vehicles that stretched over five kilometers.

They said that the effect of Indorama pulling out of their place would be enormous as more than 1,000 staff of the company from their community would again be thrown to the saturated labour market. They further stated that the reviving of the company has increased capital flow as they sell to other staff of the company.

Like triggering a chain reaction, the action of the Eleme youths and people was followed with a terse statement from Rumuogba community in Rivers State calling for the immediate release of hostages taken from Schlumberger yard in their place. They condemned the practice and called for their immediate release.

According to them, Schlumberger has been a good corporate citizen with whom they have not had any face off since they came to their land.

They reeled out number of development projects that the company has helped them to complete and decried anything that would make them pull out from the community.

Few days later, Ikwerre women mobilised and marched through the streets of Pot Harcourt. They divided themselves and from strategic locations, started the march to Government House where they said

they were going to give a letter to Governor Omehia as they were not happy with the hostage situation and the criminality associated with it.

While a group marched from Garrison on Aba-Port Harcourt express road, another group converged on Rumuokoro junction from where they first blocked the road and raised a song in their local dialect condemning hostage taking. The women did not allow vehicular traffic as they sang along. At Wimpey junction, they came in contact with a situation that wanted to test their resolve when the ubiquitous commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada refused to give them right of way. The women, who were initially very civil after warning the bikes operators severally, suddenly went violent. They dealt some slaps on some of them, kicked some and threatened to confiscate the bikes.

With the Okada put in check, they blocked the two lanes on Ikwerre road and refused the entreaties of the police who begged them to reopen it. However, after about 45 minutes, they listened to the voice of reason and reopened it. The saving grace however was that the incident happened during the nationwide Nigerian Labour Congress called strike which affected fuel supply and thereby thinned the number of vehicles on the road.

By the time they marched to Mile One and on to the new Government House gate, their counterpart from Garrison were progressing slower than the first gtoup, prompting the Ikwerre road group to arrive at the Government house first. They sang and clapped there until the other group arrived. They held their various banners which condemned hostage taking. Some read, "Ikwerre Mothers say no to hostage taking," "We want peace in our land and We say no to violence".

After about five minutes, the Deputy Governor, led some members of the State Executive to the gate where Mrs. Eunice Igwe, their leader addressed them. Mrs. Igwe decried the situation where their children were being initiated into cults and killed in their prime while the much needed development of the Niger Delta was still elusive. She asked the Government to do all within its powers to ensure development, provide jobs for the youths and put the issue of hostage taking in check, saying that "we are against violence and we are not a violent people.

"We are not happy about it. We need development in the Niger Delta, but not killings and kidnappings. The law enforcement agencies should be alive to their duties and act when they have information instead of releasing them as soon as they are arrested.

"They should stop initiating our children into cults and other social vices. The government should address the issue of unemployment as you know that an idle mind is the devil's workshop. They should address development, provide employment and respect our rights," she said.

Responding, Ikuru thanked them for their concern, saying that the issue has been giving the new administration sleepless nights. He however pledged that government has already mapped out some plans to contain it, pointing out that Omehia has already announced that he would form a committee to handle it.

"Thank you for coming out to peacefully demonstrate against hostage taking and criminalities in the region. Ikwerre people are not known for violence and criminality so we will not accept this attempt by a few people to smear us.

"We shall fight against criminality and other vices while pressing for the development of the Niger Delta which is not a criminal den', Ikuru said. It was also after the incident that Omehia announced one naira million reward to anyone who has information that would lead to release of hostages taken within the State. He also announced the formation of a committee to liaise with militants with a view to re-integrating them into the normal society. The committee will also ensure that there was peace among communities in the State and would be responsible for the training in vocational skills of militants and ensuring that they re-integrate into the society.

Secretary of the Committee, Mr. Jerry Nyeedam said they were putting in all within the realm of possibility to ensure that their youths were brought back on track and embrace normal social lives instead of indulging in criminalities while the issue of communal crises would be addressed in such a way that peace that would enable development would reign in the State.

So far, with the release of Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari who it is believed would instill sanity among the boys who have been kidnapping foreign workers, the end may be in sight if there is a collaborative effort between the communities, the government and security forces since useful information can lead to early detection and freeing of hostages when they are taken.

It worked at Eleme Waterside when two Filipinos were kidnapped. They were freed by the police within hours of their being taken in a bush bar.

Militant Spokesperson Suggests Disarming the Delta (This Day)

The clearing house of militants in the Niger Delta, the "Joint Revolutionary Council" has raised an alarm over what it called the use of Niger Delta as a global arms dump which is increasing the problem of crime and hostage taking.

Speaking to THISDAY in an internet chat, the Spokesperson of the Council, Cynthia Whyte lamented that arms were circulating on street and sold at very cheap prices which make its purchase attractive.

According to them, rather than allow arms to circulate freely even to the knowledge of security organisations, there was need to to remove the attention of youths from acquiring arms and turn it to productive ventures.

On way out of the level of militancy which is affecting development in the region, the Spokesperson of the militants said that skills acquisition and empowerment through micro credit schemes to make funds available to those who wants to do business but lack the funds to do so was a way out.

Such trades that are lucrative in the oil and gas environment, the group suggested should be taught the youths who will be assured of employment or assisted to set up their own workshops which will be equipped and sometimes, given contracts which are currently awarded to foreign firms.

"There is free inflow of arms from all parts of the world to the Niger Delta. Unfortunately, our security system seems to have no answers for it. What leads to all these hostage taking is that when they bring in the arms and ask the boys to buy and they do not have money to pay, they look for other means of raising that money.

"Hostage taking hereby becomes attractive since when a gun that sells for like N5 million is given away at N1 or N2 million, they strive to raise the money.

If they take hostages and are paid, they go for the guns and immediately have their own bargaining power in the equation.

Warri Oil Refinery and Vessels Burned (This Day)

A massive explosion, caused by crude spillage from one of the tanks at the Warri Refinery yesterday resulted in an inferno that gutted part of the ailing refinery yesterday.

Although no life was lost, vessels on the Ubeki Creek, including barges and boats and other valuables, were said to have been torched as the ravaging fire spread over to the Warri River , where the oil vessels were berthing.

THISDAY checks revealed that the spillage of crude from the tank which spread towards the river resulted in the massive explosions which reportedly razed some property belonging to the communities.

Rescue operations were said to have come late thereby making the fire to spead far. As at press time yesterday, efforts were still in progress to put out the fire. Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has commenced a full scale investigation to ascertain the cause of the inferno.

Spokesman of the corporation, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, who confirmed this in a telephone interview with THISDAY last night, explained that the cause of the fire can only be known after the investigation which he said, has commenced immediately.

Ajuonuma who would not give details, however said, the entire refinery was not touched.

The Warri Refinery, with production capacity of 125 barrel per day (bpd) of crude and the 110 bpd Kaduna Refinery had been shut down since February last year after militants from the Niger Delta region blew up their feeder pipeline at Escravos.

The two refineries in Kaduna and Warri prior to the problem, processed 28 and 25 per cent respectively of Nigeria 's total crude oil refined locally.

Efforts to put the refineries in operation were truncated by the youths in the area that
prevented engineers from carrying out repairs on the facilities.

The damaged pipeline transports crude to both the Warri and Kaduna refineries, forcing the two refineries to stop operations in the last one year.

The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Engr. Funsho Kupolokun had disclosed that the closure of the two refineries which were producing some 18 million litres of petrol daily, was one of the reasons for the last December fuel crisis in the country.

VP Promises Hostage Taking Will Become History

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, has assured the diplomatic community in Nigeria that hostage-taking in the Niger Delta will soon become a thing of the past, especially with on-going peace initiatives by the Federal Government.

Jonathan said this when he received the Russian Federation Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Igor Melikhov, at the state House yesterday.

He added that government is also making efforts to ensure development of the region, because “we want to ensure that place is like a paradise in future."

Reiterating government's commitment to ending the lingering problems in the area, he said the crisis has economically and politically affected not only the region, but the country as a whole

"Nobody is happy about the situation. Even state governors are embarrassed by the situation, this is why I have embarked on series of peace missions to the region in the last few days, and I believe very soon, there will be a resolution," he said.

While expressing sympathy for Russian expatriates held hostage, he conveyed the Federal Government’s appreciation to the Russian Federation for its friendly disposition towards Nigeria, saying he would strive to ensure release of the Russians in captivity. Speaking earlier, Melikhov commended the Federal Government for the success of the last general elections and congratulate Jonathan on his election as Vice President.

He said the business community in Russia “is very keen to do business and invest in Nigeria, noting, however, that the Russians' experience is a source for concern."

Nigeria Security Update #2 180607

Is Asari's Release Enough? (Sunday Vanguard)

It was wild jubilation in most parts of Rivers State Thursday when news of the conditional release of the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujaheed Asari Dokubo, by an Abuja High Court filtered into the state. Asari, as he is fondly called, had spent exactly one year, eight months and twenty-five days in detention at the federal capital.

He was arrested in Port Harcourt at the headquarters of the Rivers State Police Command on Moscow Road on September 20, 2005. According to his wife, Hajia Mujahid Daaba Asari Dokubo, in an interview with this correspondent some time ago, her husband was taken ‘hostage’ by the police. She may have reached this conclusion because Asari merely responded to a police invitation for a chat that Tuesday when he was detained and later bundled into a waiting plane and flown to Abuja. And since that black day, as many of his followers styled that day, it had been one legal trick or the other by his captors to continue to keep him behind bars until last Thursday when the court granted him conditional release.

Asari, at a time, was vice president Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, under the leadership of Felix Tuodolor. He later rose to become the president after his former boss completed his tenure. Sources in Rivers State said that he was largely instrumental to the emergence of ex-Governor Peter Odili in the 2003 election but fell out of favour with the political leadership when he reportedly maintained that the state and the region did not vote for the out gone President Olusegun Obasanjo in that year’s election. This position, many said, was later largely responsible for his troubles.

He found himself after sometime fighting what many called the greatest battle of his life on a structure he created called the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force. This battle, some called a clash of cult groups, claimed several lives. It generated so much tension in the oil rich state to the extent that Obasanjo had to meet with the warring parties to seek out a common ground for peace. Asari later redirected his energy towards the crusade for resource control by his region. He joined forces with other similar organizations in this new agitation until he was arrested and tried for alleged treasonable felony.

Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail the conditional release. President Ijaw National Congress, Professor Kimse Okoko, said the release would calm frayed nerves among the youths and also open windows for serious dialogue with the region on how to resolve the sad crisis in the area. But he explained that the release was not enough to ease tension occasioned by hostage takings in the region. His words: “It is a welcome development. It will help to cool frayed nerves as well as calm restive youths. The window has been opened for us to go into serious dialogue. We have put together what we consider absolutely necessary to move the nation forward.

“The struggle has been on before Asari went to prison, there were people who were there before he came in. Unfortunately, most of you do not know that there are various camps in this struggle aside Asari Dokubo. Asari Dokubo is not the main camp in the struggle, Asari appears to be the only visible known group of all the groups to majority of you.

The struggle continues because Asari is not the issue. There were and are still fundamental problems affecting the Niger Delta which we have been raising with successive governments. Asari is not the problem, he was unjustly incarcerated and we sought his release but it has nothing to do with the fundamental problems affecting the Niger Delta. What we are just saying is that his release is a good gesture on the part of the Federal Government, we can now, at least,sit down with them, talk and address those fundamental problems. Certainly, his release will not ease any tension, it will only give a kind of window to start the process of dialoguing with the Federal Government.”

Tuodolor said the release was not a development worth celebrating, as it was long overdue. Nevertheless, he hailed the step by the Federal Government but added that all charges against him should be dropped. “The development is welcomed but also long over due. We call on government to drop the charges against him. The release will contribute to the peace in the region. Criminals into hostage taking in his name will have no place to hide henceforth.

They will not have any reason to indulge in it again. Let it be on record that we are not thanking government for the release because in the first place there was no cause for the arrest. It was just an attempt to supress the struggle of the region. Again we want to use this opportunity to call on government to demilitarize the Niger Delta region. Just Friday some of our youths were killed by soldiers,” the founding IYC president stated.

Scribe of the Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Front (the political arm of Asari-led Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force), Odums Onisanya James, also hailed the release. He said it would help fish out criminal elements in the struggle and as well eliminate them from it. “So there will be peace.

Now we are going to refocus and redefine the struggle. Whatever condition he was given for the release is not our headache. The issue is that he has been released. The so-called conditions will not soften him. The development has shown the sincerity of the government not like the insincerity of Obasanjo. Now we can talk about the issues of peace in the region”.

The head of Supreme Egbesu, Sergeant Werinipre Noel Digifa, had this to say: “We welcome the release but we call on the Federal Government to release all Ijaw in detention in the country on account of the struggle. We have one hundred and fifty Ijaws in different locations in the country. We are appealing that Chief D.S.P Alamiesiegha should also be released. Asari is just a step. We raised a Kaiama Declaration on the way forward, we want it discussed.

The Ogoni Bill of Rights is there; government should discuss with all ethnic nationalities in the region: Urhobo, Itsekiri, etc. Again let me add here that President Yar'Adua would have started on a wrong note if he had continued with the summit on the region. The government quickly corrected itself.”

Prince Jumbo Jasper, a youth leader from Bonny, who also spoke on Asari’s release, said: “We are very happy with the release. It shows that the new government appreciates the suffering of the people and is ready to work towards the development of the region. But it will not end the crisis in the region. It will go a long way in assuaging the bitterness. Peace is not just absence of violence but also the presence of justice. Until fairness, equity and justice prevail, the struggle will continue. We want resource control and true federalism. The struggle is going to be refocused with the release.”

On his part, Siloko Siasia, chairman of South South Youth Leaders Forum, described the release as the beginning of good things to come in the Niger-Delta. His words: “It is a right step in the right direction. Government has shown a high level of commitment towards resolving the Niger Delta problem. The release has shown that President Yar'Adua will be committed to resolving the Niger Delta question. The release gives us a lot of hope. We are all happy, I am personally happy. With this, we are ready to work with the present government to actualize her goals in the region. This will also stop hostage taking in the region. We are going to try as much as possible to network to see that all criminal elements in the struggle are fished out. It is a good beginning for our people.”

Unconditional release

For Patrick Nagbaaton, coordinator, Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, Asari’s release should have been unconditional. Said he: “The Asari Dokubo phenomenon is one we got to contend with in the Niger Delta. The government should have given him unconditional release because the arrest had further deteriorated the situation in the Delta.

The situation we find ourselves now is such that Asari can’t cause an end to the security problem in the region. Peter Odili and Olusegun Obasanjo created the problem. Our organization called for sincerity on their part then but they gambled with the idea.

This led to the problem in the region. And those behind the security problem many don’t have any link with Asari in any way. We are calling for unconditional release for him. It must be noted that Asari is all the same fundamental to resolving some of the conflicts in the Niger Delta and his release is a welcome development”.

But for the militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND, the release is a welcome development. Jomo Gbomo, spokesman of the group, said thus in an online statement to Sunday Vanguard: “We consider the release of Asari as justice served, albeit late.

This gesture by the new government is an indication of its preparedness to dialogue and has effectively bought time for the oil industry while the more serious issue of resource control for the Niger Delta is considered.”

Fresh Tenions Brewing in Delta - An Analysis (Sunday Vanguard)

FRESH tension is now brewing in the creeks of Bayelsa State when normalcy appears to be returning to the troubled Niger Delta where armed groups have in the last two years sustained daring attacks on the nation's oil industry thus reducing its output by about 25 per cent.

The rising tension is coming on the heels of the Tuesday killing of nine suspected militants by men of the Joint Task Force, code-named “Operation Restore Hope,” fuelling fear that it could trigger fresh outbreak of hostilities in the creeks.

Militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, it would be recalled, had, in an online statement, announced suspension of hostilities. “We will suspend attacks on oil installations for one month. A period which we hope the government will take advantage of to ruminate on positive and realistic measures towards a just peace in the delta.

Following this period, we will resume attacks on installations and oil workers in the delta with greater purpose,” the group had said about two weeks ago.
Though it was learnt that the deceased militants were not members of the dreaded MEND, the latter called for caution on the part of the armed groups in the region so as to give the Nigerian government the opportunity to deliver justice to the families of the dead. It, however, warned that it might be forced to avenge the deaths if government failed to act decisively on the matter.

“Those were unarmed civilians murdered by the military. These deaths will not go unpunished. We will however give the Nigerian government the opportunity to deliver justice to the families of the dead. If that does not come quickly, we will surely act to avenge the deaths of our murdered brothers.”

These were the exact words of the MEND spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, in reply to Sunday Vanguard enquiry on the killings in the creek which is now causing fresh tension in the waterways. The tough stance of the MEND spokesman notwithstanding, Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva-Sam, had, penultimate Saturday, allayed the fears of investors in the state when he told newsmen of a new rapprochement in the region which he noted would eventually curb youth militancy. His words, “We believe that this wind (peace deal) will begin a process of dialogue and I promise that we are going to start the process of engagement, empowerment and enforcement in the region.”

The governor who preferred not to call the armed youths in the creek ‘militants’ had said there were fundamental issues raised by them that needed to be addressed urgently to restore the confidence of the people in the rural enclave. Giving an insight into what transpired during his meeting with them at their den in the course of securing the release of the last batch of hostages held in the state, Sylva-Sam said, “The militants made some demands just as the government also made demands…we are also hoping to show good on our part because their demands are quite genuine. There is real neglect in the area.”

It is still unclear what sparked off the bloody shootout in the waterways Tuesday leaving nine suspected militants dead with two managing to escape with injuries. Many feared that the militants who had earlier promised to cease hostilities for one month to afford the new administration of the 56-year-old President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua the opportunity to demonstrate that he would accord the development of the region a different treatment from what his predecessor in office did had reneged on their pledge and taken up arms again.

But others said the attack was done in bad faith by the soldiers in the creek who are also in constant fear of being ambushed by militants whose vast knowledge of the maze of creeks has made it difficult for security forces to put a stop to their activities. However, what is certain is that it was the worst aggression seen in the state waterways since the recently brokered peace between the militants and Sylva-Sam, who personally visited the militants’ camp in the dense jungle of the mangrove swamp and succeeded in extracting a promise from their leaders to cease hostilities leading to the release of the last batch of hostages in Bayelsa which many saw as a vista of hope for the young state, in dire need of massive direct foreign investment if it must come out of the woods.

The tragic incident of Tuesday stands as grim reminders of the nearly two years of the near state of anarchy and insecurity in the waterways where many innocent Bayelsans and non Bayelsans have lost their lives.

Once again, the relative peace of the waterways was shattered and turned into crimson of blood as nine suspected militants fell to the superior firepower of men of “Operation Restore Hope” in a bloody gunfight. Two Nigerian soldiers were also reported to have lost their lives in the encounter, although this was denied by military authorities as the spokesman of the JTF, Major Omale Oshaguba, confirmed that nine militants were killed in shootout while no casualty was recorded on the part of the military.

It was learnt that for nearly two hours the battle lasted in the creek, commercial boat operators plying the route were forced to make a detour for fear of being caught in the cross fire having lost their colleagues in similar circumstances in the past. However, the identity of the slain youths has been a subject of controversy with some groups especially from the militants’ camp claiming they were victims of undue military aggression, a claim dismissed by security sources as cheap ‘blackmail’ insisting the deceased were militants armed to the teeth and killed in gunfight with soldiers.

A military source who spoke anonymously told Sunday Vanguard that the occupants of the boat were militants as “they were not only armed but also tying fetish objects on their bodies believed to be their source of invincibility.” “The situation in the creek is now different as the soldiers now have the right to defend themselves when attacked by militants,” the source said, adding that the military was not only on red alert to safeguard the nation oil installations but also make the creeks a safe passage for all users.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that trouble started when some soldiers at a military checkpoint attempted to stop a boat along the Ogboinbiri waterways some distance away from an oil facility belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), which refused to stop.

The occupants of the boat who were said to have tied white native cloth on their heads and arms were returning from an initiation ceremony at Ogbotobo in Delta State thereby raising the suspicion of the soldiers that they were militants in ‘Egbesu’ regalia and opened fire on them which they replied. They were, however, said to have succumbed to the superior firepower of the soldiers. Two managed to escape by jumping into the river.

A security source told Sunday Vanguard that four of the corpses were airlifted Wednesday to the Airforce base in Port Harcourt where they were later conveyed to the JTF base in Warri in a Toyota Hilux jeep with the inscription “Operation Restore Hope.”

As at the time of filing this report, it could not be ascertained if the bodies of the remaining militants had been evacuated as Sunday Vanguard source informed that NAOC refused to release its chopper to the military for further use when it was discovered that its initial offer was for the evacuation of the corpses of those killed in the violent skirmish between the soldiers and suspected militants.

Informed sources in the area said that security has been reinforced around the NAOC facility with commercial boat operators avoiding the Ogboinbiri waterways for fear of harassment by the soldiers as well as being caught in any cross fire between the military and militants.

Many of the natives along the Ogboinbiri, it was further learnt, are relocating from the area following speculation that the colleagues of the deceased militants might embark on revenge mission. “What we have in the creek presently is peace of the graveyard as there is apprehension among the natives. We have been living in perpetual fear since the tragic incident of Tuesday as nobody can predict the next line of action of the youths whose colleagues were killed by soldiers,” a local from the hinterland said.

Twelve Taken Hostage Update #3 (Media Reports)

Suspected militants on Sunday attacked the Nigeria Agip Oil Company flow station in Ogboinbiri, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, in what was described as reprisal attacks.

They also held 12 workers of the company hostage. The attacks came barely four days after the killing of nine militants by the men of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the same area soldiers were said to have exchanged fire with the militants.

The militants were said to have mobilised themselves to avenge the death of their colleagues who were said to have been killed by the soldiers. The youth arrived on the platform early in the morning and allegedly forced the soldiers to beat retreat.

The militants succeeded in blowing up the flow station and taking over the entire platform.

The soldiers, according to a security source, seemed to have asked for reinforcements to curtail the activities of the rampaging youth as a gunboat was said to have been moved towards the area from Yenagoa.

Also, some of the vehicles of the JTF were seen moving towards the Yenagoa waterside.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for JTF, Major Omale Ochagwuba, said, “yes they attacked. Details are still sketchy.”

In his own comment, the coordinator of the state security outfit, Bayelsa Volunteers, Joshua Benamaisia, said, “The boys have taken over the flow station this morning, but no casualty has been recorded.”

The attacks came barely 48 hours after the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujadid Dokubo-Asari, who was recently released on bail by the Abuja high court, promised to find a lasting solution to militant activities in the region.

The state police command could not confirm the shootout, as its Public Relations Officer, DSP Iniobong Ibokette, said he was yet to receive information from the area with regard to the attacks.

Reacting, the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) denied involvement in the shootout.

Task Force Trails Hostage Takers (Nigerian Tribune)

Crack detectives from the police and intelligence unit of the Joint Task Force (JTF) code-named “Operation Restore Hope” are closing in on the armed gang that abducted four workers - three Indians and a Pole - in Sapele, Delta State, on Friday.

Security sources told the Nigerian Tribune yesterday that one of those arrested shortly after the incident had provided the security outfit with information which were being acted upon.

“The information has been very useful and our men are working on it.

“Infact, before the week runs out, we will fish out those hoodlums.

We are up to the task. We will no longer give these boys the breathing space again because they have no reason to engage in that act again with the release of Asari-Dokubo,” he said.

The four foreign workers, who were abducted while on their way to work at a rubber firm at about 9.00 a.m., were said to have been monitored over time by the kidnappers until they executed their plan.

The source said the driver of the speed boat scheduled for the evacuation of the hostages spoilt business for his colleagues because he did not keep to time.

“The driver of the boat came to the jetty shortly after his colleagues had hijacked another boat with its driver and escaped with their captives.

So, immediately the security agents discovered that he came for the kidnappers, they swooped on him and interrogated him to see if it was possible to immediately resue those foreigner”, he added.

The identities of two of the Indians kidnapped were given as Murughan Gopal and Anthony Marian, while those of the other two were yet to be known as at the time of filing this report.

Unions Meet Today to Confirm Strike Date (Media Reports)

The National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the leadership of the Trade Union Congress will meet on Monday (today) to decide whether or not to commence a nationwide strike on Wednesday.

The President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, M. Peter Akpatason, made this known during a telephone interview on Sunday.

The NLC and the TUC had on June 5, 2007 given the government a two-week ultimatum to reverse the new prices of petroleum products and the Value Added Tax.

They also want the government to cancel the sale of the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries.

Three trade groups – the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria; the National Association of Road Transport Owners; and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers – are currently on strike over the sale of the refineries.

Our correspondents learnt on Sunday that the meeting would hold at the Labour House in Abuja.

Akpatason, who also disclosed that the government had sought for an extension of the 14 days ultimatum by one week, said that Monday’s meeting was to work out the modalities to ensure the success of the strike.

He added that Tuesday had been scheduled for the final round of mobilisation for the strike by the State Executive Councils of the NLC.

He said that letters would be dispatched directing workers to proceed on strike by Wednesday morning.

The NUPENG President said, “It is going to be total, every strike has to be total at this point in time.

“You know this is a new government and we must convince the government and Nigerians that we are serious and credible. Possible failure will determine how the government is going to perceive us.”

Akpatason, however, said the NLC and the TUC had rejected the request for an extension of the deadline by government.

He said the government had two days to respond to the demands of the labour unions to halt the national strike.

He said, “Further extension of the ultimatum is not possible at this time because the government was given a whole 14 days to respond to the demands of the labour unions.”

The Zonal Secretary, Western Zone of NUPENG, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, also confirmed that the strike might begin on Wednesday.

Korodo said, “By virtue of the circular sent out, there will be no strike between Monday and Tuesday until the outcome of the SEC meetings.

“The NLC will meet tomorrow (today) between 10am and 2pm to finalise actions,” he said.

The SEC is expected to meet by 1pm on Tuesday to brief all the unions under it of the outcome of the Monday meeting.

NARTO leaders will also meet on Monday with the government to decide whether to direct their members to continue with their strike or not.

The Executive Secretary of NARTO, Mr. Enoch Kanawa, said the group would conclude discussions with government on Monday.

Kanawa noted that because of the nature of the operations of NARTO and tanker drivers, products scarcity might remain if the meeting with government or that of the NLC with government ended in a deadlock.

He said, “We are the owners of the trucks, and if we did not reach an agreement with government, the tanker drivers would remain on strike.

“Also, the PTD is a member of NUPENG, a branch of the NLC; and if NARTO suspends its strike and the NLC continues with its own, the tanker drivers will still be on strike. So, it is a dicey situation.”

A meeting between the government and those of the Congress on Friday night ended in a deadlock.

Representatives of the government and the NLC are expected to meet again on Thursday.

“The NLC will meet tomorrow (today) between 10am and 2pm to finalise actions.”

Also on Sunday, the National Association of Nigerian Students said it was in full support of the strike.

The NANS President, Mr. Olalekan Soyombo, told our correspondent in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, that the strike by the NLC would have far-reaching consequences on the ecomomy.

Soyombo, therefore, appealed to President Umaru Yar’Adua to do what was right by heeding the call by the NLC and the TUC.

He said, “The average Nigerian lives under abject poverty; a majority of Nigerian workers are pauperised while our leaders are basking in opulence.

“The President should prove to all Nigerians that he is truly a product of the university. He should see his current situation as an opportunity to instill sanity into the polity.”

India Again Advises Its Nationals to Leave Nigeria

India's government Sunday issued a second security advisory asking Indians to leave the oil-rich Southern Niger Delta in Nigeria after a fresh kidnapping incident was reported, news reports said Sunday. The latest Ministry of External Affairs advisory was released after the Indian High Commission in Nigeria learned that two Indians were kidnapped Saturday in separate incidents, even as 10 other Indians who were kidnapped on June 1 were released late Friday, reported The Times of India.

The released victims, who were kidnapped at the compound of Eleme Petrochemicals, a franchise of the Indonesia-based Indian Indorama group, were kidnapped from the company's compound, have since been evacuated to India. The kidnapped included Indorama's managing director Arun Taneja.

The kidnappings has forced Eleme to partially shut down production after some 120 members of its expatriate staff - mostly engineers and technicians - left the country.

In the first incident, two Indians were kidnapped on May 19 and held hostage by armed groups and later released on Jun 11.

The Indian High Commission in Nigeria is facing problems in evacuating the workers as many Indian workers in Nigeria are not registered. Only four of the 10 Indians who were released Saturday evening had been registered with the high commission.

There has been a recent upsurge in kidnappings of oil workers in the Niger delta. According to reports, over 190 foreigners have been kidnapped in Nigeria within the last 12 months.

Criminal gangs and rebels are behind the kidnappings for ransom, reported The Times of India, and are demanding that the oil money that accounts for 80 per cent of the country's exports should be spent in the impoverished delta area.

Indian media reported that militants in southern Nigeria freed the 10 Indian hostages after a court ordered the release of a separatist leader Mujahid Asari Dokubo, head of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, who had been held since 2005 on treason charges, and whose detention sparked a wave of kidnappings in the oil-rich region.

Recently, ambassadors of 10 countries including India met with Nigeria's national security advisor to press for government efforts to free the foreign hostages.