IN THE early hours of June 16th a pipeline belonging to Nigeria’s state-owned oil company exploded. This was the latest in a string of attacks claimed by the Niger Delta Avengers, a new group taking out pipelines and oil platforms in the southern, oil-pumping part of the country. Since it started wreaking havoc in January production has plummeted to its lowest levels in two decades. Nigeria now churns out about 1.9m barrels of black stuff per day, about a third less than the government budgeted for this year. The militants seem sophisticated—one of their attacks took out a 250,000-b/d Shell export terminal—and they threaten “untold terror” ahead for the oil sector. But who are the Niger Delta Avengers?

The Avengers are not the first militant group to rise up in the Niger Delta. Oil was discovered in its swamps in the late 1950s and remains Nigeria's biggest export today. Yet much of the revenue has been squandered, leaving the Delta polluted and poor. At the last count (in 2010) more than half of its people lived on less than a dollar a day. In the early 2000s, young men rose up in a violent campaign for greater control of the region’s resources. Their Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) crippled crude production and drove international oil companies offshore. But they were bought off with an amnesty in 2009 and the attacks started to peter out.

Today’s militants probably number just a few hundred men. Among their fast-swelling ranks are many fighters from the former days. They are irritated that the cash-strapped government of Muhammadu Buhari, which came into power last year, has slashed the amnesty budget by two-thirds. Mr Buhari, a northerner, wants to phase out the payments entirely. The Avengers say they must continue; they think his anti-corruption campaign targets allies of his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, who hails from the Delta. And they want 60% of oil blocks returned to their people. Less is known about their leadership. Political sponsorship has been suggested but remains unproven. An old kingpin known as “Tompolo” has been fingered as their leader. The new government axed his lucrative pipeline-security contract and he is currently dodging arrest. Tompolo and the Avengers deny any link.

The militants say they do not want to spill blood. But they are heavily armed and in communication with angsty independence campaigners in the south-eastern region which calls itself Biafra. Smaller groups are popping up all over the Delta. Nigeria is already fighting one war, against Boko Haram jihadists in the north-east. It cannot afford another in the south. At its peak, oil accounted for 75% of government revenue—in the first quarter of this year that figure had fallen to just over 50%. As things stand, the attacks might cost Nigeria 40% of this year’s crude earnings. Local banks, which are exposed to indigenous producers, are clocking up bad debts. Power plants, which rely on gas to fuel their turbines, are turning on fewer lights than normal (which is a feat). The best hope will be a negotiated solution. Yet even that would not solve the fundamental problem: unless Nigeria pulls more of the Delta out of poverty, a new group will soon spring up.

Awwwwn this is so romantic!

Babe misguided goons that have us by the proverbial balls. Tryna get their own share of the national cake

makydebbie:
its so romantic...i'm touched..baby mii how is you?

I'm fine boo


You?

Goomoreen

makydebbie:
mooreen oo...just some diary stuff...n i'm outta here

hmmm.. cool!



I never left here tho

makydebbie:
thanks boo...

welcome

AirSultan:
Awwwwn this is so romantic!

What's romantic? The bombings? Did you mean to post that in a different thread?

makydebbie:
*yawns*...make i sleep small...bye dear

Aii, sleep well hon

SmartMugu:


What's romantic? The bombings? Did you mean to post that in a different thread?

I think you would want to direct that question to the op.



Look at the section she posted this in..


I was only being sarcastic egbon

AirSultan:
I think you would want to direct that question to the op.



Look at the section she posted this in..


I was only being sarcastic egbon

I knew it was just a joke...

SmartMugu:
I knew it was just a joke...

Aii bruh.. morning.

That long post is crap!

Simple definition: Niger Delta avengers is the next group made up of fools who are letting their senses get exploited.

Peace out.

They can't have me believe they're fighting for the poor masses by this measure, personal interests sponsored by some now hungry/deprived invisible suckers who are politicians seems more like it. Okay, they talk about poverty which is a good representation of how partial the govt might have been with the allocation of resources, but the poverty in Maiduguri alone is more than that in any other state in the south. If the govt of the day really means business, they should just wipe them clean like the nuisance/dirt that they are. No compromise, no negotiations! If this democracy will continue holding progression back, let the military take over for things to go swifter... Just saying tho