By Emma Amaize & George Onah
PORT-HARCOURT — THE Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) says it has destroyed an oil well head at Cawthorn Channel 1, which supplies crude to Bonny loading terminal in Rivers State. The group also said it had disowned former Commissioner for Information, Chief E.K Clark “who claims to speak for us”.
In a related development, the Zonal and Operations Controller of the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Warri, Dr. Henry Oke has said the problem of non-supply of crude oil to the nation’s refineries may be over in two weeks if militants do not disrupt again the ongoing repairs on the bombed Chanomi Creeks crude pipeline in Delta State by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
In an online message to Vanguard signed by Jomo Gbomo, yesterday, it said “at the appropriate time, we will be putting together a team of notable Nigerians drawn from every tribe in the Niger Delta and some others outside the region to represent the group.”
MEND also accused the JTF of abducting a traditional ruler in Egbema, Delta State, Isaac Thikan, and that it feared that the man may have been killed, explaining that it was waiting to ascertain the situation.
I’m not aware – Boyloaf
A senior operative of MEND, “General” Boyloaf who was contacted by Vanguard on the matter said, “I am not aware of MEND disowning Chief Clark. As far as I am concerned, Chief Clark is a respected leader of the South-South, why should MEND disown him”.
MEND can’t disown us — Clark
Responding to the attack by MEND, an obviously enraged Chief Clark said, “Who is MEND to disown Niger-Delta elders, who are they, how can they say they are disowning us, what power do they have, we are doing things as elders and I don’t even know the person that is speaking for them, if he says he is disowning us, he is on his own, we don’t know him”.
He said he was in contact with Ateke Tom, Boyloaf, Tompolo and Farah Dagogo and none of them told him that they were not satisfied with the role being played by the Niger-Delta elders and queried, “who is MEND fighting for therefore if we the elders cannot speak for the people of the Niger-Delta, do MEND have a greater stake in the region than us, how can they say we are speaking for MEND, we speak for the region, who are they to make such statement, don’t they have respect for elders”.
Chief Clark said if some few persons in MEND were opposed to amnesty for selfish reasons against the overall interest of the region, they should not allow their personal interests to becloud the larger interests of the region, saying, “as far as I am concerned, various militant leaders across the Niger-Delta have spoken about their attitude to the amnesty, I do not know where MEND people, who their leaders are and who is behind them.
“Are they saying that enough is not enough of the killings of innocent people in the Niger-Delta by soldiers under the guise of searching for militants that killed some of their men?
Our women and children are loitering about in the bush and refugee camp, I was told that in the past two weeks, about 60 women have delivered in the bush, hospital and relief camp at Ogbe-Ijoh, are you saying we should allow them to continue to suffer and not return to their homes, what are they saying..
“MEND had declared a truce in the past, why should there not be truce now? They are saying that Henry Okah should be released, have I not been championing this for a long time now, why then are they disowning us, have we not defended them enough? We are saying there should be peace in the Niger-Delta and we stand by it”, he declared.
JTF denies abduction
But in a swift reaction, the JTF spokesman, Col. Rabe Abubakar, in a statement, yesterday, said the force embarks of freeing hostages and does not abduct anyone, questioning the veracity of MEND’s claim on the abduction.
“The Joint Task Force Operation Restore Hope has in recent times been faced with different kinds of allegations by the faceless group masquerading as so-called freedom fighters under the auspices of MEND.
“These allegations have all been found to be baseless and unfounded and we thank God that the general public has long ago come to terms with the antics of MEND who have now lost credibility and are regarded as criminals and enemy of the Niger Delta region.
“The attention of the JTF has once again been drawn to another allegation by MEND that the security outfit has kidnapped and killed a traditional chief of Egbema in Delta State.
“This statement is not only unfounded and false but a calculated attempt by MEND and their cohorts to turn back the hand of time in derailing the peace efforts of the Government at all levels.
“It is not in our character to arrest innocent and respected citizens not to talk of a whole traditional ruler whom we have no business with.”
MEND explains attack
“Showing no signs of abating, ‘Hurricane Piper Alpha’ which upgraded to ‘Hurricane Moses’ lashed out at the Shell Well Head 20, located at Cawthorn Channel 1 today (yesterday), July 05, 2009 at about 0300 Hrs leaving total destruction in it’s wake. The facility connects to the Bonny loading terminal in Rivers state.
“Just in case the JTF spokesman denies that this attack ever took place, no one should be surprised.
“For the JTF to deny that HRM Isaac Thikan, the traditional ruler they abducted is not in their custody should be a worrisome development and may be a confirmation that he has been actually killed. Time will tell.
“Hurricane Moses is unique. It will combine dialogue in tandem with phased attacks that increase in intensity until its goal has been achieved.”
Crude-feed to refineries affected — DPR
Already, the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) has shut operations because of lack of crude while the Port Harcourt Refining Company and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company are also down.
Dr. Oke who spoke in an exclusive interview with Vanguard shortly after commissioning a new office of the DPR at the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) depot in Warri said the production of the oil companies in Delta state was near zero at the moment as a result of the attacks on oil installations by the Movement for Emancipation of the Niger-Delta.
Already, the Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has ordered some of its workers to stay at home until the precarious situation improved, he said.
The DPR boss said the SPDC obtained a permission from the organization to effect repairs on the pipeline, not too long ago, adding, “It will take about two weeks to do it, we do not expect queues at the petrol stations for now in Delta state because a few days ago, a ship berthed with petroleum products and I expect that it will be better this week. I am satisfied with what they are doing”.
IS HIGH TIME FOR AFRICAN ‘S TO RIALISE THAT EUROPIANS DO NOT WANT PEACE IN AFRICAN BECAUSE OF THY SELFISH INTEREST . YARA DUA BELIEVE IT OR NOT RIVERS OF BLOOD WILL NEVER BRING PEACE IN NIGER DELTA LATHER IT WILL BRING MORE CALAMITY . EUROPIAN’S ARE FEEDING WITH THE FRESH AND BLOOD OF BLACK MAN . MY BELOVED PRISIDENT REMEMBER WE ARE ALL BLACK BROTHER WHITE MAN DON’T LIKE WE ALL
@Culio and Jerry
When Saro-Wiwa and associates were hanged, that wasnt enough. Acid was then used to pulverise them. Yes acid. thats the cabal we have to deal with. so the 2 of you are still in dream land.
I THINK THE TRUE DEFINITION OF CRIMINALITY WILL GIVE A SENSE OF JUDGEMENT ABOUT THE POSITION OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND MEND.
THE ISOLATION OF PEACE ,WITHOUT THE TRUE SENSE OF EQUITY AND JUSTICE…….WILL ONLY THROW MORE LIGHT ON A SHORT TERM SOLUTION TO A LINGERING QUESTION FOR OVER 50YEARS.
MY SUGGESTION IS TO VISIT THE WILLICK COMMISSION REPORT AND MAKE SOME AMENDS.
For over 48 years our elders have led us in the wrong direction. It is only someone insane that likes bloodshed. The policies of the Northern power brokers have insidiously spiflicated the Niger Delta for over 48yrs. Now they are using the JTF to openly kill rape and emasculate us. Some of our chiefs and elders have preferred to sell their children like some of our fore-fathers did during the slave trade era. Some of our elders prefer to sell off the inheritance of their children by being stooges of the Northern Mafia. We the children have therefore decided to disregard our elders who are not trustworthy. We will look for other elders who are fearless like the great JaJa, NaNa etc. We prefer to die fighting than to be emasculated. What MEND demands is something very easy to grant if the government is sincere. Anyone who postpones the implementation of true federalism and SNC for one second is a wicked individual. MEND should not disarm for any reason whatsoever while the JTF is still in the region killing, raping, destroying our people and land. MEND has proven several times that the JTF is a squad of liars and ill-trained soldiers. Several times the JTF has denied the claims of MEND only for the claims to be proven true. This country called Nigeria cannot thrive in an atmosphere of distrust, injustice, vileness and hatred. It is only the convocation of a SNC and/or the implementation of true federalism that the name ‘Nigeria’ will make any meaning. We cannot stupidly continue to postpone what needs to be done! MEND and other well meaning youths have decided to take our destiny in our hands and fight till we die! We know this fact- ‘if we die today fighting for justice we lose nothing because die we must someday’
MEND has deviated from the emancipation of niger delta to annihilation of niger delta,they are hinging their dastard act of kidnapping,maiming and wanton destruction of oil facilities on the pretext that okah must be released but the federal goverment confirmed that okah was amongst the beneficiaries of the amnesty yet they are still carrying out the destruction of oil facilities,these MEND criminals masquarading as freedom fighters used this same ‘free okah ’slogan when depriye alamiesiegha was held by EFCC,by the time okah is released what will they agitate for?it would be better for MEND to read the hand righten on the fall and surrender their arms and accept the amnesty because when the cookie starts crumbling there will be no where to run when the amnesty expires in october….
@Culio
so what is your preferred solution?
Niger Delta problem is not “DEVELOPEM” problem but “JUSTICE” problem. For peace to reign in NIGER DELTA and nigeria, the nigerian government MUST do the following:ABROGATION of nigeria government decrees: “PETROLEUM RESOURCES DECREE, 1969″; ” LAND USE DECREE #6, 1978″; and “NATIONAL INLAND WATERWAYS DECREE #13, 1997″ – decrees which formally rob the Niger Delta and Biafra of their natural rights and natural resources. Any other thing outside abrogation of these decrees are mere wasting of time. These people will not stop until they get what they want. I have already told Mr. President Umaru Yar`Adua to call our elders or ACF for us to see how we can abandon southerners to burn in their oil fire and find our way before we get humiliated by the Southerners but my brother is still sleeping, dosing in his bed. I have now discovered why they call him Alhaji go slow. Enough is enough, let`s leave the South alone and build our groundnut piramide again. This will create a lot of job for our brothers almajiris and peace will reign between us and other nations.
culio,mister i too know so tey in your opinion an organisation like amnesty international with its world wide reputation is one sided and not being fair.tht silly and wild accusation of of yours regarding amnesty internatinal reveals the kind of silly mind set you have.as long as anything remotely gives credence to niger delta and niger deltans idiots like you instinctively react against.it is not your fault .i understand .Enemies of niger delta like you can’t help yourselves. it is in your parasitic genes to always side with injustice,lies and distortion of the facts as it concerns the niger delta question.Amnesty international have lent their credible voice to the agitation for justice in niger delta.And no amount of distortion and half assed insults from the likes of you and your ilk will change it.you can continue to bury your head in the sand like an unreasonalble ostrich stupidly refusig to confront the truth about the root cause of the unrest in the niger delta.and tht is the implementation of true fiscal federalism in nigeria.