After the commando style attack by MEND to secure the release of their leader, Sobomabo George in Port Harcourt , afternoon January 28, 2002, I have come to the complete conclusion that the Nigerian government is a shameless and cowardly liar and a toothless bulldog. Whence will our all knowing president (“after God, it is me before other Nigerians”), the baba and his ill advisers wake up to the truth and stop their simplistic (mis)definition of the Niger Delta militancy as common criminality?

The militants of the Niger Delta have superiority of military strength over the Nigerian military and police. Why do I say so? Events in the past one year in the Niger Delta, which climaxed with the event of January 28, 2007, present the government forces as “dead”. I first heard the news on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa broadcast on the morning of Monday, January 29.  Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu then gave a statement on the “successful” invasion by the militants. No news medium carried the graphic story of Ogbaudu’s press conference better than Thisday on its cover of Tuesday, January 30, 2007.  I have pondered over the following issues after reading the Thisday report. In fact, it can be said that the Nigerian military system has deeply collapsed like almost all other sectors of the Nigerian structure, and cannot as it is, stand against the militants, and here are some of the issues I pondered over:

1. The militant’s operation to free George was carried out successfully within one hour (or less!) of his arrest. Within one hour, militants had communicated, strategized, mobilized and hit off the operation. Is this the group that Aso Rock likes to define as common criminals? Well, Ogbaudu, himself an agent of Abuja explained it himself “that the militants were armed to the teeth and had better understanding of the creeks and used the knowledge to pull the stunts that caused the disturbance on Sunday which lasted for over four hours”.  Of course, they have better knowledge, that is why all, ALL the attempts by government forces to fight militants backfires on Aso Rock. The outcome of these attacks is refugees, refugees and refugees: innocent and defenseless women, children and the aged. Militants operate in the creeks. Aso Rock has boasted that they know where the militants are, but how come each time Aso Rock goes on the offensive, all we see are defenseless refugees?  
2. According to Police Commissioner Ogbaudu, the militants sold a dummy by first making a bogus attack as if the Port Harcourt prison was their target. Attention was diverted towards the prison only for the militants to swoop simultaneously on not one, NOT ONE(!), but TWO police formations, the state CID (each state CID is a well-known dungeon and torture chamber that even the must ruthless criminals are wary of) as well as the Central Police Station! And somebody would tell me these are mere criminals exhibiting criminality? No. Even a five-year old school kid knows better.
3. That fifty militants would come from the water front in many speed boats and return after four hours of fighting the government forces shows that, they have a superior communication network that cannot be matched by the government. FOUR HOURS, FOUR HOURS is the militants left with their “prize”.
4. The BBC Report (in the 9^th paragraph) and other local independent media reports clearly told how a reinforcement of men of the army scampered away in the face of superior firepower from the militants (Are these the policemen that chase and maim and shoot innocent and peaceful protesters? Chei!). I agree with the BBC report. Who would blame the scampering soldiers? Where’s the motivation for “patriots” to die fighting, with the treatment government metes out to widows and orphans of officers fallen during active service.
5. Then the militants demonstrate superior propaganda tactics by releasing a statement through a “rival” group called COMA. According to Thisday, “Coalition for Militant Action in the Niger Delta (COMA) in a statement by its leader, Alaye Teme, dissociated itself from the mayhem and rather called for the immediate release of Alhaji Mujadin Asari Dokubo from detention to stem the ugly tide.” Common criminals indeed!

    

   Yet Ogbaudu’s boss (one AIG Adewale Ajakaiye) came shortly after Ogbaudu’s “shame conference” to echo the often cowardly, empty voice of their masters in Abuja . Hear him as reported by Thisday: “he described the incident as unfortunate especially as regards the inability of the police to know on time about the planned attack.

   He however assured that they were on top of the situation, adding that they were going to win the war against militancy. He however said he was not surprised by the attack.”

    

   No wonder the government itself is confused and does not show common understanding in defining these arm-bearing youths who are threatening the very future of the oil industry. While facilitating(?) the recent forum of Niger Delta “governments” (not people) in Aso Rock, Baba labeled the militants as “criminals” perpetrating mere “criminality”, but in a confusing twist continued that the problem is not “political” but “social”. Baba went on to say their (Aso Rock’s) patience must not be taken for a weakness and that they know where the criminals are and will go after them. Haba! How come you did not go after them and allowed them to be kidnapping foreigners recklessly over the past one year, and threatening the survival of your oil industry? But the Commissioner of Police and his AIG know better, they called them “militants”. My Oxford dictionary defines a militant (adjective) thus: “using, or willing to use, force or strong pressure to achieve your aims, especially to achieve social and political change” (emphasis mine).

    

   It is self-deceit for anyone to lump these complex and sophisticated network of resilient armed fighters with common criminals. There may be some criminal acts by these groups but the fact of why they are carrying sophisticated arms; why their organization and tactics are getting increasingly sophisticated; why their information networks are getting increasingly global and their demands remaining consistent (e.g. free Asari Dokubo, greater resource control) must not be lost.

    

   It is said that the first step to managing or treating a disease is proper diagnosis. If the diagnosis is wrong, the disease can only get worse.  We have a very big problem in our land and the earlier we make a proper diagnosis, the better. We better stop playing the ostrich and treat this as the deep socio-political problem that it truly is. Else, we continue to shout “criminals and criminality” at our peril.

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 01.02.2007 12:00

ocnus  Villager

# 2 Human Rights Watch has just published a very interesting study on the waste of resources in Rivers State, "Chop Fine: The Human Rights Impact of Local Government Corruption and Mismanagement in Rivers State, Nigeria." It is about 107 pages long so I shall not reproduce it but you can find the PDF files The report details the misuse of public funds by local officials in the geographic heart of Nigeria’s booming oil industry, and the harmful effects on primary education and basic health care. The report is based on scores of interviews in Rivers state with government and donor agency officials, civil servants. In 2006, the Rivers state government’s budget was US$1.3 billion, larger than the budgets of many countries in West Africa. But that windfall has not translated into efforts by local governments to bolster basic education and health care systems that have teetered on the edge of collapse for many years. This isn't just another attack on Peter Odili. It is an analysis of the 'leakages' of the system and the inability of state and local governments to deliver services to the people. As Magnus Abe states, it is not a new development which arose eight years ago; it is endemic in the system and is a problem which is not being solved or even addressed. Posted by ocnus| 01.02.2007 12:34

abdulmumin  Villager

# 3 Bravo! Our leaders are forever playing the ostrich while we the followers especially the elitist are too comfy to speak out. The Chickens for sure will come home to roost and then it might just be too late. Too too late .................... Posted by abdulmumin| 02.02.2007 05:49

Son of the Delta  Villager

# 4 This is what Nigeria means for some! February 2nd, 2007 Nigeria major source of Shell, Exxon Mobil $64bn profit E-MAIL THIS PRINT THIS Most Viewed Nigeria featured prominently as a cash cow yesterday with the world’s biggest oil giants Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil declaring huge profits and attributing the unprecedented gains to improved returns from operations in the country. Shell reported record annual profits of $25.36bn (£12.94bn) for 2006 just as their United States counterpart Exxon Mobil declared a net profit of $39.5bn. A representative of Shell told the BBC that growth in deep water gas production off Nigeria and strong operations in the US helped boost the fortunes of Europe’s second-biggest oil company. Exxon Mobil, the world’s largest oil company, has reported the highest-ever annual profit by a US business. As for Exxon, its 2006 net profit totalled $39.5bn (£20bn), a 9% increase on $36.1bn in 2005. Its 2006 revenues rose to $377.6bn, from $286bn a year earlier. Global oil prices hit a high of $78 a barrel last summer at the time of the conflict in southern Lebanon although they have since fallen back to $58. Petrol prices have also since retreated after reaching highs of $3 a gallon in the US in August. The decline in oil and petrol prices towards the end of the 2006 meant Exxon’s profits for October to December dipped 4.3%. Its net profit for the fourth quarter fell to $10.3bn (£5.2bn) from $10.7bn for the same period in 2005. Exxon’s 2006 profits were 69% higher than those of its Anglo-Dutch rival Royal Dutch Shell, which also reported its annual results on Thursday. Posted by Son of the Delta| 03.02.2007 06:28

Abraxas  Villager

# 5 News Blackout Imposed on Filipino Abduction Source: Oyibosonline.com As negotiations for the release of the 24 Filipino seafarers in Nigeria enter a “critical" phase, the foreign affairs department has become tightlipped on the progress of the talks with the Nigerian militants. “After today’s press conference, there will be news black out because negotiations are critical," Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Eduardo Malaya said Friday. This developed a day after a wire agency came out with photographs of the Filipino hostages with their masked, armed captors. The photographs were taken on the creeks of Niger Delta. Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Esteban Conejos refused to provide information on the status pf the negotiations with the Nigerian militants. He simply said negotiations were “still ongoing." “Talks are ongoing as we speak. Because of the sensitive nature of the case, I can not disclose more details," Conejos told newsmen. On Thursday, Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria Masaranga Umpa reported to the DFA that Secretary to the State Government of Delta State and chief government negotiator Barr. Ovie Omo-Agege admitted to him that the Delta State government “has a little difficulty in dealing with the abductors, as they have made some political demands." But the chief negotiator “believes that this development can be worked out." However, the ambassador said the seafarers snatched from a German cargo ship on Jan 20 in the Upper Niger Delta are “in good condition" and "all looking well." “We assure you that that the 24 seamen are in good physical condition based on eyewitness accounts," Conejos echoed on Friday. It was learned that the Filipino seamen, led by Capt. Ruben Roble, have been tightly guarded by heavily-armed men in masks and black overall suit. Conejos said 21 of the seamen are in the village and three others have remained inside the vessel Baco Liner II to prevent the ship from drifting off the sea. While neither Umpa nor the DFA has not said what the specific political demands were, the militants calling themselves as Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) have been demanding the release of separatist prisoners in Nigeria in exchange for the freedom of their captors. Earlier wire reports said MEND, a militant indigenous people's movement, has been seeking the release of two jailed ethnic ljaw leaders -- Mujahid Dokubo-Asari who was charged with treason, and Diepreye Alamic yeseigha, a former governor of Bayelsa State charged with corruption. Conejos said he was not aware of the demands of the hostage-takers because the Philippine government has not been involved in the negotiations. He said he was also not aware of any deadline given by the militants. “We are not negotiating directly with this group (and ransom) is pure speculation at this time. You can not give a deadline on this kind of situation" he asserted. GMANews.TV contacted Philhammonia Ship Agency Inc., the seafarers’ shipping company in the Philippines, but it refused to give information on the abducted Filipinos. A sister of one of the abducted seafarers informed GMANews.TV on Thursday that officials of the company called the relatives of the seafarers to a meeting on Wednesday. “The shipping agency called a meeting with families of the abducted (seamen) yesterday. No update from the government. The rebels don’t want media. My brother (is) believed to be on the ship with the captain, chiefmate and cook. There are 30 rebels staying on the ship. (They are) tribal people with painted faces. All forms of communication (were) cut. They are moving the hostages," the relative said. Earlier, POEA administrator Rosalinda Baldoz said her office has been closely coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Philhammonia, not only on the identities of the abducted seamen but also to work out measures that could ensure their safe release. The 24 Filipino crewmen of a cargo ship operated by Germany's Baco Liner 1 were taken off a vessel in Chanomi Creek in Delta States. The shipping line runs between Europe and several ports across West Africa. The ship was headed for the port of Warri, capital of Delta State in Nigeria The government has suspended the deployment of Filipino workers to Nigeria following the abduction. Umpa had a coordination meeting with Omo-Agege at the Delta State government annex office in the capital of Warri on Wednesday regarding negotiations for the release of the Filipino hostages who were snatched on Jan 20. “The chief government negotiator informed the Ambassador that he had personally gone to Chinoma Creek the previous day and saw for himself that the Filipinos were well. He also articulated the State government’s assurance that ‘all efforts are still being exerted to effect their release’," the DFA said in a press statement. Further, Umpa reported that because of the constant monitoring and pressure from Delta State Governor James Ibori, a Delta State Security Council meeting was called on Wednesday and discussed the negotiations for the release of the Filipino captives. The governor, deputy governor and the commanding generals of the different armed services of Delta State participated in the meeting. Umpa reported that he has been in daily contact with Klaus Stefsen, general manager of the shipping company that owns Baco Liner 2, the German cargo ship employing the 24 Filipino seafarers. He said Stefsen informed him that the local pilot of the vessel had seen the Filipinos, and has confirmed that they are still in good condition. The Philippine government has asked the Nigerian government to rule out military rescue operations for the release of the 24 Filipino seamen. "Military operation is not an option. We want to put our Filipino seafarers out of harm's way so we appealed to the Nigerian government to forego any operation," said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos. The Philippine government has repeatedly conveyed to Nigerian officials that it wanted a "peaceful resolution" to the hostage crisis, he added. "If there's a way to resolve this peacefully, we want to exhaust them," he said, adding that he is not aware of the demands set by the kidnappers in exchange for the release of the Filipinos. He also said it has not been confirmed if MEND masterminded the abduction and there is no deadline set by the kidnappers to resolve this event. "MEND, according to reports, has denied involvement. But this movement may have splinter groups. There are other militant groups operating there and the Nigerian government is in discussion with the group holding the Filipinos," he noted. Based on an embassy report, Conejos said the Filipinos have been moved to another camp, but remains in a village in Warri. Umpa leads a six-person Embassy team in Warri, monitoring the situation there and coordinates with the Delta State government as the phase of negotiations enters the second week. Posted by Abraxas| 03.02.2007 06:55