Threat On Jonathan: South-South Youths Dare Boko Haram

Youths from the South-South geographical zone of the country have dared the leadership of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, to carry out its threat on President Goodluck Jonathan and his administration. The dreaded sect had last week threatened to bring down Jonathan and his 11-month-old government within three months, the same period which the president had predicted the collapse of Boko Haram. 

 Leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, had said in response to the president’s declaration two weeks ago in South Korea that the Boko Haram phenomenon would be over by the middle of this year, that Jonathan’s comment was offensive. Shekau boasted in a 14-minute recorded video session, (the second in recent times) posted on the internet on April 12, 2012, that the present administration would not stay in office to see to the end of the sect.

 But youths from Rivers, Delta, Cross River, Bayelsa, Edo and Akwa-Ibom states condemned the threat by the group, describing it as “empty and an exercise in futility.” The youths, under the aegis of South-South Leaders Forum (SSLF) and Association of Ethnic Nationalities in Niger Delta (AENND) viewed the action of the sect as treasonable and a total disrespect for President Jonathan and the corporate image of Nigeria. 

 The statement signed by Barrister Amachree Odiedim, chairman, SSLF and Comrade Mike Udofia, co-ordinator, AENND, said the deliberate silence of the northern leaders and elite on the threat was suspect and showed them as accomplices of the sect. According to the youths, “We shall vehemently and violently resist any attempt to harm Mr. President or ridicule his regime.” Also accusing security operatives in the country of handling the Boko Haram issue with kid’s gloves, they declared that for the continued peace and unity of Nigeria. 

 The South-South youths demanded that the Inspector General of Police declare the leaders of the dreaded sect wanted and set machinery in motion towards arresting and prosecuting them, as well as those already in detention. SHARE THIS POST

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N/Delta indigenes warn FG against ignoring calls for SNC

Niger Delta indigenes, on Wednesday, in Lagos, expressed dismay over the spate of killings in the northern part of the country by members of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, warning the Federal Government against ignoring calls by eminent Nigerians for Sovereign National Conference (SNC). 

 Noting the consequence of further delay the convenance of the SNC, the indigenes, under the aegis of United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy, described the conference as a solution to the civil disturbance recorded in some parts of the country. The group in a statement signed by its general secretary, Tony Uranta, and made available to the Nigerian Tribune, stated that, “enough is enough. We demand a Sovereign National Conference now. 

 “In a secular state like Nigeria, there cannot be putative unity by coercion from any group or part of state. Nigeria is at the brinks and can only be salvaged by a conference, where federating units will decide how they want to be governed. “The earlier, the better. We cannot overlook the issues threatening the unity of the nation. 

Nigeria belongs to Nigerians and they must sit down to decide how they can stay together.” Condemning an alleged justification of the Boko Haram sect by some Nigerians, the group submitted that the Boko Haram was nothing but a religion-driven platform for fundamentalist pseudo-politicians and their cohorts.

 It pointed out that the sect could not shun dialogue and expect the rational Nigerians to support their mass kilings, adding that the fight against Boko Haram must be seen as a collective effort by every Nigerian.

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Nigeria's N16bn Deal With Tompolo

Officials have told The Associated Press that an ex-militant leader in Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta is linked to a private security company that recently signed a $103 million (N16 billion) deal with the government to patrol the West African nation's waterways to stop piracy.

The commander, who was granted amnesty in 2009, endorsed hiring Global West Vessel Specialist Agency Ltd. to protect the waterways, something Nigeria's navy and civil authorities appear unable to do.

Before the amnesty, men allied with the ex-militant Government Ekpumopolo carried out attacks and killings in the southern Niger Delta.

Nigeria struggles with endemic graft; analysts say the oil-rich nation has one of the world's most corrupt governments.

The government brokered an amnesty deal with militants, but the $103 million contract raises worries about the influence of former militants.

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SHOCKER: Asari Dokubo Says N74b Too Small For Amnesty

Ex-militant leader, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, on Monday shocked Nigerians, especially those from the Northern part of the country when he insisted that the N74billion voted for the rehabilitation of Niger Delta ex-militants in the 2012 budget was not enough.

“With all these gains, one expects that the operators of the amnesty project should have been encouraged and applauded. Instead, what we see is rebuke, recrimination and an attempt to scuttle the project by those who contribute next to nothing in the upkeep and maintenance of the Nigerian state but are now calling for a probe into the amnesty project.

There is nothing wrong with probing a government institution if it is not done out of malice. It is important to state that going by the 2012 budget passed by the National Assembly, the amnesty project budget is about N74bn annually. Which means that amnesty project budget for a year is far less than two days oil production," he argued.


To further drive home of point, Asari Dokubo demanded that a 10-day oil production proceeds should be allocated to the amnesty programme, since the country’s oil production had risen to 2.6 million barrels per day as against 680,000 before the amnesty programme was instituted.


This revenue allocation formula thing is about to plunge this country into another round of North/South political battle. Hope those in the helms of affairs will nip this crisis in the bud in the interest of Nigeria

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Jonathan Officially Concedes National Maritime Domain To Niger Delta Militants

Someone should tell President Goodluck E. Jonathan to please go slow with his Ijaw Nation project. If it is destined to succeed, it will ultimately do without rushing too many things at the same time and causing grievous damage to the mechanics of the nation. Speed kills.

The latest move, among many, is that he has approved a memo that officially auctions our national maritime domain to a company that is alleged to belong to one of the leading Niger Delta Militants. Come with me.

On 5th January 2012, the Ministry of Transport submitted a memorandum to the Federal Executive Council titled, AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR THE STRATEGIC CONCESSIONING PARTNERSHIP WITH NIMASA TO PROVIDE PLATFORM FOR TRACKING SHIPS AND CARGOES, ENFORCE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AND SURVEILLANCE OF THE ENTIRE NIGERIAN MARITIME DOMAIN.

To cut a long story short, I have quoted ad verbatim, paragraph 14 of the memo that summarizes it. (Errors herein are not mine, please)

14. Council is, accordingly, invited to; note that the principal objective of NIMASA’S activities is to ensure that safety and security of Shipping/Maritime Trade in a protected marine environment but Resource constraint has made it difficult for NIMASA to acquire the requisite Operational Platforms which are needed to effectively patrol and carry out surveillance of Nigeria’s entire coastline.

note that the Surveillance Operations will be carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy in line with the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy under the Maritime Command and Structure; note that the project is aimed at addressing the challenges in the Maritime Industry

(v) note that the scope of works covers Monitoring, Patrol, Enforcement of Conventions and Improvement of Revenue;

(vi) note that the Platform upon completion will enhance effective patrol and surveillance of Nigeria’s entire coastline to achieve total Maritime Domain Awareness

(vii) note that due National Security nature of the project, Direct Procurement was adopted to this procurement under the Public Procurement Act. Section 42 (1) f;

(viii) note that Due Process Guidelines, were followed and the ICRC has approved the PPP arrangement on a ‘no cure no pay’ basis in favour of Messrs Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited (GWVSL) with an initial investment in the sum of USD103,400,000.00 Dollar only. Inclusive of all taxes on a contractor financed Supply Operate and Transfer (SOT) Concession for a period of 10 years based on performance;

(ix) note that the BPP reviewed the procurement process and issued a Certificate of ‘No Objection’ for the Provision of Platforms for Tracking Ships and Cargoes, Enforcement of Regulatory Compliance and Surveillance of the Entire Nigerian maritime Domain for Ministry of Transport/Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, in favour of Messrs Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited (GWVSL), with an initial investment in the sum of USD103,400,000.00 Dollars only, on a contractor financed supply and Transfer (SOT) concession for a period of 10 years and renewable for further 2 terms of 5 years each based on performance as recommended by ICRC and no more to avoid undue monopoly of the service by Concessionaire;

(x) note that the projected amount accruable to government over the concession period will not be less than N124billion.

(xi) note that the President vide letter Ref. No. PRES/99/MT/61, 9th November, 2011 had granted anticipatory approval for the project;

(xii) note that the Attorney General of the Federation/Minister of Justice has reviewed and approved the Draft Agreement.

(xiii) note that this project is contractor financed and does not require any Government Appropriation.

(xiv) note that this project will create 1375 job opportunities to Nigerian professional and non-professionals directly and 1620 jobs indirectly; and

(xv) Ratify the Presidents anticipatory approval for the concessioning of the Provision of Security, Monitoring and Enforcement Operational Platforms on Nigerian Waters to Ministry of Transport/Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). In favour of Messrs Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited (GWVSL), with an initial Investment of the sum of USD103,400,000.00 Dollars (One Hundred and Three Million, Four Hundred Thousand Dollars) only. Inclusive of all taxes on a Contractor-financed Supply Operate and Transfer (SOT) Concession over 10 years concession period and renewable for further 2 terms of 5 years based on performance. (End of memo.)

The Presidency sent the memo to the National Assembly last week requesting it to consider it in place of the earlier memo on coastal guards submitted by late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. The essential difference between the two memos is that while Yar’adua envisaged an outfit that is composed by various agencies of government related to maritime functions, Jonathan's memo is contracting the job to a private company in spite the national security implications.

Given the tribal bias that President Jonathan has so far exhibited in his appointments, one could easily see that the expected jobs will largely, if not completely, be composed of Niger Deltan militants. This neatly fits into the Ijaw nation agenda. With the militants manning the maritime domain from Lagos to Calabar, anything can happen.

The promise of joint patrol and enforcement with the Nigerian Navy is mere sweet talk. We know how government agencies and officials subserviently relate to contractors, especially those appointed by the Presidency. The mention of NSA is even more laughable because, he, like the present MD of NIMASA – Mr. Ziakede P. Akpobolokemi – is also from the Niger Delta.

There is the fear among many Nigerians that Jonathan is working hard to secure the entire resources of the region in the hands of his Ijaw tribesmen. So-called ex-Militants are presently manning pipelines in the region.

Now, there are pertinent questions to ask about the contract:

When has Nigeria become so bankrupt that an organization like NIMASA that generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually would not be able to invest $103.4m on something as crucial as its infrastructure that is so essential to our national security?

The contract does not have a total sum. All we are told is that the initial investment would be $103.4million. How would a contractor commit himself to a contract that does not have a total sum?

Equally ambiguous is the benefit that will accrue to the federal government: “not less than N124billion above the existing earnings”, or less than $1billion over a period of ten years! This means in the absence of any sharing formula even if the contractor would pay the federal government only a billion dollars in ten years where he makes, say, $10 billion, he is deemed to have performed satisfactorily. This is dubious.

Who are the 1375 Nigerian professionals and 1620 non-professionals that are going to be employed by the company? No commitment to their composition is given in the memorandum whatsoever. One can clearly see a situation where the entire workforce would be made up of Niger Delta militants. There is nothing in the memorandum to ensure a national spread of the opportunities.

What happens if the contractor does not perform? Nothing except the phrase ‘no cure no pay.’

One really wonders how “the BPP reviewed the procurement process and issued Certificate of ‘No Objection’, and how the Attorney General of the Federation/Minister of Justice reviewed and approved the agreement.

Why would the President approve such a sensitive memo in anticipation without waiting for his Council?

Why the attempt to gain the approval of the National Assembly within a day without allowing members to study it?

Who are on the board of Messrs Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited? Many are saying that it belongs to Tampolo, the famous leader of one of Niger Delta militant factions.

Finally, we would ask: why is Jonathan walking so fast… why? Does not he have faith in the future of the nation, as did the Presidents before him?

What future role remains for the Nigerian military in the Niger Delta?

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Two corps members, one female taken hostage in Rivers

POLICE has confirmed the abduction of two corps members in Rivers state. According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ben Ugoegbulam, one of the victims was later rescued by security operatives.

The Police Spokesman said a total of three persons were taken hostage and they were a male and female corps members attached to C.S.S. Odagwa in Etche local government area of the state, while the third was a female friend of the corps members.

The male, according to the Police officer was rescued from the combined efforts of security operatives. He also assured that efforts were on to secure the release of the other two female hostages.

“Two corps members, a male and female youth corps members attached to C.S.S Odagwa, Etche local government and their female friend were kidnapped. As soon as reported, a team of Policemen and soldiers moved to the scene and while combing the area the male corper was found and rescued. Search efforts for rescue of the two other victims and arrest of culprits are continuing”, he said.

It would be recalled that about five corpse members were taken hostage in the state over a year ago and were later released after several days in the custody of their abductors.

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Woman nabbed over kidnap of traditional ruler’s wife

A housewife has been arrested in Delta State for allegedly aiding her husband, who was the suspected gang leader in the kidnap of the wife of a traditional ruler in Bayelsa State.

Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mamman Tsafe, in an interview with newsmen in Asaba yesterday, lamented the use of sophisticated weapons by bandits, saying that his men recovered a total of 140 military rifles and 2,956 live ammunitions while the command lost 21 officers last year.

He said: “On December 23, 2011, at about 1945 hours, four armed men kidnapped one Fine Keredei, female, wife of HRH Decca Keredei of Amatu Kingdom in Bayelsa State at her shop on Udu Road, Onwian Aladja. The kidnappers demanded N20 million and later settled for N5 million.

“However, on December 27, 2011, at about 1030 hours, anti-crime patrol team in Effurun Division, acting on information, stormed a kidnap hideout at Ayomara Street and the hoodlums on sighting the team took to their heels, scaling the fence.

“The team chased the suspects and arrested one of them (names withheld), wife of the gang leader now at large in whose house the kidnapped woman was kept.”

Mr Tsafe, said the arrested housewife led the team to the room where the victim was rescued unhurt and also confessed to preventing the victim from escaping on Christmas eve.

He added that a total of 555 suspects were arrested in the state over kidnap cases, 447 charged to court while 55 convictions were secured last year.

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Strike: N-Delta youths warn NLC, mobilise for Jonathan

The Niger Delta Democratic Coalition, NDDC, weekend, warned the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to stay away from the Niger Delta in its planned strike, saying that the group would mobilise over one million youths to resist any attempt to enforce the proposed strike action in the region.

Meanwhile, South South leaders met last night at the residence of Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, in Abuja with a view to taking a position on the recent massacre of Southern Christians in the North and also the prevailing crisis over the removal of fuel subsidy.

Though details of the meeting is were unknown at press time, but the text message sent to the leaders for the meeting read: “My fellow compatriots, you are urgently invited to attend a meeting today (Sunday) to discuss the state of the nation, particularly the massacre of Southern Christians in the North. It is important you attend”.

NEWSMEN learnt however that the South South leaders are not happy with the way and manner their counterparts in the North are handling the issue of Boko Haram and the recent hike in fuel prices as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy.

NEWSMEN was reliably informed that the leaders are worried that the Northern leaders may have perfected plans to frustrate the administration of President Jonathan who is from the South South, therefore wants to strategize to check their activities.

However, National Coordinator of the NDDC, Chief Denis Otuaro, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City , urged the leadership of the NLC to toe the path of the law by fighting its course through the law court rather than embarking on industrial action which according to him would further impoverish the masses of the country.

While stressing the need for the NLC to accept the removal of the fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, he said that “that N1.4trillion that will be saved through the removal of the subsidy will be enough to construct roads and bridges in the Niger Delta region where the wealth of the nation is.

We are aware that the people fighting against the removal of the subsidy are those people who have been benefiting for years from that money and these set of people are not from the Niger Delta yet they are milking the nation dry.

“We will appeal to the NLC to obey the Court order which had declared any strike action on Monday as illegal. NLC is also part of the problem of the nation because they should also tell Nigerians what happened to our dead refineries because they are the civil servants incharge. It is an open secret in Nigeria that the civil service is the bedrock of corruption in Nigeria ” he stated.

….As group urges NLC to suspend strike

WARRI—A non-governmental organisation, Unveilers of Good Leaders Foundation, UGLF, has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and civil society organisations to suspend the planned nationwide strike against Federal Government’s announcement of oil subsidy removal, saying it will only worsen the poverty and hardship situation already being faced by the Nigerian masses.

National President of the group, Evangelist David Ohwobeya, in a statement yesterday in Warri, suggested that the NLC and Nigerians should give the Federal Government at least six months to examine how government intends to utilize the subsidy fund to improve the country’s economy.

Ohwobeya pointed out that the NLC and Nigerians should avail the Federal Government the benefit of doubt, noting that government has good intention and was determined to make adequate use of the subsidy fund.

He admitted that though the removal of subsidy may have some inflation effect, but further assured that shortly Nigerians shall witness and enjoy the dividends of the subsidy fund.

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Fuel subsidy protest spreads to Warri, Effurun

The protest against the removal of fuel subsidy expanded to Delta State, Friday, with members of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, and Committee for Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, grounding business and social activities in the twin cities of Warri and Effurun for more than four hours.

The protest is coming ahead the planned nationwide industrial action on Monday by Organized Labour.

The placard- carrying protesters were led by John Aikpokpo-Martins, Vice Chairman Warri NBA; Barrister Casely Omon-Irabor, Coordinator, Human Rights Defenders Organisation of Nigeria.

Sunny Enenuvwedia, President, CDHR; Pastor Edewor Egedegbe, President, Network for Positive Change; and Barr Benefit Orugbo, Chairman, CDHR Delta State.

They hit the streets of Warri and Effurun as early as 7.00 am in their hundreds. The take-off point was Effurun roundabout.

Some of the placards bore inscriptions; “We want fuel subsidy” “Don’t play politics with our lives in Nigeria” “Okonjo Iweala should resign” “No to IMF policies” “Jonathan has failed us” “If Jonathan cannot rule, resign.”

Okada riders, market women and office workers who closed businesses and offices cheered the protesters as they chanted solidarity songs. Members of the various civil societies also joined in the protest as they march on.

In a proactive strategy, the Area Commander, ACP Abutu Yaro , led several police officers in providing escort for the protesters so that hoodlums would not take advantage to hijack the protest.

Addressing Deltans at Jakpa junction, John Aikpkpo-Martins, Vice Chairman, NBA, Warri said, “We members of the NBA protest today to say no to removal of fuel subsidy, we are fighting against oppression, this is not military rule, Okonjo-Iweala cannot dictate for us, she should resign, fuel price should be returned to N65.”

Also adding his voice, Sunny Enenuvwedia, President, CDHR said, “The president action is hasty. It is anti people, government should cut their bogus life style spending and there will be money for development.

“Why is it only the poor that must suffer? Enough of this rubbish, we want the decision to be rescinded immediately.”

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Over 50 injured as angry youths attack Muslims in Sapele

ENRAGED youths, numbering over 2,000, armed with battleaxes, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons went on rampage, Friday, sacking and inflicting injuries on over 50 Muslims at the Hausa quarters, Sapele in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.

A northern security guard was shot dead in a separate incident by a gang of armed robbers that attacked a school in Sapele on Thursday.

NEWSMEN gathered that the youths were incensed by the uninhibited attacks on churches and killing of Christians in the northern part of the country by the Islamic Boko Haram sect.

Two of the persons suspected to have carried out the onslaught were, however, arrested by the police in Sapele.

There was pandemonium following the attack on Muslims, who were ordered to vacate the town in their own interest since Boko Haram members had also issued ultimatum to Christians to leave the north.

Secretary of a Muslim Media group in Sapele, Sadiq Oniyesaneyene Musa who spoke to NEWSMEN on the attacks by Sapele youths said, “We are disturbed by this attack on Muslims in Sapele and the order that all Muslims in Sapele should return to the north. I am a Muslim and an Itsekiri from Delta state, where do they want me to go to, this is my homeland”.

Musa said the youths besieged Muslims in the town very close to the mosque that was bombed, last year, and injured a lot of faithful.

“We called the director of the State Security Service, SSS, Asaba and the Area Commander and they responded. The Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger-Delta also deployed soldiers to take care of the situation”, he said.

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We’re ready for Boko Haram

Former leader of Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari has warned that Niger Delta fighters are ready to take up arms to fight Boko Haram Islamists, and are holding back only out of respect for the president.

Dokubo-Asari, a Muslim who led a rebellion in the Delta until a peace deal with the government in 2004, said bomb attacks by Boko Haram could provoke retaliation by mostly Christian Southerners, including those living in the delta.

Asked if Northerners could be the in the south, he replied: “It is seconds away ... Nigeria is on the precipice of a civil war.”

“For Niger Delta, people to take up arms is just a minute away. Its just Goodluck that is holding us back,” said Asari. “We have all reached the extreme. There is nothing anybody can do about it except we fight.”

It would be recalled that the Asari-led Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, managed to push oil prices to record highs in 2004 with its constant attacks and threats against oil production in the Delta’s swampy creeks.

Since then, peace deals with the region’s warlords have pacified the Delta, and Boko Haram in the North has become the number one threat to Nigeria’s security.

Asari paused to read some Facebook posts from his iPad about the Christmas Day bombs.

Asari said, he was skeptical that the government could negotiate with moderate members of Boko Haram via “back channels” as National Security Adviser, General Owoye Andrew Azazi suggested in an interview with Reuters.

Sitting in his flat in the city of Port Harcourt, Asari said the group’s faceless nature, an issue General Azazi acknowledged, made talks impossible.

“If you cannot identify the people who are carrying out these attacks, how can you dialogue with them, interact with them, and bring them round the table?” He said.

In any case, such extreme violence meant the time for talks had passed, he said.

“You cannot ask government to negotiate now. On what basis? The government should...rein these people in, or the people will resort to self-help,” said Asari, who stressed where his loyalties lay despite being a Muslim: “Anybody that wants to start any revolution in Goodluck’s time, we the Ijaw will pull down that revolution,” he said.

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Irate youths burn two suspected robbers in Delta

TWO suspected armed robbers, were yesterday, set ablaze by irate youths in Adesa quarters, Ughonton community, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta state, while three others escaped into the bush and nearby river.

The two suspected armed robbers met their waterloo, when they tried to rob one of their unsuspected victims, who resisted them and raised alarm that alerted members of the community, who chased and caught two of them.

Recovered from the armed robbers were one cut to size locally made pistol and a laptop, which was snatched from one of their victims.

According to a community leader, Mr. Chris Akirinja, the group of five armed robbers had been terrorising the Ughoton and Jeddo communities for the past six months, robbing and maiming their victims during their operations.

Akirinja said, the community had to set up a vigilante group to curtail the incessant armed robbery cases in the community, which has been going on for the past five months.

He said it was the effort of the vigilante group, which has been working round the clock that made it possible for the two armed robbers to be caught while three others escaped into the river.

Eyewitness told NEWSMEN that two armed robbers, who were burnt were from their neighbouring community, while the others, who escaped were suspected to be from the community since they were familiar with the terrain.

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There’ll be no reprisal killings in N-Delta – Kuku

The Federal Government, yesterday, assured that there would be no reprisal killings in the Niger Delta region, in response to the violent activities of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Government’s assurance came against the backdrop of the two weeks ultimatum given by Egbesu warriors, after the bombing of a mosque in Sapele, Delta State, to Muslims in the region, to leave or face reprisal killings.

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, in an interview in Lagos, said the reported attack on the mosque in Sapele was an isolated case, which should not be seen as retaliatory attack.

According to him, the provocative antics of the Boko Haram sect will not instigate any form of attacks on Northern or Islamic targets.

He said: “The President has said it all, what Boko Haram is doing is pure terrorism. What the sect is doing has nothing to do with Islam neither can any one say the sect is propagating a Northern agenda. It is terrorism, pure and simple.

“The wicked activities of Boko Haram are affecting both Christians and Muslims. The bombs they have been throwing have been killing northerners and southerners. Beyond the declaration of state of emergency in certain parts of states in the north, where Boko Haram cells are very active, I am aware of other unprecedented security measures that had been put in place by President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Based on what I know as a Presidential Adviser, I can confidently tell Nigerians that the days of Boko Haram are numbered.”

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Shell must pay $1 bn for Niger Delta clean-up – Group

Oil giant Shell should commit $1 billion (700,000 euros) as a first step to clean up the Niger Delta following two devastating oil spills in 2008, rights groups said Thursday.

Shell has accepted responsibility for the spills in the southern Nigerian state of Ogoniland that affected the Bodo fishing community and has agreed to pay compensation, which is currently being decided in the British courts.

But Amnesty International and the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) accused Shell in a report of failing to act quickly enough to fix the damage and demanded the Anglo-Dutch group make the billion-dollar contribution.

“It is time this multi-billion-dollar company owns up, cleans up and pays up,” said Aster van Kregten, Nigeria researcher for London-based Amnesty International.

“Shell’s failure to promptly stop and clean up oil spills in Bodo has devastated the lives of tens of thousands of people.”

A spokesman for Shell’s Nigerian operations insisted discussions were underway with the government to establish a clean-up fund for the Niger Delta and said efforts had been made to clean up after the Bodo spills.

Ogoniland has been blighted by oil pollution for decades and a landmark UN environment agency report released in August said the region might require the world’s biggest ever clean-up.

The United Nations Environment Programme report called for the oil industry and the Nigerian government to contribute $1 billion for a clean-up fund.

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), the Shell subsidiary which operates a joint venture in Nigeria in which the state oil company has a major stake, insisted its bid to clean up after the spills had been hampered.

“The reality is that our efforts to undertake (a) clean-up in Bodo have been hampered by the repeated impact of saboutage and bunkering spills,” the tapping of pipelines to steal oil, said an SPDC spokesman.

But van Kregten said: “This claim has been strongly disputed by the communities and NGOs who point out that the process of collecting data on oil spills is flawed.”

The SPDC spokesman said the subsidiary was already implementing many of the recommendations in the report.

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Gunmen attack vessel in Niger Delta

THERE are strong indications that militancy may have returned to offshore Nigeria’s waters as more attacks are being recorded by the oil multinationals. This follows an alert by Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), yesterday that a vessel was attacked by gunmen near its facility, offshore Akwa Ibom State. 

Meanwhile, the Joint Media Coordinator of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt. Col. Timothy Antigha, yesterday in Yenagoa disclosed that the command has arrested 50 suspected oil thieves in the region in the past three months. 

Antigha, in a chat with reporters at the command headquarters said the outfit would not relent in its efforts to protect facilities of oil companies in the region, noting that the end of militancy had led to increased cases of illegal oil bunkering and unlawful refining of petroleum products. 

This is the second attack in less than three weeks targeting Mobil’s supply ships. On September 30, gunmen stormed another supply vessel near Mobil’s offshore operation, kidnapping a contractor and leaving another person injured. 

Confirming the attack to The Guardian yesterday, General Manager, Public & Government Affairs, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Gloria Essien-Danner, said the attack did not affect its production, while it has been reported to the appropriate security agencies. 

The statement said in part: “Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), operator of the joint venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), confirms that in the early hours of Monday, October 17, 2011, some armed men attacked a third party vessel near our facilities, offshore Akwa Ibom State. 

“At this time, we do not know the identity of the attackers, nor reason for their action. The incident has been reported to security and relevant government agencies.” The company did not say if anyone had been kidnapped or what happened to the vessel. Essien-Danner, however said in the statement that the company was yet to know the identity of the attackers, nor reason for their action. 

According to him, the JTF command had arrested 14 persons at Akassa in Brass Council of the state, with the generators and other equipment they used in siphoning stolen crude oil and adulterated petroleum products. Those arrested include; Monday Friday, Jeremiah Festus, Alabwe Asina, Ibianga Owei and Secondi Africanus while nine other persons arrested alongside the suspect where found at the scene of the crime.

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USA Warns Its Citizens Not To Go To Warri, Akwa Ibom, Jos and Others

The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travelling to Nigeria, and continues to recommend that U.S. citizens avoid all but essential travel to the Niger Delta states 

Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers; the Southeastern states of Abia, Edo, Imo; the city of Jos in Plateau State, Bauchi and Borno States in the northeast; and the Gulf of Guinea because of the risks of kidnapping, robbery, and other armed attacks in these areas. 

Violent crime committed by individuals and gangs, as well as by persons wearing police and military uniforms, remains a problem throughout the country. 

This notice replaces the Travel Warning for Nigeria dated October 19, 2010, to update information on recent violent activity and crime in Nigeria.

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Niger Delta Militants give Boko Haram 14 days to stop killing or face war

Following the attacks by Boko Haram against Government Agencies and Christians in the North, a Militant group from the Niger Delta region has asked the islamist sect to cease attack on Christians or be prepared for war.

The group christened Egbesu Mightier Fraternity of Izon Land in a press statement made available to Pointblanknews.com warn that the life and properties of Northerners living in the South will not be spared if Boko Haram continue bombing of churches and killing innocent Nigerians.

“NOTE WELL, if further killings by Boko Haram as a result of Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidency in the country within fourteen days of this statement, we shall without hesitation commence sending every Muslim in the Niger Delta Region to their various homes and ask our people to return home. No section of this country is an embodiment of killing others.

 Muslims can’t live in our land freely (Niger Delta) while they will be killing our people in their land. If they don’t want peace we will meet them were ever they are. This is our message.” They said.

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