Nigeria Security Update #1 100707

Four More Oil Workers Abducted

Four more people have been abducted in the Niger Delta, authorities said on Monday, underscoring insecurity in Nigeria's oil-producing region hours after a 3-year-old British girl was freed by her kidnappers.

Margaret Hill was released on Sunday night after four days in the hands of unknown ransom seekers who snatched her from the car in which she was being driven to school on July 5 in Port Harcourt, the delta's main city.

On Monday, Britain's Foreign Office said a Briton was among two foreign workers kidnapped on Sunday night from a production barge near Calabar in Cross River state -- an area in the east of the southern delta that is usually relatively safe and peaceful. A Bulgarian foreign ministry official confirmed one of its nationals was the other worker kidnapped in the attack.

Oil major Royal Dutch Shell said one of its teams had been attacked in Rivers state in the delta on Saturday and two Nigerian workers had been taken hostage.

Shell spokesman Precious Okolobo said gunmen had attacked the workers while they were repairing the Soku-Buguma trunk line, an oil pipeline that had only just been repaired on July 2 after being sabotaged in 16 different places in 60 days.

Okolobo said the team attacked on Saturday had been repairing three new leaks. He said no output was affected because the pipeline had been sabotaged so many times that production had been diverted through another line.

Nigerian oil production is currently down by more than 20 percent because of militant attacks on oil facilities.

Supply disruptions in Nigeria, the world's eighth-biggest oil exporter, have pushed up world oil prices and on Monday analysts cited news of the new kidnappings as one of the factors in a price spike above $76 per barrel.
NEGLECT

Oil from the delta has enriched foreign oil firms and corrupt Nigerian governments for five decades but the region has been neglected to the point that there are few basic services.

This state of affairs breeds militancy and crime. Some armed groups attack the oil industry to press their demand for "resource control" or local power over oil revenues, but numerous criminal gangs have made hostage takings a business.

The main rebel group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), said on Monday the abduction of the British toddler was unrelated to political violence and the struggle for resource control would continue.

"This criminal act against a minor was perpetrated by common thieves and even as they have released the child, I promise you their punishment is unspeakable," said the MEND spokesman, who uses the pseudonym Jomo Gbomo.

"This incident changes nothing amongst the groups truly agitating for resource control in the Niger Delta," he said.

Abductions of adult expatriates are so frequent in the Niger Delta that they rarely make headlines in Nigerian newspapers, but the kidnapping of Margaret Hill drew outrage from the government as well as from politically motivated armed groups.

About 200 foreigners have been snatched in the delta since the start of 2006. Most were released unharmed.

A small number of abductions in the Niger Delta are carried out by MEND and other rebel groups seeking to press their demand for resource control, but most are the work of ransom seekers.


Militants Set to Talk with President (Vanguard)

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua is to meet with Niger-Delta militants in Abuja soon over their demand for the creation of two more states - Oil Rivers and Toruebe for the Ijaws and an additional Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, as part of the conditions for peace to reign in the region.

It was learnt with authority yesterday that the demand for the creation of two more Ijaw states and one more Local Government in Bayelsa State to bring the present seven Local Governments to eight were made to the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan by leaders of the militant groups in the region when he visited them in the creek recently.

Dr. Jonathan reportedly told the militants that he, as Vice President, could not guarantee the creation of two more Ijaw states and a Local Government in Bayelsa, suggesting that it was his boss, President Umaru Yar’Adua that had the power to give a dependable answer.
“It was on this basis”, hinted our source, “that it was agreed that the militants would meet with President Umaru Yar’Adua.”

The date for the meeting could not be confirmed, yesterday, but Dr. Jonathan is facilitating the parley between Yar’Adua and the militants.

Asked if the militant leaders would attend the meeting with Yar’Adua personally, our source said some of them would be there while others would send their representatives.
Besides, Vanguard gathered that the militants agreed to cease hostilities for three months to give the Federal Government opportunity to address their demands, and not the earlier one month, which had already lapsed, that a faction of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) gave the government previously.

To ensure that all the militant groups in the region were carried along in the high-level parley with the government, the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND), Niger-Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) boss, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari and others recently convened an enlarged meeting of Ijaw freedom fighters at Oporoza, the administrative headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom to brief the entire Ijaw youths.

The meeting, held, last Thursday, was attended by Ijaw youth leaders from all over the country but it was not conclusive, as it was shifted to this weekend, to enable other representatives attend the meeting.


Lonestar Evacuates Workers (Guardian)

SIX days after five of its expatriate workers were abducted by unknown gunmen in Rivers State, an oil firm, Lonestar Drilling Company, has evacuated 120 of its employees from the Nembe area of Bayelsa State.

The oil firm's move followed fresh threats of attack from militants.

A source disclosed to The Guardian that the oil company received a fresh threat by militants demanding an unspecified amount of money from it.

The militants were reported to have threatened to attack the oil firm if it failed to provide the demanded sum of money.

Meanwhile, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has condemned the abduction of workers of Lonestar Drilling Company and reiterated that hostage-taking was not only sending negative signals to the outside world, but also having adverse effects on businesses in the Niger Delta.

With the whereabouts of the five expatiates who were abducted from Soku in Akuku-Toru Local Council Area of Rivers State still unknown, the management of the oil services company which drills for Shell Petroleum Development Company decided at the weekend to evacuate all its workers from Nembe.

The kidnapped Lonestar expatiates are messes Kiwis Brent Goddard and Bruce Klenner both from New Zealand; Jason Lane, Australia; George Saliba of Lebanon and Andreas Gambra from Venezuela.

Piqued by the persistent attacks on oil workers, the spokesperson of PETAN, Mr. Bank-Anthony Okorafor, warned that hostage-taking and kidnapping was having adverse effect on the oil service industry in the Niger Delta, particularly in Rivers State.

He said: "We believe the world has heard our message. We advise the hostage-takers to desist from this act which is turning our vibrant Rivers State into a ghost town with the consequence of companies relocating out of the state and the resultant loss of jobs, loss of revenue as well as inability to develop and sustain capacity and loss of entrepreneurial development."

Okorafor implored the militants to encourage the development of local entrepreneurs and send positive signals to the outside world that Rivers State is a good place to invest in and do business.

"The time is now for us to all come to the table for a more constructive dialogue that will see the transformation of our Niger Delta. Nigeria belongs to us all, enough is enough, let hostage-taking not be a brand name for us in the Niger Delta so that we don't have to live with it for the rest of our lives. We are a smart group of people. So, let us work toward that goal," he added.


Naked Man Causes Concern on Abuja Highway (Daily Trust)

A naked man was last Friday night seen crying for help at a lonely spot at Kugbo along the Abuja- Keffi highway. The man, whose identity could not be ascertained, appeared huge and was standing by the road side between Mogadishu barracks and Kugbo, in the Federal Capital Territory

The reporter observered the man waving at motorists to come to his rescue at 9.30pm, in a spot very close to where a civil servant was burnt inside his car last year. Drivers instead of waiting to help the man increased their speed and the driver of the bus that carried the reporter described the spot as a criminal's den.

"That is a bad spot where people's cars are snatched and robbed people are dumped," the driver said. He said any person who stops at that place would risk having his car snatched. Passengers in the bus were of different opinion of what must have happened to the man.

While one of them said the man might have escaped from ritualists, another stated that he could have been a victim of car robbery, who might have disposed him of his car and clothes. One of the passengers reasoned that it would be good if the police take their check point to that spot instead of close to AYA in Asokoro.

"The police are aware of that spot and I wonder why somebody should build a structure close to the place and inside a bush," a female passenger said.

The reporter sent a text message to the police hotlines and the FCT police spokesperson, Nwoaha Uzoma said he passed through the place and did not see the man. He advised motorists to always report such incidents to the nearest police station for immediate action.

Nigeria Security Update #1 130607

BULLET:

A general strike has been called by the Nigeria Labour Congress from Monday 18 June 2007. It is not clear how long the strike will last. If the strike is widely observed it could cause widespread disruption across public and private sectors, particularly public transport. Fuel and food supplies could be affected. You are advised to ensure that your vehicle has an adequate supply of fuel and that you have sufficient supplies of food and water at home.


Militants blow up oil pipeline in Niger Delta (Nigerian Tribune)

Militants in the Niger Delta, under the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), have claimed to have destroyed a major pipeline in Nembe area of Bayelsa State.

The group claimed that its action was in response to the Supreme Court’s refusal to grant bail to the detained leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteers Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari.

In a statement sent online to the Nigerian Tribune in Port Harcourt on Tuesday by the spokesperson of the JRC, Cynthia Whyte, the pipeline “transports crude oil from the Nembe Field, Ekulama 1, Ekulama 2, Belema and Soku”.

The group, however, did not mention the exact position where they causd the destruction or the companies directly affected by its action.

It warned that more of such attacks were underway, especially as feelers had revealed that there were plans to try Dokubo-Asari in absentia.

“In the early hours of Sunday, June 10, at about 1.30 a.m., fighters of the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), led by Colonel Umar Suku Amachree, attacked and successfully sabotaged a major pipeline which transports crude oil from the Nembe field, Ekulama 1, Ekulama 2, Belema and Soku.

“This attack was carried out using cluster bombs, which were being deployed for the first time in the Niger Delta.

“This attack is in direct response to the insane and infamous ruling by the Supreme Court to deny our patriotic and esteemed leader, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, bail and access to a speedy free and fair trial,” the group said.

U.S. Reliance on Nigerian Crude Grows (Empowered Newswire)

Going by the latest figures compiled by the US government, Nigeria is now the third largest exporter of crude oil to America.

According to Empowered Newswire reports, the US Energy Information Administration in March said Nigeria had overtaken Saudi Arabia and Venezuela to get to the third position in energy supply to the US.

Nigeria was regarded as the fifth largest exporter of crude oil to the US, coming behind Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

But from January to March this year, Nigeria has been supplying an average of 1,156,000 barrels per day to the US.

Nigeria is following Canada which supplies 1,825,000 barrels per day and Mexico, 1,475, 000 barrels per day.

Last year, Nigeria’s average net export oil supply was ranged at 2.2 million barrels per day.

Nigeria‘s supply to the US is rising in spite of oil disruptions in the Niger Delta.

US official records on the monthly energy data released on May 30, and obtained on Tuesday by Empowered Newswire indicated that for the first time in recent times, Nigeria supplied more crude oil to the US than Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

The figures showed that Canada and Mexico were the first and second largest exporter of oil to the US. They have retained that spot for a while followed by Saudi Arabia until Nigeria increased its supply in March.

According to the Energy Information Administration, Nigeria exported 1,290,000 barrels per day to the US in March, coming behind Canada which exported 1, 780, 000 and Mexico which exported to the US 1, 621, 000 barrels per day.

Saudi Arabia followed after Nigeria with 1, 216, 000 barrels per day for May and Venezuela came in afterwards with 1,036,000 barrels per day.

Policy experts both in Nigeria and the US have actually been projecting that the US would be looking to Nigeria for more of its oil supplies now more than from the Middle East.

Other African countries, according to the records, are Angola which came sixth with 696,000 barrels per day, Algeria which came eighth with 501,000; Libya which came 14th with 105,000 and Congo-Brazzaville, 79,000 barrels per day, occupies the rung of the ladder at 15th.

Other countries quoted in the records included Iraq, which was with 532,000 barrels per day; Kuwait eighth with 288,000, Brazil 209,000 came 10th; Russian 11th with 193,000; Ecuador 12th at 191,000; and Colombia 13th with 108, 000 barrels per day.

In all, the monthly data analysis said crude oil imports in March 2007 ”shows that four countries have each exported more than 1.10 million barrels per day to the United States.”

It added that the top five exporting countries, (with Nigeria in number 3) accounted for 67 per cent of US crude oil in March.

By that month, total crude oil imports to the US averaged 10.348 million barrels per day, which is an increase, according to the US government agency, of 1.299 million barrels from the February data.

Shell Denies Plans too Move out of Niger Delta

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has denied an alleged plan by it to stop oil exploration in the Niger delta.

SPDC's Acting Manager (Media), Mr Precious Okolobo, told heads of media organisations yesterday in Port Harcourt that the company would retain its headquarters in the city.

Okolobo, who was reacting to an alleged plan by the company to relocate and halt oil exploration in the Niger Delta said that despite the challenges it was facing, it would remain in the region.

"As I speak with you, we are still producing in the region, we do not at the moment have any intention to leave the Niger Delta" he said.

"A new government has just come on board, we have great confidence in the new government and believe the challenges will be surmounted," he added.

In his remarks, SPDC's Manager (Public Relations), Mr. Vincent Ogbechieme, said the essence of the meeting was to provide opportunity for the media to contribute to the firm's efficiency.

"We expect that at the end of the meeting, we will receive good advice that will enable us improve on our relations with our host communities and our performance generally," he said.

Lagos: Area Boys on the Rampage

After buying a fairly used television fondly called tokunbo or second hand in Pidgin English, at the popular Ladipo market in Lagos, Samuel Fashiro (not real name) was making his way home when four unkempt young men suddenly emerged from no where and surrounded him. "You will have to pay money for the ground," growled one of the youth, with bloodshot eyes, preventing Fashiro moving further. "Otherwise I will stab you in the eye," barked another with yellowish teeth, as he brandished a large screwdriver.

As passers-by watched what was going on, fearful of intervening, Fashiro was forced to part with some cash. His initial offer of N200 was rejected. But when he increased it to N500, the miscreants grabbed the notes and went their way.

Fashiro's ordeal is one scene that is played out every day on the streets of Lagos. For the past two decades, the about 13 million residents of Nigeria's biggest city have run the gauntlet of several thousand delinquent youths who roam the streets extorting money from anybody that catches their attention. Before now, their places of abode were Oshodi, Mushin and Ojuelegba, but today they are everywhere in the city, including Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki which are exclusively reserved for the rich.

Known as Area Boys, Agberos or Alayes, they sprang up in the early 1980s. If you stay in Lagos, then you are probably quite familiar with the word Area Boys. As known as street urchins in other parts of the world, "Area Boys" have become a part of our environment and society. With no specific job description or role. Their activities range from extorting money from commercial bus drivers, illegal creating car parks in public places, harassment and extortion of money from motorists and pedestrians, campaign agents for politicians, sole proprietorship of the black markets used to sell fuel during scarcities and just about any other odd job one might think of. Recently, they have robbery into their portfolio.

Many a Nigerian has had a bad experience with these Area Boys, and for some, it is been one experience too many. They have been made to part with money and precious items, while thanking God that their lives remained intact. In addition, area boys sometimes double as thieves and armed robbers during the night. Sometimes they carry out "Okada" robbery, dispossessing innocent pedestrians of their bags, phones and belongings, zooming off on their bikes before the victim has a chance to put himself together. These days, they operate even in traffic and vandalising vehicles, all to intimidate their victims to part with money and cell phones.

Referred to as "centre of excellence" Lagos, former federal capital territory has grown from a small Yoruba settlement to a populous and economic nerve centre of the country. The city has also grown to the status of a mega city with its attendant social, economic and political problem associated with a mega city. Area Boys are now rampant all over the city. Their favourite hangouts are bus stops, major highways and markets. In broad daylight, they levy tolls on bus drivers, demand bribes from market women wanting to set up stalls for the day, patrol potential car-parking spaces and demand illegal fees from shoppers. They even threaten ordinary passer-bys, demanding "donations".

A study by the Nigerian office of the United Nations (UN) on Drugs and Crime blamed their emergence on the "complex dynamics of socio-economic deprivation" that confronts young people in cities. While other Nigerian cities have their own hoodlums, there is nothing as brazen or ubiquitous as the Area Boys of Lagos. "The coercive and persuasive requests, petty crimes and sometimes-violent offences by the Area Boys to acquire resources, generally cash in the urban main business and crowded areas, has disturbed the civil society and defied the civic authority," the 2002 UN report said.

For the Area Boys, the business of extortion is booming and unhindered even by the law enforcement agents. As a result of this, a lot of youth, especially artisans have abandoned their trade of mechanic, carpentry, electrician, driving, painting, farming tailoring amongst others to join the gangsterism of Area Boys. And because, to them the business is booming and unhindered, their number keep swelling daily with more youths from neighbouring states joining.

On Tuesday, May 29, 2007, when Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola took oath of office at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Area Boys went on rampage at various parts of Lagos Island, robbing and wounding many people. They laid siege outside the venue of the inauguration, heavily armed with cutlasses, broken bottles and locally made pistols. Immediately the event was over, they went on snatching several valuable items like handsets and money from both motorists and pedestrians alike who turned out to witness the event. The hooligans also attacked residents of many houses. As if it was not enough, another of their group at Obalende bus stop mercilessly carried out similar operation as many people went home with broken heads while their valuable items taken away at gunpoint in broad daylight.

It took many hours of fierce battle by a combined team of police and army to bring the situation under control. It was very sad that law-abiding citizens should be subjected to such humiliations, during the swearing-in ceremony of a new governor following his overwhelming victory in the April polls. Any other day is not good either.

Sunday Yovo, a public affairs analyst based in Lagos, feels that government should be blamed for the activities of Area Boys in the state for their failure to deal with them, as it should be. "They are given undue freedom and recognition as many of them use the miscreants for the purpose of thuggery, assassination bid against their opponents in pursuance of their political ambitions, which is very bad indeed.

"The fact is that it has given rise to all kinds of criminal activities in the state, a development that needs a quick attention for the betterment of our society. The seemingly lavish attention accorded by our leaders to the Area Boys, in fact, has serious consequences in term of security of life and property, particularly in Lagos State.

Sunday Yovo, a public affairs analyst based in Lagos, feels that government should be blamed for the activities of Area Boys in the state for their failure to deal with them, as it should be. "They are given undue freedom and recognition as many of them use the miscreants for the purpose of thuggery, assassination bid against their opponents in pursuance of their political ambitions, which is very bad indeed.

"The fact is that it has given rise to all kinds of criminal activities in the state, a development that needs a quick attention for the betterment of our society. The seemingly lavish attention accorded by our leaders to the Area Boys, in fact, has serious consequences in term of security of life and property, particularly in Lagos State.

"During his inauguration, Fashola pledged his preparedness to run a government where every Lagosian will have an opportunity to make contributions in policy and programme design and implementation. We want him to first tackle Area Boys before any other thing," he said.

For instance, in 2005, Lagos residents witnessed the unfortunate killing of an army officer by an Area Boy at Oshodi. The incident occurred when the deceased attempted to intervene following a fierce dispute between a Molue driver and the Area Boys over a specific amount of money to collect from the conductor of the bus. Not wanting to be intimidated by the soldier, the Area Boy brought out a knife from his pocket and stabbed the officer to dead.

To revenge the death of their colleague however, soldiers from Ikeja Cantonment swept into action by arresting any Area Boy in sight. The arrest also spread to Ojo area of the city. They raided several bus stops including hideouts of these criminals. All those captured were put in detention.

For fear of being arrested, the activities of the Area Boys were drastically reduced for a period of one month. Since then, they have come back in full force with consequent rise in criminal activities without the Tinubu administration bathing an eye lead. Apart from harassing commercial vehicles, they are also responsible for the daily rise in transport fare as many of them usually collect money from drivers at every bus stop.

The challenge before Fashola as he settles down in office, is to deal with the area boy syndrome if he truly wants to tackle the problem of insecurity in the state. Of the three most critical challenges that confront the governor - security, sanitation and transportation - the need to confront the monster called Area Boys who have made life in Lagos unbearable to the citizens is a priority.

Their activities have made insecurity of lives and property reach a dangerous level as many lives are being wasted daily through the menace of dare devil armed robbers who storm the Lagos streets daily to attack innocent citizens. He should fashion out a rehabilitation programme for them. Good enough, the governor promised to set up a joint police/military patrol to checkmate the rising wave of armed robberies in the state, noting that the state government would not be able to actualise its programmes for the people if there was no peace and stability, adding that government was committed to protection of lives and property in the state.

According to him, the mode of operation of the joint patrol is being worked out in a way to ensure that the military is subject to democratic control. "The military has collaborated with us over the last eight years in providing support. We will continue to sustain options that, within the operations of a civil society and democratic rule, (they) will be subject to democratic rule in a civilian administration. They have shown the willingness to do that. Hopefully, the situation is under control. We are working day and night to improve the security situation in the state," he said.

On the menace posed by area boys, he said government would no longer have any of it, adding that the state government would enforce the law to the fullest in this regard, advising area boys to turn a new leaf or leave the state. "We will enforce law and order. If you are a lawbreaker, there is no place for you. All law-abiding citizens should be able to sleep with their two eyes closed and feel comfortable that a government is in place. I will not categorise anybody as a tout, but if you are a law breaker, you will find no place in Lagos," said Fashola.

In doing this Fashola should borrow some leaves from the former governor of Lagos State, Buba Marwa between 1997 to 1999, who took the boys out of the streets when their menace became alarming. He found gainful employments for them.

Port Harcourt - Airport Rehab Project in Jeopardy (This Day)

Julius Berger Nigeria Limited, the major contractor handling rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt International Airport, has pulled out of site, citing security reasons.

This was confirmed by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Akin Olukunle, who confirmed that work had to stop, because of fear of attack by militants.

Olukunle allayed fears that the project will be abandoned, saying work will resume in no time, because President Umar Yar'adua has started pacifying the people of Niger Delta, and has promised to find a solution to their problem.

Before the pull-out, Olakunle said 35 per cent of the work had been completed.

"Presently, we are waiting for the Federal Government to approve expansion of the apron, power supply, upgrading of facilities and installation of airfield lighting system to category three, and improvement of the fire system. Now, we are doing well and this shows that FAAN is serious about the completion of the project," he said.

Contract Manager of the Port Harcourt Airport project, Mr Peter Nwachukwu, said work at the airport had to stop due to security pressure, promising that work will resume when proper security arrangement has been made for staff.

The airport was closed for almost a year before the rehabilitation started due to delay by the due process office to approve N3.7 billion which the construction company said it would cost to complete work.

According to FAAN, which awarded the contract, the rehabilitation include the resurfacing of the airport's runway, repair of the airfield lightings and refurbishment of the terminal building.

Nigeria Security Update #1 080607

Bullet: Britain advises all nationals to leave oil delta

Britain advised all its nationals to leave three core states in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta because of rising insecurity, the government said on its Web site on Friday. (See travel advisory below)

The security situation in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states, which are home to the bulk of Nigerian oil production and also the Nigerian unit of Royal Dutch Shell, made them unsafe for British nationals, the Foreign Office said.

"We therefore advise British nationals to leave. If you stay, you do so at your own risk and should take professional security advice. The level of consular assistance we can provide is limited," it said on its Web site.

Since January 2006, more than 180 foreign nationals have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta, including 31 British nationals, the Web site said.

Militants fighting for more autonomy in the delta began a wave of attacks on oil facilities and kidnappings early last year, but the line between militancy and crime is blurred and diplomats say the region is slipping into anarchy.

British High Commission travel advice

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary and Terrorism section (British nationals advised to leave Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States, including Port Harcourt). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
We advise against all travel to the Niger Delta (Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States, including Port Harcourt). This is because of the very high risk of kidnapping, armed robbery and other armed attacks in these areas. In 15 separate incidents since January 2006, 31 British nationals and over 180 foreign nationals have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta area and one Briton has been killed. See the Terrorism /Security section of this travel advice for more details.


We advise that the security situation in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States makes them unsafe for British nationals. We therefore advise British nationals to leave. If you stay, you do so at your own risk and should take professional security advice. The level of consular assistance we can provide is limited.


We advise against all but essential travel to Akwa Ibom State because of the high risk of kidnapping, armed robbery and other armed attacks. You should maintain a high level of vigilance at all times, observe the strictest security measures and not travel unnecessarily. If travelling by road you should use fully protected transport. Six Russian nationals were abducted from a compound in Akwa Ibom State on 3 June 2007.


The high risk of kidnappings and other armed attacks in the Niger Delta applies also to ships and oil rigs at sea off the coast of the Delta. In 2007 there has been an increase in attacks offshore.


There is also a risk of kidnapping in other States in south-east Nigeria. On 17 March 2007, two Chinese nationals were abducted at Nnewi, Anambra State. See the Terrorism/Security section of this travel advice for more details.


Localised outbreaks of civil unrest can occur at short notice. Details and advice are circulated via the British High Commission's Community Liaison Officers' network.


The most common incidents for which British nationals required consular assistance in Nigeria in 2006 were attempts by scam artists to extract money. Violent crime is prevalent in the south of the country, including Lagos. See the Crime section of this travel advice for more details.


You should be aware of the threat from terrorism in Nigeria. A statement issued by Usama Bin Laden in February 2003 called for an uprising by Muslims in a number of countries including Nigeria. He suggested that “faithful Muslims” rise up against the Nigerian Government. He also referred to “support for brothers” in Nigeria in December 2004.


Outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in Nigeria have resulted in one human fatality. As a precaution, you should avoid live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked. For further information see Avian Influenza section below and also read Avian and Pandemic Influenza Factsheet.


We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check that your insurance company provides personal insurance cover for you in Nigeria, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Check any exclusions. Please see: Travel Insurance.

SITREP: Niger Delta

Newly instated Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua will face as one of his first challenges controlling the unruly and lawless Niger Delta. Kidnappings of foreigners have escalated as armed militants and average citizens decry the persistence of rampant poverty in a region teeming with oil wealth.

Two Indian petrochemical workers were abducted at gunpoint from their apartment. Security guards say an armed group fired on the building in the early hours of the morning and took the two men captive. "They were holding ammunition that was more than the security's."

The guard on duty was armed with a baton. Hostages are usually held until a ransom is paid.

A militant group called The Niger Delta Vigilantes struts through the streets of Okrika Island. The group has become a major militant force fighting for better compensation for the region from the government and oil companies. They say they wish peaceful means were an option.

Some militant groups choose to keep a low profile. Speaking from an upstairs safe house, Commander Marcus Appolos with the Iijaw Youth Council says violence has increased because people in the Niger Delta feel the government is ignoring their needs while reaping the financial benefits of the region's oil.

"The threat of the Niger Delta was not like this [before], but today every little child is aware of fighting for freedom. So now even unborn children are happy to die for justice."

A maze of winding waterways offers hideouts for militant bases, accessible only by speedboat. Small fishing villages like this are caught in the crossfire of gang-like warfare as militant groups battle for territory. Fishermen here say they have lost their livelihood.

One such fisherman is Samuel Johnson, who says, "All of my things are lost. My house is burned. My canoe, my net is finished. I am empty."

Meanwhile, a pipeline outside the village moves oil from underneath the waterways. One of the complaints of militant groups and citizens is that oil production has degraded their environment. Gas flares are common.

In the village of Ikarama in the southern state of Bayelsa people live by farming and fishing.

But they say life has become more difficult since oil from a line belonging to Dutch conglomerate Shell began seeping to the surface, spilling across a field and entering the creeks and swamps. Engineer Lambert Miebi says the environment is not safe. "We are not in a safe environment. We feed from this soil and also we fish from these swamps, we have so many ponds around. We fish from them and they are all polluted."

Oil companies, including Shell, were contacted for this report but representatives say they are too busy dealing with attacks and hostage situations to speak to the media.

Residents say another oil company, Italian-based AGIP, built a footbridge for them as a sign of good relations. But, they say now the bridge is falling apart.

SITREP: U.S. Interests in Nigeria

There are resonant reports all over the airwaves regarding America's recent show of interest and concern about the escalation of militancy around the Niger Delta area of Nigeria.

It is understandable, particularly when there is overwhelming need for peace in every region of the world to promote enduring progress in other more rewarding spheres of human endeavour.

This recent concern may also have sprung from America's interest in securing the African continent, from which it sources more than 20 percent of its oil requirements and its increasing interest in checkmating China's growing incursions on the economic and diplomatic fronts of Africa, and indeed, Nigeria.

While it remains heart-warming that effort is being made by economically and diplomatically dominant nations in the world to show more concern about the prevailing circumstances that threaten global peace and market fundamentals in Nigeria, it remains debatable, the efficacy of America’s plan to send troops to Nigeria's restive Niger Delta area in the long-run.

Reports are rife that Washington has approved an African Command Centre to assist needy countries to counter militants' problems in their areas, an initiative that derives from its acceptance to host an international conference on the Niger Delta aimed at finding lasting peace in the area.

Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, is believed to have been mandated to get the envisaged Command running by the end of September, 2008.

Ordinarily, this is calculated to strengthen America's security cooperation with Africa.

But while the proponents of the Command are bent on reclining on it to accentuate their military might and douse tension in the crisis-torn areas of the African continent, it is not clear if this alone, however lofty it may appear, could fit easily as a solution to the Niger Delta question without addressing the more fundamental issues that bear strongly on the welfare and desire of the Niger Delta people.

In this regard, there is need to understand and appreciate the fact that what could assuage the people of the area is giving them more economic opportunity and voice as defined by their clamour for 25 percent derivation from the subsisting level of 13 percent.

It is our strong belief that the situation in the area will change significantly if this is done in league with pumping money into the Niger Delta to create economic opportunities and give skills acquisition capacity to the youths beyond mere rhetoric and political pronouncements.

It is on record that the much flaunted Niger Delta Master-Plan, as beautiful as it may look, has been in existence for years running without altering the matrix of deprivation and underdevelopment in the area.

Even with the entrenched global concern about the situation and the renewed desire to stamp out restiveness in the area using the envisaged introduction of the American Command, it is doubtful if much would be achieved without escalating skirmishes beyond borderlines, as long as Asari Dokubo, whom many describe as the face of the Niger Delta struggle, still remains incarcerated.

We therefore advocate stricter caution and more rewarding and innovative ways of assuaging the feelings of the Niger Delta indigenes, eliminating the prevalence of hostage taking, reducing casualties and engendering progress and growth in Nigeria and indeed, Africa, without recourse to full-blown show of military might. Enough of blood shedding in the area.

Nigeria Security Update #1 030607

Another six kidnapped in Port Harcourt

Seven minutes before midnight yesterday, eight suspected armed militants, disguised in mobile police (MOPOL) uniforms, stormed the premises of the Schlumberger/Anadril Compound around Rumuogba Estate in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and abducted four expatriates said to be working for the company.

Dependable security sources told Sunday Tribune that at the gate of the company, the gunmen pretended to be looking for one of their mobile police colleagues, who, they lied, ought to be on duty there.

When they finally gained access into the company’s Club House inside the compound, they purportedly took hostage four of the expatriates relaxing there.

An eye witness who claimed to be a staff of the company but pleaded anonymity, told Sunday Tribune that the hostages were Salman H, a Pakistani, Jan Van de Mortel, a Dutch, James Thorburn, English and Massoud Hamidi, a French national.

It could not be confirmed if there was any exchange of gunfire, as our correspondents were not allowed entry into the premises to confirm information on the kidnap saga.

Attempts to obtain confirmation of the incident from the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, and state director of SSS, Mr. Kola Adesina, was fruitless as both officers did not pick their phones when Sunday Tribune called in the afternoon.

Twenty-four hours before the kidnapping of the four expatriates 10 Indians, including two women, two kids, the managing director of an Indian firm, Indorama, core investors in the Eleme Petrochemical Company Limited (EPCL), in Port Harcourt, three other management staff of the firm and two othrs, were abducted at their Akpajo residence in Rivers State.

1 Killed as Militants Kidnap 6 Russians, 1 Briton

NIGER-Delta crisis deepened weekend, as militants kidnapped six Russians, a Briton and three other men in separate operations in Ikot Abasi and Port Harcourt.

The six Russians were kidnapped from an aluminium firm and a driver attached to one of the firms; Group Five, shot dead.

Russian envoy in the country confirmed the kidnap, saying they have requested the Nigerian government to take urgent steps to secure the men's release.

The abducted men are staff of Russia Aluminium (Rusal). They were kidnapped after their apartment was blown up with explosives.

In the latest spate of kidnappings, gunmen also late Friday seized the workers from the premises of oil services company Schlumberger in Port Harcourt, the police said.

"We can confirm that one Briton has been kidnapped from the Schlumberger Anadrill Field Compound in Port Harcourt," a foreign office spokesman said.

The Foreign Office had no further details on the Briton's identity.

Diplomats in Nigeria said earlier the seized workers had British, Dutch, French, and Pakistani nationality.

Hours after the new kidnappings, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the region's most prominent armed group, freed six foreign hostages and announced a month-long moratorium in attacks on petroleum sites.

It was not clear which group carried out the latest attack on the compound of an aluminium-smelting plant belonging to Russia Aluminium (Rusal), the world's largest aluminium producer.

"They blew up their victims' apartments with dynamite before taking them away", Felix Nxong, general manager of the plant, said.

More than 200 foreigners have been kidnapped since militants increased their attacks in late 2005, with more than 100 foreign workers taken this year alone, the Associated Press reported.

More than two dozen foreigners are currently thought to be in captivity. Eleven were captured in two separate incidents last Friday. President Yar'Adua has said tackling the unrest in the south is one of his top priorities.

Two Filipinos rescued

Police freed two Filipino nationals who were held hostage for a few hours in southern Nigeria on Sunday, Rivers State police chief Felix Ogbaudu said.

He said the Filipino hostages were freed by police at the Elelenwo waterfront on the outskirts of Port Harcourt. The two men spent around four hours in captivity.

Ogbaudu said they were sailors on the MV Seacor, a vessel anchored off Port Harcourt.

An industry source had earlier said they were employees of West Africa Offshore, a drilling company based in Port Harcourt.

Earlier, Nigerian gunmen abducted six Russians in a raid on an expatriate compound that left a Nigerian driver dead, in the latest in a spate of kidnappings in the country's oil-rich south.

"Early this morning, gunmen burst into the compound on two minibuses near the ALSCON factory and kidnapped six factory employees, Russian citizens," Russia's ambassador to Nigeria, Igor Melikhov was quoted as saying by Interfax.

"A Nigerian driver was shot dead" in the raid in the southern state of Akwa Ibom, he told fellow agency ITAR-TASS. "One can say the kidnapping was most probably carried out for a ransom."

The Russian ambassador demanded that the Nigerian authorities "take urgent measures to obtain the liberation of the (Russian) citizens."

Moscow-based Russian aluminium company RUSAL said in a statement that the attack was on a residential compound in Ikot Abasi town in southeastern Akwa Ibom State, where it recently took over the management of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON).

Before these two latest attacks, at least 11 foreigners were taken hostage by unidentified groups in the oil-rich Niger Delta in the space of 24 hours, bringing to around 50 the number of expatriates kidnapped since May 1.

Late on Friday gunmen kidnapped four foreign workers from the premises of oil services company Schlumberger in southern Nigeria's oil capital Port Harcourt, police said. Diplomats said the men included Dutch, French, British and Pakistani nationals.

Earlier Friday, a group of Indians -- three senior expatriate staff and two women and two children from the same family -- were seized in a pre-dawn raid from the residential compound of chemical company Indorama, also in the southern Rivers State.

Since the start of 2006, when the number of kidnappings began to rise sharply in the Niger Delta, some 190 expatriates have been seized. Most have been released unharmed after a few days or a few weeks.

The kidnappers are a mixture of militant groups capable of carrying out daring raids on deepwater oil facilities, members of disgruntled local communities and criminal gangs out to make ransom money.

Dozens of Filipinos have been abducted since the start of the year in southern Nigeria, but few, if any, of the most recent kidnappings in the region have involved Russian citizens.

Last month gunmen kidnapped a Belarussian woman working for a catering company in southern Nigeria's oil capital Port Harcourt.

She was released later the same month. It was not clear whether her abductors had received all or part of the 1.2 million-dollar (880,000-euro) ransom that RIA Novosti news agency had said they had demanded.

Both the Nigerian government and companies systematically deny paying ransoms but the recent increase in kidnappings that appear devoid of any political agenda suggests that kidnappers often do receive such payments.

Nigeria's new president Umaru Yar'Adua, who was sworn in last week, has vowed to make the unrest in the south of the country one of his top priorities.

A summit meeting on the subject he had initially convened for Monday was however postponed indefinitely after participants asked for more time to prepare.

Police rescue kidnapped Chinese worker

The Nigerian military has stormed a hideout and freed one of two Chinese workers abducted by unknown gunmen more than two months ago in the country's southeast, the police said Monday.

"One of the men was rescued by the army at the weekend," Anambra State police spokesman Fidelis Agbo told AFP, refusing to give details of the operation.

Local press said military officers stormed a hideout used by the captors in the nearby Ebonyi State, following a tipoff.

The Vanguard newspaper said the whereabouts of the second Chinese worker abducted on March 17 from a Chinese-run factory in the town of Nnewi, were still unknown, but added security forces had stepped up efforts to locate him.

The identities of the two men have not been made public and Chinese diplomats in Nigeria have been reluctant to speak about the case, the first time foreigners had been abducted in Anambra State.

Most recent hostage takings in Nigeria have been in the oil-rich states of the south.

Since the start of 2006, some 190 expatriates have been seized in the region. Most have been released unharmed after a few days or a few weeks.

The kidnappers are a mixture of militant groups capable of carrying out daring raids on deepwater oil facilities, members of disgruntled local communities and criminal gangs out to make ransom money.

Five Chinese telecoms workers were abducted in early January in Nigeria and released unharmed about two weeks later.

Another nine Chinese oil workers were kidnapped on January 25 before being freed unharmed after 11 days in captivity.

Oil Workers Threaten Takeover

Oil workers have threatened to “physically” stop the takeover of both Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries by their new owner, Blue Star Oil, a Nigerian consortium.

The workers, under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Employees (NUPENG), said they would stop Blue Star Oil from taking possession of the refineries.
According to them, the price of $561 million paid for the Port Harcourt refinery was far below cost of materials and spare parts currently in store and valued at over $800 million and those in transit valued at $9.2 million.

These, they said, were apart from the crude oil stock valued at $65 million as well as finished and intermediate products in stock valued at $42 million and a storage tank valued at $625 million, all in good conditions.

Jointly addressing newsmen at the Port Harcourt refinery complex weekend, Comrade Osu Lambert, chairman of NUPENG and Comrade Adamu Umar of PENGASSAN, both alleged that former President Olusegun Obasanjo sold the refineries to himself and his friends in a hurried manner to beat the handover deadline.

They alleged that, since Obasanjo has been proved to hold shares in Blind Trust in Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp), which is in the consortium that bought the refineries, he simply sold the complexes to himself and friends without taking into consideration the interest of Nigerians.

The sale, which they said included the Bonny Terminal and Okrika jetty which acts as loading bay was far below the cost of the two facilities alone which is $1.6 billion.
They argued that the process of the sale lacked transparency and alleged that titles to national legacies were handed over to few Nigerians in a “less than transparent” manner in the name of privatisation.

“Stemming from the above, the summary of the ridiculous auction is that the PHRC Ltd known as the crown jewel of the nation’s refineries is worth over $5 billion. Its 51 percent equity is estimated at $2.6 billion while Blue Star Oil Services Consortium paid $561m for the same equity which translates to an unfavorable difference in transaction of approximately $2.03b.

“Therefore, PHRC Branch of PENGASSAN/NUPENG and their members hereby reject the unwholesome transaction in the illegal sale of PHRC which is not to the best interest of the Nigerian public, and further request that the sale of such a priced national asset be revised immediately for the purpose of economic stability”, they insisted.

They reminded Nigerians that the sale “included the old and new refineries, the 60,000 barrels a day capacity old refinery with crude distillation unit, catalytic reforming unit and Liquefied Petroleum Gas unit as well as utility unit and the new refinery with 150,000 barrels a day capacity.”

The new refinery, they said consists of crude distillation unit, catalytic reforming unit, the fluid catalytic cracking unit and the hydrofluoric (HF) Alkylation unit with a total refining capacity of the two being 210,000 barrels a day.

They also said the core investors have no record of refining even a barrel of oil and wondered why they were preferred and hurried in the manner the transaction followed.
They claimed not to be against privatisation but “the interest of workers and due process and diligence ought to be observed.”

Russian hostages well

Six Russian nationals abducted in Nigeria are alive and feeling well, the Russian Embassy in the African state said Monday.

The Russians, who work for the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), controlled by Russian aluminum giant RUSAL, were abducted by gunmen who broke into their residential premises in the southeastern town of Ikot Abasi Sunday, killing their Nigerian driver.

"Last night we were able to talk to the abducted Russians and learn they were alive and feeling well. That is all I can say at the moment," a diplomat said.

None of the militant groups active in the country has so far claimed responsibility for the abduction or put forward demands, Russia's Foreign Ministry said earlier. But the employees are widely believed to have been abducted for ransom.

RUSAL said it had stepped up security at the residential complex for its employees. Press spokeswoman Olga Sanarova said the company was continuing talks with Nigerian authorities on measures to have the Russians released. Their names have not been disclosed for security reasons.

Nigeria's ambassador to Russia was summoned Monday to the Foreign Ministry over the abduction.

Sergei Lavrov, currently on a visit to South Korea, told journalists: "The Nigerian ambassador in Moscow is to arrive at the Russian Foreign Ministry today for talks on the subject."

Militants fighting against the Nigerian government for greater autonomy in the oil-rich Niger Delta have intensified their attacks lately on industry facilities that are largely run by Western companies.

About 40 people, largely employees of oil companies, have been abducted and released in the country since January 2006. They were mainly nationals of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Turkey and the Philippines.

A Belarusian woman who worked as a senior manager with a local branch of the British services company Compass Group, was kidnapped May 5 and released 12 days later.

Nigeria Security Update #1 300507

Militants agree on ceasefire, hostages to be freed soon

WARRI—Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) and the Niger-Delta Freedom Fighters (NDDF), aka Egbema One, which clashed in the creek, Sunday, following an audacious attempt by the MEND to rescue the four American hostages, kidnapped by the latter since May 8, precisely 22 days ago, have reportedly agreed on a ceasefire, raising hope, yesterday, that the foreign oil workers would be released before long.

Vanguard gathered that members of the NDDF held a meeting on the development in their camp but a top member of the group, who spoke to our reporter said: “We have not handed them over yet, they are still with us, but, there is a pointer that we will hand them over soon”.

How soon? Vanguard asked. His reply, “I don’t know now because we are still discussing but there is hope that they will soon be released”.

It was reliably learnt that some powerful Ijaw leaders prevailed on the leaders of both militant groups to sheathe their swords. Five members of the NDDF were captured by MEND operatives who took the battle to the den of the Egbema One.

Before the cheering news, yesterday, on the cessation of hostilities between the two groups, there were conflicting reports on the fate of the four kidnapped American oil workers, as an account said the NDDF had changed its base and moved the hostages to a different location to prevent the MEND from having access to them, while the other had it that the hostages were not relocated and that the Egbema One was still in their location in the swampy forest.

In deed, a source told Vanguard, early yesterday, that the NDDF had relocated the hostages and that it was not possible to contact them on the latest development.

However, Vanguard confirmed from an NDDF source, at about 2.30 pm, that the four hostages: Chris Gay, Mike Roussel, Larry Plake and Kevin Faller, all workers of Global Industries, a servicing company to the American multinational oil company, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), were kidnapped, May 8, precisely, 22 days ago, purportedly to compel the CNL to enter into an agreement with the militia on the company’s development package for the Ijaw people of Egbema Kingdom in Warri North local government area of Delta state were not relocated, that they were still very much alive and in the camp.

15 killed in inauguration shootout

One Prince Igodo, alleged to be the arrow-head of the criminal gang responsible for most of recent abductions in Rivers State, was among 15 members of the De Bam cult group killed in a shootout on Tuesday in Tombia, Degema Local Government Area of the state.

Reports had it that another cult group, known as the Outlaws, led by one Soboma George, received reports that Igodo and his boys were mobilising to disrupt the swearing-in ceremony of the new Rivers State governor in Port Harcourt and they stormed their Tombia hideout.

After accomplishing the mission to Tombia and on their way back, sources further informed that the Outlaws ran into a team of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on patrol of the water ways.

According to a source, the JTF immediately opened fire on them and killed two of their members.

The cultists, who were in three speed boats, were said to have quickly gathered themselves and fled the scene.

When reached, the spokesman of the 2 Amphibious Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Major Sagir Musa, said he had heard of the reported death of Prince Igodo, but said he was yet to confirm.

The state police commissioner said he had heard reports of violence in the Tombia area but was unable to confirm any details as the area was not accessible by road and his men had been busy all day providing security for the inauguration.

Gang fighting is just one facet of an 18-month upsurge in violence in the anarchic delta that President Umaru Yar'Adua pledged in his inaugural speech on Tuesday he would tackle urgently.

Yar'Adua will face an uphill battle. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, a rebel group responsible for attacks on the oil industry that have cut output by a quarter, immediately dismissed his pledge as not enough to stop violence.

Police Arrest Protesters in Lagos

Six human rights activists were on Tuesday arrested in Lagos and taken away to Panti Police Station in Yaba for allegedly carrying a coffin to mark the death of the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Also, the police at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) secretariat in Yaba forcefully stopped what would have been a protest against the alleged electoral fraud that took place in the April general election.

Those arrested, according to the spokesperson for United Action for Democracy and Joint Action Forum (JAF), Abiodun Aremu, were Mr. Debo Adeniran, Tayo Akingbade, Leke Adebanjo,.Jami Ogunsola and Monday Alabi.

At Yaba venue of the planned mass protest, the policemen numbering about 100 led by the Surulere Police Area Commander, Mr. Temi Yahaya Omojola,who had arrived at the NLC secretariat as early as 6.30 a.m., told the leaders of Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) that he had been instructed not to allow the protesters to march in Lagos.

The protesters, led by Tunji Braitwaite, Femi Falana and others, who had assembled at the NLC secretariat at about 6.30 a.m., were furious at the police order but vowed to go ahead with their planned protest march.

This led to a disagreement between the police team and protesters.

Earlier, Mr. Falana had described the inauguration of Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’ Adua and state governors as a charade, because out of the 60 heads of state invited for the ceremony, only eight arrived in Abuja last night (Monday night) which shows that the whole exercise lacks credibility.”

Speaking to journalists on the aborted mass protest, one of the leaders of the LASCO, Mr. Abiodun Aremu, said though police had disrupted the protest, the fact remained “that we have made our point that some Nigerians are not happy with the imposition of candidates on the country as president and governors.”

(From the Vanguard) No fewer than eleven activists including four women were arrested yesterday in Lagos and Edo states by the police, as Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO), made good their threat to protest against the conduct and outcome of April general elections.

Those arrested in Lagos were members of United Action for Democracy (UAD) and Joint Action Forum (JAF) and their names were given as Messrs Debo Adeniran, Tayo Akingbade, Leke Adebanjo, Jamiu Ogunsola and Monday Alabi, while names of those said to have been arrested in Benin city, Edo State, were given as Mr. Teimoloede Paul, Mr. David Falola, Mrs. Rabi Egulie and three other women whose names could not be ascertained at press time.

The five in Lagos were arrested in Ikeja with mock coffin of ex-President Obasanjo on their way to Yaba, protest venue after staging an earlier protest at Ijaiye area of Lagos.

Confirming their arrest to Vanguard, Secretary of JAF and Convener of UAD, Comrade Abiodun Aremu said: "Five members of UAD and JAF were arrested by Police today (yesterday) in Ikeja area of Lagos with a mock coffin of General Obasanjo which they were bringing for the Yaba rally with the aim of burring the wicked regime of Obasanjo forever.

They were arrested on their way to Yaba, after holding a protest in Ijaiye area of Lagos. As I speak to you now, they are being moved to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, Lagos. Their names are Debo Adeniran, Tayo Akingbade, Leke Adebanjo, Jamiu Ogunsola and Monday Alabi.

"Similarly, we have been informed that at least six persons including four women were arrested in a spot in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Benin City, Edo State. We have been informed that they were arrested after the police in compliance to the order by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero to shoot and kill innocent Nigerians who try to protest the election robbery and subversion of the people’s will, shot live bullets at a Jeep belonging to the Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ISSSAN).

"One thing is clear, they cannot intimidate us. This is just the beginning. We are certain that Nigerians would overcome this evil.”

But in a swift reaction to the reported arrest of activist in Lagos, the Lagos State Police Command’s spokesman, Mr Olubode Ojajuni stated categorically that the command did not arrest any protester. He said that there was no mass protest of any kind in the state let alone an arrest.

He however said that what would have been described close to a protest was at Ikeja but that the police led by the Area F commander quickly put the situation in check. Noting that all area commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) had earlier been briefed on the necessity to keep surveillance over their jurisdictions with a view to ensuring that the inauguration ceremony to usher in the new administration was not in any way disturbed, Ojajuni said the directive was taken to its letter as all policemen on duty behaved themselves. He said that the manner at which policemen conducted themselves was even commended by some of the activists.

PDP supporters boo Bode George in Lagos

A mild drama ensued at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, yesterday, as hundreds of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithful in the state booed the deputy natioal chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George when he accompanied former President Olusegun Obasanjo to Lagos.

They alleged that the PDP chieftain was responsible for the party’s failure at the gubernatorial elections in Lagos, which the party’s candidate, Musiliu Obanikoro lost to his Action Congress candidate, Babatunde Fasola.

Obanikoro himself was in the midst of the crowd of the party supporters, as they rained curses on Chief George.

But in a swift reaction, Obanikoro condemned the action of his supporters, describing it as most irresponsible.

The party supporters had thronged the airport as early as 10:00am, calling for the head of the PDP chieftain.
Not even the scorching sun dampened the enthusiasm of the party supporters who stormed the airport in scores of commercial buses, including the popular Molue buses.

The chanting of songs continued till the first presidential jet touched down at exactly 3:05pm, and thinking it was the former president and Chief George the aircraft brought to Lagos, the party supporters surged towards it to get at him.

It soon became obvious that it was the body guards of the former president that the jet brought to Lagos, and they immediately made a retreat.

Meanwhile, Arik Air’s Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft had earlier conveyed all ministers and special advisers of the former president to Lagos to receive their former boss.

At exactly 3:11pm, the much awaited OBJ Presidential Jet, marked 001, conveying the former president and some of his aides and Chief George arrived the presidential wing.

As soon as they sighted the PDP chieftain disembarking from the aircraft, chants of Bode Goerge Ole, Bode George Ole, (Thief) again rent the air.

Sensing trouble, security men immediately whisked him into a waiting presidential helicopter, as some others made efforts to push back the surging crowd.

Robbery suspects run into brick wall in Delta

DELTA State Police Command has recorded another success in the battle against criminals in the state with the recovery of three military rifles after an encounter with some armed robbers along Warri-Sapele road in Warri, Delta State on May 7. Crime File investigations revealed that a three-man gang had dispossessed one Sheriff of his commercial bus at 10.10pm on the said day and driven towards Enerhen road. Following complaints by the victim, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) alerted all patrol teams along Warri-Sapele road while policemen at a road block mounted along Urhobo College later tracked down the fleeing robbers.

A reliable police source told Crime File that the robbers, on sighting the police, opened fire which was spontaneously replied, leading to the arrest of two of them with bullet wounds while the three others escaped with bullet wounds. On searching the vehicle, the policemen discovered three military rifles comprising one G.3 with No. GT 5279; Two AK47 rifles with model 1968 No. 4352 and model 1069 No. 543314 respectively with eight rounds of 7.62mm AK 47 ammunition. It was gathered that the arrested suspects later died when they were being rushed to the hospital. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hezekiah Dimka, who confirmed the recovery of the weapons commended his officers and men attached to Enerhen Divisional Command for a job well done.

In addition, an armed robbery suspect who claimed to be a serving soldier attached to 20 Battalion, Sadi Buruwa in Taraba State has been arrested by the police. Security sources told Crime File that the suspect, Tama Kpeluke, was arrested on May 4, over his involvement in a armed robbery in the state. Crime File gathered that the soldier was arrested following a distress call by one Sunny Ogbeteire that his Golf car with registration BK 429 ENU was snatched from him by two armed men on a motorcycle. The source said further that policemen from the ‘A’ Division, Asaba, swung into action and went after the robbers only to receive another distress call that robbers were operating at Fan Milk Company where N515, 000 and some handsets were carted away. On receipt of the second information, the patrol team was said to have rushed to the scene but the robbers, on sighting them, sped towards River Niger where they abandoned the vehicle and jumped into the river.

Crime Life learnt that the police who were determined to make a success of their assignment also jumped after them and were able to arrest Tama Kpeluke while others escaped. “When Tama Kpeluke Dickson was arrested, he claimed to be a soldier serving at 20 Battalion, Sadi Buruwa, Taraba State. He confessed to having participated in the first and second robberies. We are still investigating whether he is actually a soldier,” the source added. Among the items recovered from the Golf car that was abandoned at the river bank were six rounds of Brownie pistol ammunition; one round of 5.56mm live ammunition and N163, 220.00. Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hezekiah Dimka, confirmed the arrest and said efforts were on to contact the Battalion for proper identification of the suspect.