War in niger delta: MEND Threatens Northerners In Oil Industry
By Ofonime Umanah (Port Hrcourt) and Yemi Akintomide (Akure)


Umbrella body of the militants in the Niger Delta, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), has sent out a chilling signal, threatening an impending attack on the Federal Government, and particularly, Northerners who occupy prominent positions in the oil industry.

"Our message to the Northern Sultans and Emirs is this: The period of exploiting the Niger Delta is coming to an end. It is not the birth right of your people to rule the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"The war is just beginning and by the time it ends, Nigeria will practice true federalism such as fiscal federalism which will benefit the entire populace. Let your people brace themselves to develop their resources and such a bold change will be remembered," Jomo Gbomo, MEND's spokesman said in an electronic mail on Sunday.

The threat came a few hours after the Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor on Budget, Austin Ngor, was kidnapped and moved to an unknown destination.

It was not clear what the demands of the kidnappers are, but the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Blessing Wikinaka, has warned them to free the man immediately as there was no just reason for his abduction.

Meanwhile, MEND two of the hostages in their custody killed "in the course of the war".

It said the remaining one has been relocated to an unnamed camp in Delta State.

MEND dared the security outfit, Joint Task Force (JTF), to destroy all its (MEND's) camps, which it said, were spread in many places across Niger Delta region.

The MEND's spokesman said, "The British hostage, Mr Matthew Maguire, has been relocated to Delta State and will be a guest of one of the camps there".

He added: "Nigerians should now brace up for the worst from the decisions of an incompetent leadership.

"The Niger Delta people who have endured injustice and genocide for over 50 years must be ready to fight for change as our destiny should not be in the hands of others but ourselves.

The group said it was embarrassed at the "performance of the Nigerian Armed Forces who performed like poorly trained amateurs by bombing indiscriminately into civilian communities using helicopter gunships and fighter jet planes.

"Civilians should have been allowed to leave the area before the attack. This simply has shown that the government is insensitive to the Niger Delta people.

"If the Army's mission was to also rescue the hostages, then that again was a botched and ridiculous attempt because the hostages were not at any immediate risk except for their temporary freedom.

"We regret to announce that two hostages have been killed by the indiscriminate shelling and two more are still in our custody.

"We are happy that all of them were not killed by the Army. The bodies of the dead men will be handed over to the Red Cross. MEND deeply regrets the avoidable deaths".

It denied claims that the Army captured a plane from one of its camps.

"If my memory serves me right, the plane in question is a toy remote controlled plane which can be purchased from any toy shop. It is rather shameful that they cannot distinguish the difference between a toy plane and a drone.

"As promised, we have begun nibbling again at the oil infrastructure. Already, two major trunk pipe and gas lines, which were recently repaired, have been blown up. This is just the tip of the series of attacks we plan to carry out.

"For the Nigerian government to declare victory, troops must be able to secure every inch of pipelines and eliminate the over 500 camps stretching from Ondo to Akwa Ibom.

"What the government has been successful in doing is committing genocide against the Ijaw communities whose offence, it seems, is discovering oil in their backyards," the group said
http://www.independentngonline.com/news/tfpg/article01

not sure if it the right way

asha 80:

Most of us are taking this thing lightly until it is blows up into full scale war.

biina:

MEND does not have the resources to take on the federal government in a full scale war. To worsen matter, the west would not intervene on their behalf, as they have made enemies of them
They should exercise caution, as it is a fine line between a militant pressure group and rebel forces.

biina:

MEND does not have the resources to take on the federal government in a full scale war. To worsen matter, the west would not intervene on their behalf, as they have made enemies of them
They should exercise caution, as it is a fine line between a militant pressure group and rebel forces.

Jakumo:

With the involvement of helicopter gunships, ground attack fighter-jets and artillery batteries, the Niger Delta conflict has now made the transiton from a regional insurgency into a full-scale shooting war that will rapidly bring the entire country to an economic standstill.

If the threat by the militants to intensify the destruction of the oil pipelines that supply Nigeria's refineries and power stations is carried out as promised, national reserves of critical fuel supplies will vanish in short order, meaning that the gasoline and diesel powered generators that currently stand in for the nation's non-existent electrical power grid will fall silent, effectively killing off all forms of industry and commerce that have hitherto defied the odds and remained in business under their own electrical power.

The chit has well and truly hit the fan for Nigeria, and this will become apparent even to President Yar Adua on his sick-bed.

asha 80:

Did biafra have the resources to fight when they did but sustained a war for 2+ years.Do not underestimate the power of self determination.

biina:

Do not compare Biafra to MEND. Biafra had enough military personnel, intel and installations, to take on the federal government, or do you think Ojukwu acted irrationally?

As per the Taliban, are they still governing Afghanistan? You can only hide under guerrilla tactics when your opponent is still wearing gloves. Take off the gloves and you will bow down to superior firepower and resources.

Without foreign aid, if the federal government goes all out, MEND will be no more in less than 6 months. Those who will survive would have to abscond from the area. The Odi incidence has already shown you how far the federal government can go.

Ibime:

@ Biina,

By every measure MEND should not have the might to stand before Naija, but do you think anyone is willing to fight for Naija? Nigerians love to sabotage their own projects. Whilst Naija is fighting MEND, one military commander will be selling them weapons through the back door. . . . .MEND cannot defeat Naija, but they can fight them to a stalemate, no doubt.

nuzo:

And you think the FG will be willing to take that option again?
A repeat of the Odi incident will bring nigeria to a total collapse.

asha 80:

Most of us are taking this thing lightly until it is blows up into full scale war.

blacksta:

I agree - the taliban also could not match the firepower of America but have been so far effective . Have you heard guerrilla warfare. 21st century paramilitary does not wear uniform or have tanks and is a faceless fighter.

Tha_dude:

The fact that mend could make use of a remote control toy plane wit an inbuilt cam for overhead security tell me FG is in trouble. This isnt the 1960 biafran war??, making an explosive device today is at everyone's finger tip, Same goes with making a deadly gas. The Yaradua shouldnt think the stones of aso rock can protect him anylonger or the thousand of troops count?
The Nigerian military still lives in the 60s they dont have the ability to fight an invincible war, for this reason mend can bring the FG to their kneels, especially if they take the war to Abuja. Like the palestine took their struggle to Israel in the late 90s/2000. FG will be needing more troops to protect the capital city.
FG should take the opening space they have right now to negiotiate and call for a SNC. Before mend put their reserve option into play, which will signal the end of Nigeria, suicide bombing will turn Nigeria into ash and when it begins it will be difficult to stop. because anyone that feels cheated then will strap him self and detonate.
Besides many of the those in the Nigerian army would gladly join mend if they had the opportunity they are tired of doing all the shootings and getting peanuts as salary while those in agbada seat in a room and share ghana-must-go bags full of naira.

Nigeria watch out, biafra learn!!!