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Monday, February 6, 2012

MEND LOGO



MEND resumes attacks

With the Boko Haram menace yet unresolved, the Federal Government may have additional crisis on its hands as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) resumed attacks on oil facilities at the weekend.
The militant group destroyed an Agip truck line in Brass, Bayelsa State. As a result of the attack, soldiers are now on red alert.Some members of the group including its leader, Henry Okah, are standing trial over allegation of terrorism in South Africa and Nigeria.
MEND spokesman Jomo Gbomo, in a statement, claiming responsibility, said though the attack was relatively insignificant, it is to serve as a “reminder of our presence in the creeks of the Niger Delta and a sign of things to come”.
According to him, the group had earlier warned about the inability of President Goodluck Jonathan to lead Nigeria and events of the last few months have vindicated its position that he (Jonathan) cannot move Nigeria forward.
He noted that instead of addressing “serious issues facing the nation and its citizens,” the President continues to spend public funds on ex-militants who have turned themselves to his praise-singers.
While decrying the insensitivity of the government to the plight of the Niger Delta people over oil spills in the region, MEND served notice that South African investments would be attacked and security forces targeted in its next phase of attacks.
It claimed responsibility for the attack on the house of the Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe, adding that the public should henceforth heed warnings on impending bombing.
The statement reads in part: “Our silence thus far, has been strategic and at the right time, we will reduce Nigerian oil production to zero and drive off our land, thieving oil companies.
British Petroleum is prepared to pay $25 billion compensation for the Gulf of Mexico oil spills, yet for worse spills in the Niger Delta; our people are paid with death at the hands of the Nigerian military. In the dark days to come, MTN, SACOIL, and other South African investments will pay a heavy price for the interference of Jacob Zuma in the legitimate fight for justice in the Niger Delta, by its people. The South African President has reduced himself to the position of a hired thug for Goodluck Jonathan.
“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) understands the negative impact our assault on the Nigerian oil industry will have on the ordinary citizen in a country which relies almost entirely on one source of revenue. “In this new phase of our struggle for justice, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) will pay considerable attention to dealing with security forces and treacherous indigenes of the Niger Delta.
“In this regard, MEND wishes to confirm that our fighters were responsible for the attack at Ogbobagbene in Burutu local government area of Delta State, on the compound of Godsday Orubebe, Minister of the Niger Delta.
“The general public is again advised to take very seriously, any warnings of impending bombings. Such warnings will always precede a bombing, providing sufficient time for evacuation.
“Specific members of the security services and the media will in addition to e-mails, receive notifications of an impending attack, by SMS in order to minimize the possibility of civilian casualties”, MEND said in the statement.
Meanwhile, the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) Operation Pulo Shield has condemned the attack on the Agip truck line. The security outfit in its reaction to the threat by the MEND, to resume attacks in the region urged the people to join it in the fight against those it refered to as ‘criminals”
JTF Media Officer, Lt Col Timothy Antigha who expressed concern that after the Federal Government had taken urgent steps to address the infrastructural deficits highlighted by the agitation in the region, said “people who were never part of the agitation have emerged and want to claim amnesty and its benefits by force.” He explained that it was not possible to operate an inelastic amnesty programme. According to him, “Niger Deltans should be mindful of people who are out to swindle them by wrongfully appropriating the identity of the erstwhile leadership of MEND to curry sympathy for their selfish and criminal interests”
He said: “JTF calls on the good people of the Niger Delta region to rise up and join the security agencies to defeat the evil that is rearing its head, by giving timely and accurate information on these charlatans through the usual channels.” He warned, however, “there could be collateral damage, if individuals and communities decide to provide sanctuary to these enemies of the society.”

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