MEND attacks Shell's Bonga offshore platform
Written by Hector Igbikiowubo, Emma Amaize, Samuel Oyandogha & Jimitota Onoyume
Friday, 20 June 2008
*225,000 bpd crude shut in; American kidnapped, released

THE Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) yesterday claimed responsibility for an early morning attack on the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) operated Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel leading to the shut-in of 225,000 per day crude oil output.

During the attack, a support vessel with staff on board, belonging to Tidex Nigeria was hijacked from the Bonga field where it had gone to provide services and an American, Captain Jack Stone, was abducted. He was released last night.

An eyewitness who does not want his name in print said the invaders stormed the FPSO at about 1 a.m. and after trying unsuccessfully to gain access to the platform, started shooting at those on board the vessel.

“The attack lasted from 1a.m. when they arrived till about 5 a.m. Although some people were wounded, no life was lost in the attack. We were shocked that these militants could come out this far. We hope we wouldn’t have to experience it again,” the eyewitness said.

Shell confirmed the incident in a statement, explaining that though it could account for all personnel, three people who were rough handled were being treated for light injuries.

“Production from Bonga field has stopped. We are carrying out detailed inspection of the Bonga FPSO and other key installations to ascertain what really happened. It is too early to say when production will resume. SNEPCo is doing everything possible to ensure the safety of personnel on board, and our thoughts are with staff and contractors on what must have been a traumatic experience,” Shell said.

The Bonga FPSO is located 120 nautical miles off the coastal waters of Warri, in Delta State. It is 120 minutes flight time from Lagos.

MEND claims responsibility

In an online statement, MEND said the attack on the heavily fortified facility was deliberately chosen to remove any notion that off-shore oil exploration is far from its reach, saying: “The oil companies and their collaborators do not have any place to hide in conducting their nefarious activities.

“On Thursday, June 19, 2008, at 0045 Hrs, gallant fighters from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) overran the supposedly fortified Bonga offshore oil fields operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company.

“The main computerised control room responsible for coordinating the entire crude oil export operations from the fields was our main target. Our detonation engineers could not gain access to blow it up but decided against smoking out the occupants by burning down the facility to avoid loss of life.

“However, our next visit will be different as the facility will not be spared. We, therefore, ask all workers in the Bonga fields to evacuate for their safety as the military cannot protect them.

“In order that the Nigerian military does not pass off this humiliating breach as another ‘accident’, an American, Captain Jack Stone, from an oil services company, Tidex, has been captured.

“This man was supposed to only be released in exchange for all Niger Delta hostages being held in northern Nigeria by the Nigerian government. Because the criminals in the government and state security want to use this opportunity to make money from ransom, we have decided he will be released in the coming hours.

“The location for today’s attack was deliberately chosen to remove any notion that off-shore oil exploration is far from our reach. The oil companies and their collaborators do not have any place to hide in conducting their nefarious activities.”

JTF reacts

Commander of the Joint Task Force on the Niger Delta, Brigadier General Nanven Rimtip, confirmed the attack when contacted by Vanguard but said his men on ground were doing everything possible to normalise the situation.

But Commander Boyloaf who claimed to be the second-in-command to the detained Henry Okah told Vanguard some hours after the attack on phone that it was carried out by his group because of the refusal of the Federal Government to release Henry Okah.

He said his group did not believe in kidnaping hostages and so, the American hostage would be released free-of-charge in a few hours.

He spoke to Vanguard at about 1.20 p.m.It was gathered that there were three persons on the vessel in which the American was kidnapped, but, Boyloaf told Vanguard: “We took away an American and I have just told you that we will release him.”

He said the American was in safe condition as at the time of the interview.

Other reasons for the attack, he said, was to express the anger of the activists over the decision of the Federal Government to go ahead with Ambasssador Ibrahim Gambari as the chairman of the proposed Niger Delta summit.“Part of our grievances also is the destruction of Ijaw communities in Edo State by the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Niger Delta. If the JTF makes the mistake of attacking any Ijaw community again in the Niger Delta, we will burn down the whole place.

That is the truth,” he said.Boyloaf said there would be no peace in the Niger Delta if Henry Okah was not released, saying those packaging the summit should know that it would fail.

“You see, they thought that the JTF can protect the oil facilities in the Niger Delta, we went to the Bonga Field to let them know that the JTF cannot save them. They should release Henry Okah or they will not have peace— that is the truth.”

Oil prices rise

Meanwhile, oil rose, Wednesday, as a strike threat by workers of Chevron Nigeria fuelled supply concerns ahead of a meeting of top producers and consumers aimed at tackling soaring energy prices.
US crude settled $2.67 higher at $136.68 a barrel, and London Brent crude ended $2.72 higher at $136.44 a barrel.

Workers at the Nigerian unit of US energy giant Chevron were poised to go on strike after talks between their union and management failed

source:http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10718&Itemid=42