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 #1 240607

Unions End Fuel Strike (BBC)

Nigeria's trade unions have called off their general strike over a recent rise in petrol prices, after talks with government officials.

Union leaders said they had accepted the government's proposal to freeze petrol prices for at least a year.

The government had already agreed to reduce its increase in prices as one of a series of compromises offered before the strike began on Wednesday.

The stoppage had brought Africa's top oil producer to a standstill.

Unions had called the strike over rises in fuel prices and value-added tax and the sale of two major oil refineries.

The unions were angry at a series of measures pushed through in the last days of the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo, who stepped down last month.

The price of petrol was increased from 65 naira (51 US cents) a litre to 75.

"There is no winner or loser," Babagana Kingibe, who led the negotiations for the government, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

"If there's a loser, it's the Nigerian people."

Saturday's move could be seen as a victory for the unions, but not a total one, the BBC's Alex Last in Lagos says.

Sensitive issue

In the end, the unions accepted a series of government compromises offered before the strike started and ditched their initial demand for a complete reversal of the recent hike in the price of subsidised fuel, our correspondent says.

He says the price of fuel is a sensitive issue in the country because it is one of the few benefits Nigerians get from the government, which receives billions of dollars in oil revenues but fails to provide even basic amenities.

New President Umaru Yar'Adua has emerged from this first major test just about intact, our correspondent says.

Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer but has to import most of its petrol because of the poor state of its refineries.

AGIP Threatened with Reprisal Attack (Vanguard)

The Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), an umbrella body of the militant groups in the Niger Delta has threatened to carry out a reprisal attack against the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NOAC) in Ogboinbiri, Southern Ijaw in Bayelsa State.

According to Cynthia Whyte, spokesperson of the JRC, the reprisal attack would be a response to the clash between the militants and the military in Ogboinbiri, where 12 youths were allegedly killed.

Berating Ijaw elders for keeping mute while such injustice was visited on them, the militants vowed to visit the oil company and any other interest group that was party to the killings, promising to inflict the same number of casualties they suffered in the attacks.

Whyte in an online statement said the attack was a move to recapture the flow station earlier seized by the militants with casualties recorded on both sides. But the statement from the militants only spoke of 12 of their members being killed by soldiers on Thursday, June 21, 2007.
Whyte however said the planned attack was only for reprisal purposes and would not vitiate the earlier promise by JRC to cease hostilities against the Nigerian State and its interests following the release of their leader, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo.

"It is with great sadness that we announce that hours ago, precisely in the very early hours of Thursday, June 21 2007, the security forces of the Nigerian state once again attacked and killed 12 youths of Ogboinbiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, who were protesting against the unwanted and criminal killing of their kinsmen weeks earlier by the armed forces of the dubious Nigerian state.

"This unfortunate incident has proved beyond all doubt just how far the Nigerian state and her agents can go to ensure that they sit tight on our God-given resources. Let us therefore inform all those who were party to this evil against our people that they will get their rewards in time to come. Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) will be visited by the same number of casualties, pain and misfortune," they threatened.

The militants said the killing of their members at a time they had promised to keep the peace was a proof of the desperation of the Nigerian State to hold on to their land. "We will not forgive this," read the statement.

"Let us also inform all men of goodwill that all measures and reprisal actions taken against AGIP and her conspirators will be in no way related to our earlier decision to cease hostilities against the Nigerian state. This will simply be a 'payback' activity and will cut across AGIP's operations in Rivers and Bayelsa States.

"The death of these young men must be repaid in the same manner. Justice must be done by any means necessary and however crude!" they concluded.

Four Hostages Freed

Four foreign hostages employed by oil services giant Schlumberger were released unharmed on Saturday after more than three weeks in captivity, security sources said.

The men, from Britain, France, the Netherlands and Pakistan, were abducted on June 1 from the company's residential compound in Nigeria's oil capital Port Harcourt by kidnappers disguised as riot police.

"They are unharmed but said they had been threatened during captivity," an official of a private security firm said.

More than 200 foreigners have been kidnapped in Nigeria's oil producing Niger Delta since the beginning of last year, and militant attacks have closed about a quarter of the OPEC nation's oil output.

Militants who say they are fighting for regional control over the delta's oil wealth have been responsible for some of the violence, but the instability has been exploited by criminal groups and most kidnappings are motivated by ransom.

Effects of Strike Around the Nation (The Sun)

Abuja

Aminu is a staffer of one of the numerous construction companies owned by foreigners in Nigeria. He survives on a daily pay of N450. Like most workers in Abuja, he works in the metropolis but resides in Mararaba, a suburb in Nasarawa State, which is about some 15 km from Abuja city centre.

Like every other day, he woke up by 5.a.m last Wednesday, a time he considered early enough to enable him catch the long truck, which ordinarily are designed to convey anything but human beings, but which convey them to work every morning.

On getting to the bus stop, Aminu did not find the truck. Sensing that he may have been left behind that morning, he quickly jumped into a waiting bus. To his amazement, a bus that usually charges between N70 and N80 to Area 1, in Abuja, insisted that the commuters part with N200.

Aminu, who had thought that the strike called out by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) would not hold, got to the site in Area 1 disappointed as he later found out that the strike was for real. He ended up sleeping in the site with the security guards as he had no means of returning back to Mararaba.

Aminu's predicament is no doubt a representative of what most artisans suffered in Abuja following the strike called by the NLC. In fact those of them, who went to work on Wednesday, did not contemplate it the next day.

For instance, a motor mechanic told Sunday Sun that he decided not to go to work on Thursday because he felt he wasted the transport fare he used to go to work the previous day, as no customer visited his workshop Wednesday.

A few filling stations that sold fuel in the early hours of the morning, though at N75 per litre (even after the Federal government had announced a reduction in price by N5) had somewhat eased movement of vehicles in the early hours of the morning. But once the union leaders and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by the NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar, began a procession through major areas in Abuja to monitor compliance, a few of the filling stations that had opened for business immediately closed their gates, apparently to forestall any attempt by the labour leaders to picket their business premises.

On why some of the filling stations had to open for business, one of the petrol attendants, who identified himself as simply Ojonugba told Sunday Sun that "You know some of us got our supply based on the fact that we would sell N75 per litre. Now, you know that the government has brought the price down to N70. If we don't come and sell today, we will be running at a loss after the strike because you people will not agree to buy it N75 after the strike.

"Abi you think say we know like the strike? If no be say government reduce the price, my brother, na sleep I for dey sleep for house. Because for this Abuja, especially for people like us and una wey be Journalists wey no dey get Saturday and Sunday, na period like this person dey get to rest. Abi I lie?," he asked rhetorically.

Ibadan: patients shut out of public hospitals
BY AKEEB ALARAPE, IBADAN

As at late evening of Monday, the people of Oyo state were still hopeful the strike might eventually not be, especially with the announcement that the Federal Government had conceded some grounds to the aggrieved workers. This led to few people preparing for the strike period.

But by Wednesday, it was glaring that the labour group meant business. A survey by Sunday Sun across the state showed that the decision of the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Allied Institutions (SSATHRIAI) to join the industrial action worsened the situation at the foremost University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, as Staff Nurse, Nursing Officers and Senior Nursing Officers (SNOs) stayed off duty.

The resultant effect was the closure of the clinic section of the hospital manned by the senior workers. Also, serious cases of accident and other ailment could not be attended to as the senior staff to handle such cases were no where to be found.

Same situation obtained at the state-owned hospital, clinics and maternity centres as workers in these government health centres refused to report for work.

Individual experiences of the strike also revealed lost of huge revenue and productive hours due to the strike as relayed to Sunday Sun by some people in the capital city of Ibadan. Pharmacist Alani Azeez, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Alan Pharmaceuticals, Iwo, Osun State, said he was already in Ibadan to book a flight to Abuja for a three-day workshop organized by Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) when he got a call that the workshop has been called off as a result of the impending strike.

Lamenting his loss in term of time and financial commitment to the trip, Alan as popularly called, disclosed that the workshop was meant for Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee of PCN.

“Now, all preparations made for that trip are now waste. By the time the organizers fix another time for the workshop, one has to start fresh preparations again”, he lamented. He also disclosed that a similar event being sponsored by the United Nations’ Drug Control Department in conjunction with NAFDAC centering on drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking had to be postponed at the last minute due to the strike.

Edo: Benin residents brave odds, want strike to continue
By Tony Osauzo, Benin

The fall-out of the lingering labour strike is having a telling effect on Nigerians, but in spite of this, a Benin resident said that his family was n total support of the industrial action.
Mr. Edosa Okunbor, a Correspondent of Midwest Herald said: “I am buying fuel now for N130 a litre. That constitutes a big drain on my purse. Cost of living has taken a toll on the entire family, including my immediate and extended families. Before the increase, we used to spend a minimum of N7, 000 a week on feeding and miscellaneous housekeeping. That amount hardly lasts two days now.

Okunbor, however, supports the strike as he hopes that its outcome would be beneficial. “I am all for the strike. Man dies but once. If the strike will yield good results and make life more bearable, we support it. I want government to revert the price of fuel to N65 a litre and to make kerosene available to the common man,” he said.

Also speaking, former chairman of Newspapers Sales Representatives in Edo State, Mr. Ayo Oisemaoje, said the strike has affected sales of his wares badly. “The strike has affected us badly, especially in sending papers to our outstations. Many of our vendors are not turning up because of high cost of transportation. The reading public is also not responding and sales are low. We are losing heavily,” he complained.

Sokoto: Delayed toll in the Caliphate, environs
By AHMED OYERINDE, Sokoto

In Sokoto, the impact of the action was yet to be fully felt by the third day Friday.
However, Chairman, Sokoto State chapter of NLC, Comrade Garba Liman said that the strike would take its toll yesterday and the days ahead, in the event that it was not called off before today.

Aside from a few banks that closed their offices and some Federal Civil Servants that stayed away from work, all other public offices, schools, business premises including markets remained opened for normal business activities with a litre of fuel (PMS) selling for N110.

A state civil servant who pleaded anonymity said: “I blamed our union leaders here for this lukewarm attitude. They are not very effective. We definitely have a peculiar problem here.”

Plateau:Jos residents face hardship
By Mariam Aleshinloye Agboola, Jos

Life has been difficult for residents of Jos and environs in Plateau State since the beginning of the strike Wednesday.

Business premises including banks, shops, markets and motor parks have remained closed since that date, making it difficult for residents to purchase items or move about.
Apparently caught napping, some residents of the Tin City complained that they did not believe that the industrial action could be sustained that long hence they did not make adequate preparations. “We had taken it that one way or the other labour would settle with the Federal Government and they would not go on strike. We did not go to the bank to withdraw money for use, yet we did not have food in the house,” a civil servant lamented.

Commuters were, in the circumstance, compelled to trek long distances as public transporters withdrew their vehicles from the road.

Where fuel was found at all, a litre sold for between N130 and N140.

Meanwhile the Civil Liberty Organization (CLO) applauded the NLC and NUC for the action.

The CLO in a statement by its President, Titus Mann urged the two parties not to waver on the demand for “total reversal of the cruel and insensitive fuel and VAT rate increases as well as the brazen theft of Kaduna refinery in the name of privatization” as the only condition for ending the strike.

Enugu
Labour, police clash over enforcement
By GODDY OSUJI, Enugu

The strike reached its climax in Enugu Friday as the executives of various industrial unions moved into town to ensure compliance, forcing markets, petrol stations, banks and other private business establishments to close down. The union executives were, however, challenged by the police for forcing people to comply.

Chairman of NUPPRO, Daily Star chapter, Mike Ohagwu, cheated death by the whiskers as the DPO of Awkuananaw Police Station allegedly ordered him to be shot for challenging his orders. But the timely intervention of the State chairman of NLC, Comrade Eugene Ugwu averted the near tragedy.

The union leaders, Sunday Sun gathered, were later moved to the State Police Headquarters on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Charles Dawodu who after consultation with his lieutenants, interrogated them and later pleaded that the number be reduced as they were constituting a public nuisance.

According to Mr. Gordon Ekeugo, an Enugu based businessman: “Everybody knows what is involved when there is strike. Generally, it has not been easy for me because of the fuel scarcity that has affected every segment of my business.

“The arbitrary increases in the cost of foodstuff and transportation. Everybody is suffering and I do believe that the way I feel is also how every other person feels it in his own home.”

Delta
Citizens feel the pinch, lament govt’s insensitivity
By BUCHY ENYINNAYA, Asaba

The adverse effect of the nation-wide strike took its toll on the residents of Asaba, Ibusa, Agbor towns, and their environs in Delta State, as the action paralyzed economic activities in the state.
Banks, public schools, filling stations and other establishments remained closed while transporters withdrew their vehicles from the roads in compliance with the NLC and TUC order.

At the Ogbogonogo Market along Nnebisi Road in Asaba metropolis, traders were seen lamenting poor patronage.

Operators of Cold Rooms in Asaba also bemoaned their fate as their businesses were being gradually crippled like several other sectors of the economy with unavailability of fuel to power their generating sets and unreliable public power supply.

They lamented “the Federal Government’s insensitive to the plight of the masses” by failing to yield to the demand of labour.

Anambra
Social, economic activities grounded
By NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha

In Onitsha, the commercial nerve center of Anambra State, social and economic activities were badly affected by the strike.

Although most private business premises were open in the commercial town during the period, the traders lamented poor patronage.

The major reason was inability for the prospective buyers to access their funds in the banks. A litre of petrol sells for between N130 and N140.

Commenting on the development, President-General of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), Mr. Sylvester Odife (Jnr) said that the markets were opened because the leadership of labour did not sensitize and carry them along.

Rivers
Commerce, families suffer in P.H
By Henry Chukwurah, Port Harcourt

The story is no different in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State. As at last Friday, the third day of the nationwide strike, commerce and family life in the Garden City had tumbled.

Leading to the scarcity of petroleum products in the State, residents experienced excruciating difficulties going about their private business even as public offices remained closed.

With few vehicles on the road, those who ventured out of their homes either paid as much as thrice the normal fares or resorted to trekking long distances.

A trader, Mrs. Grace Tamuno lamented thus: “Very few people bother to come to the market these days. It is either they bought enough to last them for some time or they have run out of cash.”

Abia
Customers shun fast food joints
By CHUKS ONUOHA, Umuahia

Activities in Abia State have been grounded to a standstill as the nationwide labour strike prolonged beyond their expectations.

Helpless, most people chose to stay at home, to conserve the little funds they had at the onset of the industrial action.

In fact, fast food eateries that used to have good patronage thinned out while the strike lasted. The reason, Sunday Sun was told, is because of limited cash in circulation.

Dan Okonkwo, a welder at Nkwoegwu said he had cut down their expenses as he was sure when the strike would end.

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.

Nigeria Security Update #1 180607

Militants Hit Oil Field in Sunday Attack (AFP)

Gunmen attacked an oilfield on Sunday in Nigeria's southern Bayelsa State being guarded by soldiers after nine militants were killed by the army in the same area recently, an official said.

"The fighting is still raging in the afternoon," a spokesman for the paramilitary Joint Task Force said, adding there were no reports of casualties thus far.

A navy spokesman told AFP there were no foreigners at the site at the time of the attack.

Kidnappings and armed attacks have intensified in Nigeria's oil-rich south since 2006 in which nearly 200 foreigners have been abducted. Most have been released unharmed after a few days or weeks in captivity.

The abductors or attackers mainly belong to groups calling for a greater share of the oil wealth for the provinces where oil is found. The bulk of the revenues go to the federal government.

These attacks, coupled with acts of vandalism and sabotage, have cost Nigeria -- the world's sixth largest oil exporter -- dear, translating into an annual revenue loss of 4.4 billion dollars (3.2 billion euros).

Bayelsa State Oil Field Attack Update (Daily Sun)

Barely 24 hours after the detained Ijaw activist, Alhaji Mujadid Asari-Dokubo arrived Port Harcourt from Abuja after being released on bail, dare-devil militants attacked the Ogboinbiri flow station in Southern Ijaw local government Sunday morning sacking soldiers on duty.

The attack is believed to be a reprisal attack against the killing of nine militants by men of the Joint Military Task Force on Tuesday.
The men of JTF had killed the nine militants and arrested one when they failed to stop at the military check point located in the area

Investigations by Daily Sun revealed that several of the militants were spotted moving in several speed boats loaded with sophisticated weapons, including cluster bombs.
Eye-witness account said when the militants stormed the flow station at about 5 a.m, the soldiers tried to resist their attempt to take over the place but the superior fire power of the militants overwhelmed the soldiers who had to succumb.

As at the time of filing this report, the militants are still in full control of the flow station and have cordoned off the entire waterways leading to the flow station.
The spokesman of JTF, Major Omale Ochagwuba, confirmed the attack, but could not confirm the number of casualties as he said he was still expecting details.

The coordinator of the Bayelsa Volunteer, the security outfit charged with arresting youth restiveness in the state, Mr. Joshua Benasmaisa, also confirmed the incident and said they were waiting for the tension to go down before they would establish contact with the boys.

“Yes, at about 5 am the militants attacked the Ogboinbiri flow station and overpowered the soldiers there before they took control of the flow station. As I speak, they are still in control of the place. And there is nothing we can to talk to them now because we cannot go there when shooting is on. We wait until there is less tension, then we can move in,” Benamaisa added.

The incident might have collapsed the bridge of confidence built by Governor Timipre Sylva with the militants after his inauguration
Sylva had gone to the militant’s camp twice to secure the release of hostages and has expressed willingness to go back to conclude discussions on how to end the instability in the state.

Strike Set For Wednesday (Sunday Punch)

Security was on Saturday tightened around strategic oil installations in the Niger Delta region ahead of the strike action planned by the Nigerian Labour Congress and the oil workers’ unions.

The workers are pressing for the reversal of some decisions taken by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the twilight of his administration.

Specifically, the NLC, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, are demanding the reversal of the pump prices of petroleum products, the new Value Added Tax, and the sale of Port-Harcourt and Kaduna refineries. The strike begins on Wednesday.

Our correspondent learnt that the Joint Task Force in the Niger-Delta (Operation Restore Hope), had initiated measures to ensure the safety of oil workers and installations while the strike lasted.

Also, the JTF was being repositioned to enhance its efficiency.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that the action of the JTF, headed by Brig.-Gen. Lawrence Ngubane, was informed by the failure of the meeting held on Friday between the representatives of the Federal Government and labour to resolve the issue.

A source at 93 Battalion, Effurun, Headquarters of the JTF, told Sunday Punch that the Federal Government subsequently directed Ngubane to provide a security web around major oil facilities to prevent wilful damage by hoodlums.

Sunday Punch gathered that the security measures were borne out of fear by the government that the action of the labour unions could be hijacked by the Niger Delta militants to perpetrate fresh criminal activities in the oil industry in the region.

Consequently, the authorities of the JTF deployed fresh troops and equipment in the major facilities belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and oil majors, especially the Shell Petroleum Development Company and Chevron Nigeria Limited in the region in the early hours of Saturday.

Our source said enough personnel and military equipment, especially naval patrol boats and crafts provided by the NNS Delta, Warri Naval Base, headed by Navy Capt. Mufutau Ajibade, had been stationed at SPDC’s Forcados Terminal and CNL’s Escravos Terminal and Tank Farm to ward- off untoward activities.

“We have told our men in various places to be on the alert. We have also deployed adequate troops and materials to handle any exigency. It is the duty of JTF to ensure safety of lives and property in the Niger Delta and we are not ready to compromise on that mandate,” said a source, who craved anonymity.

It was learnt that the Navy task group of the JTF, headed by Ajibade, had deployed warships, NNS Nwanba and NNS Obula, to embark on a regular patrol of the waterways, apparently to keep the militants at bay during the period.

In another development, the JTF was being repositioned to make it result-oriented. To this end, Ngubane has initiated mass transfer and rotation of the officers and men of the command.

Mean while. as workers gear up for a nationwide strike over new fuel price regime, economic activities were at their lowest ebb in some cities as filling stations had run short of fuel supply.

There, were indications that the strike could begin at midnight on Wednesday following the seeming collapse of the talks held between representatives of the organised labour and the Federal Government on Friday.

The workers, under the aegis of the trade Union Congress and the Nigerian Labour Congress are also protesting the 100 per cent increase in Value Added Tax.

Representatives of labour and government agencies on the current dispute over the fuel price hike failed to reach a consensus on the matter at a meeting held in Abuja.

The meeting was at the instance of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe.

Reports from our correspondents on Saturday showed that the few filling stations that were still selling the commodity witnessed multiple queues of vehicles.

The situation was most chaotic in Lagos as people stepped up panic-buying of fuel and food items ahead of the strike.

In Lagos, the country’s commercial capital, bug queues of cars waiting to buy fuel formed at major fillinf stations, while several others were not selling.

Already, touts are taking advantage of the scarcity to sell in jerry cans at astronomical prices across the metropolis.

Many filling stations in Lagos did not have fuel on Saturday because of the strike by oil workers.

Socio-economic activities have slowed down in Enugu State.

Most of the petrol stations in the metropolis, in compliance with the decision of the unions oil workers refused to dispense diesel and Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as petrol to motorists, preferring to sell to black marketers.

As at Saturday, a four-litre gallon of fuel was being sold at N2,500 by the black marketers operators.

A bus trip from the town to suburban areas like Abakpa, which hitherto cost N30 is now N150, while a short trip on Okada goes for between N100 to N150.

To prevent the filling stations from resuming services and breaching the strike, the oil unions‘ officials took to visiting the stations to enforce compliance.

Freed Militant Arrives Home to Hero's Welcome (Vanguard)

NIGER Delta youths, particularly from the Ijaw extraction, brought Port Harcourt to a standstill for over four hours yesterday, as they came out in their thousands to welcome the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Mujahid Dokubo-Asari.

As early as 7.00am, Ijaw youths waving the blue, red and green Ijaw flag started arriving at the Airforce base, on Aba Road, Port Harcourt to receive Dokubo-Asari, who promised to work out modality to stop hostage-taking and banditry in the region.

The youths, numbering over eight thousand, though prevented from entering the airport by security operatives, besieged the New Olusegun Obasanjo Road for several hours, and thereby disrupting the free flow of traffic during the period.

Dokubo-Asari arrived at the Airforce base on board a chartered Associated Airline flight, accompanied by the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate and son of the Amayanabo of Kalabari, Prince Tonye Princewill and other prominent Ijaws at about 11.10am.

As soon as he alighted from the aircraft, thousands of his kinsmen burst into jubilation and besieged him, making it absolutely difficult for him to even walk to a Hummer Jeep that was to convey him out of the airport.

Addressing journalists, Dokubo-Asari, who said he was elated and humbled by the multitude that came out to accord him a warn reception, praised the masses for putting up with the protracted hardship in the land.

"I thank the people of the Niger Delta and all the oppressed persons, who have suffered for a long time and who have taken time to be here to welcome me. I feel humbled and elated by this singular act of support," he said.

Dokubo-Asari, who wore a black dress embossed with the photograph of the Ijaw hero, Isaac Adaka-Boro, promised that he would collaborate with other stakeholders in the Niger Delta area to work out ways to stop all acts of hostage taking.

"We will try and work out ways to stop this act of criminality and banditry," he pledged. "We are not going to be something we are not. We are fighting for justice. We should not do injustice to other people. We are fighting for justice. We cannot be seen to be doing injustice to other people."

On the Niger Delta struggle, he noted that the people of the region had explicitly stated their demands and wishes in the Kaiama and Akalaka Declarations as well as the Ogoni Bill of Rights.

He iterated that the only feasible way to resolve the Niger Delta crisis was through the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference where the various ethnic nationalities in the country would determine the terms of participating in the Nigerian project.

On terms of his release, Dokubo-Asari said he was not aware of them since he was not in court the day his bail was granted.

The president of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Billy Harry, who was also at the airport, described the release of the militant leader as a big relief to the business community in the Niger Delta.

Harry said: "We are expecting that business will get back to normal. The resolution must be done with absolute carefulness.

"The youths of the Niger Delta have expressed their displeasure. What are they fighting for? They said the people are not participating in the oil sector. You cannot set up an NDDC that is controlled from Abuja. The Niger Delta should be given priority."

An Ijaw scholar, Dr. Youpele Banigo, said the historic conjuncture of the Vice-President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, from the Niger Delta, the release of a Master Plan by the NDDC, and the release of Dokubo-Asari "are serious invitation to the Federal Government, and all stakeholders to critically and comprehensively work towards peace and development in the Niger Delta region, and the country."

Shortly after leaving the airport, Dokubo-Asari proceeded to the residence of the former Minister for Culture and Tourism, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas where he addressed prominent Ijaw leaders.

After narrating his ordeal to them, he demanded that the Federal Government should reserve the position of Minister of Energy and Power to the people of the Niger Delta.

A convoy of over 500 cars and thousands of motorbikes later escorted him to his native Buguma in Asari Toru local government area of Rivers State.

Delta Militant Coalition Announces Cease Fire (The Sun)

Following Thursday's release of Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo by an Abuja High Court, militants in the Niger Delta have announced a complete ceasation of hostilities in the area.

In an online statement yesterday signed by one Cynthia Whyte, the militants who spoke under the aegis of Joint Revolutionary Council said they would allign themselves with the new strategy that would be evolved by Asari on how they should go about the struggle for the region .

"We also wish to announce a complete cessation of hostilities against the Nigerian state and her perceived collaborators. We will work in line with the emerging and evolving process."

Continuing, the online statement urged President Umaru Yar 'Adua to be wary of leaders in the region they tagged betrayers and spoilers of the Niger Delta cause just as they hailed the media and other groups for standing doggedly behind the region in her crusade against injustice.

"On behalf of the Joint Revolutionary Council and its alliance members, we wish to commend all men of goodwill who stood the course and faced the tide in the two years of the travails and persecutions that was visited on our patriotic and esteemed leader, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari."

"We commend the resilience and dogged determination of key Ijaw elders whose timely support, encouragement and progressive advice helped paved the way for this release. "

"We cannot fail to commend the exceptional courage and leadership shown by the Governor of the Bantustans of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva-Sam. One of the biggest challenges in the achievement of a developed Niger Delta has been the absence of governors and political leaders who have the ability to move our people forward. If he continues in this path of honour, Chief Sylva-Sam may just be the best thing to happen to the Niger Delta in a very long time."

"He should therefore stay his course. We will work closely with leaders who show true commitment to improving the quality of lives of their people. We will listen to leaders who understand the anguish of our people and feel the intenseness of the pain inflicted on our consciousness by the oppressive and occupation forces of the dubious Nigerian state."

"We will not fail to commend in very strong terms, the exceptional and tremendous support of the media of the Nigerian state as well as international media groups who stood by us to spread the gospel of the new Ijaw and Niger Delta consciousness."

Fire Guts Port Harcourt High Rise (The Tide)

Fire fighters yesterday battled for hours to control a fire outbreak at one of Port Harcourt’s oldest privately-owned high-rise buildings, Orosi House, along Forces Avenues in Old GRA, Port Harcourt.

The Rivers State Fire Service, the first to respond to the emergency call raced to the scene and were later joined by firemen and trucks from Oil companies including Agip, Shell and Elf who all battled the raging fire for over two hours.

An eyewitness at the scene indicated that the fire started at about 3.30pm from an office on the fifth floor of the building which houses a number of lawyers chambers, the Argus Newspaper office, and other private offices.

The special adviser to the Rivers State Governor on Emergency, Chief Bebe Okpabi who was on ground to co-ordinate the fire fighters said the first task was to put the fire under control after which the building would be accessed to see if there were any casualties.

However, a lawyer whose chamber was gotten by the fire blamed the incident on fluctuating electricity adding that apart from the over 20 lawyers offices which may have been reduced to ashes, his alone was worth over N25million, the value of documents of cases spanning over 15 years not inclusive.

The lawyer who craved anonymity, however, urged government to update the fire fighting equipment of the state fire service.

He said this has become necessary as the state fire fighters were unable to cope with the inferno until the arrival of fire fighters from the oil companies who put the fire under control at about 6.00pm.

Three Found Dead After Building Collapse in Lagos (Nigerian Tribune)

It was a sorrowful time for the residents of Egerton, Lagos neighbourhood on Sunday as a pregnant woman, her daughter and a man who were trapped in the rubble of a five-storey building which collapsed on Saturday were found dead.

The woman, Mrs. Mariam Ahmed, her daughter, Sophia, and the man, Bolaji Popoola, and some people were trapped in the building. Neighbours said the building initially had three floors, but was later raised to five floors.

A man, who did not disclose his name, said his wife and his son were trapped in the building, saying he had been trying her GSM number since Saturday but to no avail.

According to him, he went to work only to come back to find that the building had collapsed.

He wanted the rescue workers to intensify their efforts in the search for his wife and son.

Mariam’s sister, Taibat, stated that her sister was a trader and that they had promised to meet around 4.p.m on Saturday only for the incident to happen.

She described her sister as nice and caring and had always advised her to face her business.

The rescue work, which commenced manually yesterday, was later aided by a Julius Berger caterpillar.

Many people, according to eyewitnesses, were still trapped in the building, saying the incident caught the residents unawares and that efforts to rescue them immediately were a bit delayed due to indiscriminate physical development in the area that left no space for rescue equipment to move in.

Some of those whose loved ones were trapped under the rubble were still making frantic efforts to call their GSM numbers.

Rapid response from nearby residents and official of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency saved the lives of about five men immediately the incident happened and were given medical treatment.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed that a pregnant woman, her daughter and another man were found dead.

He told the Nigeria Tribune that his men would not leave the scene of the building until they were able to bring out all survivors.

General Manager, Lagos State Physical Planning and Development Authority, Alhaji Sulaimon Yusuf, expressed regret over the incident, describing it as “unfortunate.”

He stated that by his findings, the building was constructed about 12 years ago, and that there was no evidence of development permit.

According to him, the building caved in due to substandard materials and poor foundation.

“Samples of the materials show that they are substandard and the workmanship was poor.”

He said investigation would continue on the structure, disclosing that the authority would commence integrity test on all other buildings within the neighbourhood before the end of this week.

He appealed to residents in the area not to wait until their building collapsed before informing the authority whenever they found any faulty building around them.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who had earlier visited the site, regretted the incident, but commended the rescue team for responding on time.

He promised to enhance the operations of the team to handle future emergencies.

The ground floor was devoted to shops while the other floors had residential flats.