MEND Claims Responsibility For Attack On Petrol Tankers Near Nation’s Capital

June 15, 2013



The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) on Saturday claimed responsibility for an attack on two oil tankers conveying petroleum products and belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in Abaji area of Abuja.

In a terse statement, the purported spokesman of MEND, Jomo Gbomo said its field operatives stealthily attached portable military limpet explosives to the articulated tanker vehicles in a queue outside a depot of the NNPC.

He said this segment of attack, code-named “Operation Touch And Go”, was carried out partly to demand for the resignation of Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, among others.

“The devices were timed to detonate simultaneously several seconds later, of which the outcome was predictable,” he said, adding the “Operation Touch And Go” is mainly targeted at the downstream sector of the oil industry in Nigeria.

“From today (Saturday), every tanker vehicle we find distributing petroleum products including propane gas has become a legitimate target in our war against injustice, corruption, despotism and oppression,” Gbomo threatened.

He further warned drivers of such tanker vehicles that they continue to drive them at their own risk just as he advised the public to maintain a safe distance from such vehicles as they can explode anytime and anywhere.

He added the harassment on oil tanker vehicles would be sustained until the Federal Government make provisions for their demands including the unconditional release of MEND’s alleged leader, Mr Henry Okah, who was tried and convicted in South Africa on terrorism charges.

A top official of the NNPC, when reached for comments confirmed the attack on two of its vehicles at a depot in Abuja, but said investigation was ongoing.

The official who craved for anonymity, said an official response will be made available to the press after a thorough investigation.

Hurricane Exodus: MEND Bombs Fuel Tanker At Abuja NNPC Depot

[img]http://thewillnigeria.com/thumbnail.php?file=MENDGUYS_925845997.jpg&size=article_medium[/img]

SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, (THEWILL) – The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) may have made good its threat to resume hostilities against the Federal Government as it claimed responsibility for the bombing of a fuel tanker at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot in Abaji, Abuja, Saturday morning.

Maintaining that the attack was the beginning of its suspended operation, tagged 'Hurricane Exodus,' MEND , in a statement issued by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said it would henceforth bomb every tanker found distributing petroleum products as part of what it described as its legitimate war against injustice, corruption, despotism and oppression in the country.

It would be recalled that the group, few week ago, said it had suspended its threatened attacks on the downstream sector following the intervention of key players in the Niger Delta, including the Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta, Hon Kingsley Kuku.

However, the outlawed group said the unconditional release of Henry Okah, Charles Okah and others being held over the October 1, 2010 twin car bombings in Abuja will make it stop its renewed attacks.

MEND also asked the Federal Government to render an unreserved apology to it over what it said was the forging of a letter threatening the South African Government which was purported to have originated from MEND and used as evidence in the trial and conviction of Okah.

The group demanded that the Federal Government should convene a regional conference to discuss the core issues of the Niger Delta, including the injustice, under development, environmental degradation within three months, just as it demanded the resignation of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The MEND statement issued by Gbomo reads: “'Hurricane Exodus’ resumed at about 00:05Hrs on Saturday, June 15, 2013, when field operatives from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (M.E.N.D), stealthily attached portable military limpet explosives magnetically to two (2) articulated tanker vehicles laden with petrol in a queue outside the NNPC depot in Abaji, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

"The devices were timed to detonate simultaneously several seconds later. The outcome was predictable.

"This segment of exodus codenamed ‘Operation Touch and Go’ is targeted at the soft underbelly (downstream sector) of the oil industry in Nigeria.

"From today, every tanker vehicle we find distributing petroleum products including propane gas has become a legitimate target in our war against injustice, corruption, despotism and oppression".

"Drivers of tanker vehicles continue to drive them at their own risk. The public is hereby advised to maintain a safe distance from such vehicles as they can explode anytime and anywhere.

"Harassment on these tanker vehicles would be sustained until the following demands are met; Henry Okah, his brother Charles, and other innocent persons set up as scapegoats and held over the October 01, 2010 twin car bombings in Abuja be released unconditionally.

"That an unreserved apology be tendered by the Nigerian government to MEND for presenting a forged email letter threatening the South African government purported to have originated from us and used as evidence in the sham trial and conviction of Henry Okah.

"That a separate independent body outside Nigeria investigates the forged letter so as to ascertain its authenticity and make their findings public.

"That since our struggle has never been about a Goodluck Jonathan Presidency, nor about being beneficiaries of dubious pipeline protection contracts and other forms of bribery, a conference to address the injustice, under development, environmental degradation and outstanding root issues confronting the Niger Delta region must be fixed to hold within three (3) months.

"That the corrupt and inept Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke resigns as Minister of Petroleum."

The speculation began to spread that the armed militant group had issued a statement that it attacked a facility that provides storage for petroleum products for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and the adjoining states.

“Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (M.E.N.D), stealthily attached portable military limpet explosives magnetically to two (2) articulated tanker vehicles laden with petrol in a queue outside the NNPC depot in Abaji, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The devices were timed to detonate simultaneously several seconds later. The outcome was predictable,” a statement, supposedly from MEND spokesman, Jomo Gbomo said.

The statement also called for the resignation of the Petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and the release of Henry Okah and his brother, Charles from prisons in South Africa and Nigeria respectively.

However, the Manager, Media/Public Affairs of the PPMC, a subsidiary of the NNPC, Nasir Imodagbe, dismissed the speculations as untrue.

“There is no bomb incident at Abaji Depot. You can quote me on this,” Mr. Imodagbe said.

Also, an official of the NNPC who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES in confidence, because he is not authorised to speak on the issue, said the management of the corporation also learnt of the rumour, though it was yet to confirm it.

“Management has also heard about the rumour,” the official siad. “But, we are yet to confirm. What I can tel you now is that we are all going to the office to make the necessary contacts with the relevant authorities. If there is any information we can share, we will surely issue a statement at the appropriate time.”

automaticcarzz: MEND= Terrorist group
Boko Haram= Terrorist group

I am waiting for SS/SE hypocrites to disagree with me.

jjcbuthot:

You are wrong man... Only Boko Haram is a terrorist group. MEND is not a terrorist group because they are fighting for all Nigerians.

In a terse statement, the purported spokesman of MEND, Jomo Gbomo said its field operatives stealthily attached portable military limpet explosives to the articulated tanker vehicles in a queue outside a depot of the NNPC.

Two weeks after the plot to bomb about 16 landmarks in Lagos was uncovered and 14 culprits arrested, new information has shown that the suspected terrorists had smuggled in the said explosives and the detonators in empty fuel tankers.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Azubike Ihejirika, who made this disclosure yesterday at the second day of the interactive session on Military-Media Relations in Nigeria, held in Lagos, said the plot was nipped in the bud through intelligence reports.

dayokanu: We are in a MEND govt where the president is a spokesman for them

jjcbuthot:

You are wrong man... Only Boko Haram is a terrorist group. MEND is not a terrorist group because they are fighting for all Nigerians.

eGuerrilla:

He further warned drivers of such tanker vehicles that they continue to drive them at their own risk just as he advised the public to maintain a safe distance from such vehicles as they can explode anytime and anywhere....."

automaticcarzz: MEND= Terrorist group
Boko Haram= Terrorist group

I am waiting for SS/SE hypocrites to disagree with me.

sanandreas: Hey mend we are tired of these hostilities. You are no longer relevant in the scheme of things. Your so called emancipation is to enrich urselves and ur families. We niger-deltans are no longer ready for destruction but we want peace.

jjcbuthot:

You are wrong man... Only Boko Haram is a terrorist group. MEND is not a terrorist group because they are fighting for all Nigerians.

Toktee: Waiting to hear what anti north and anti buhari will say,they said buhari is the leader of bokohallam,who is the leader of Mend?