Nigeria's MEND Guerillas Threaten More Attacks In The Oil Rich Delta

Nigerian Militants Threaten New Attacks In Oil-Rich Niger Delta -- Bloomberg Businessweek

Feb. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Nigeria’s main militant group in the oil-rich Niger River delta said it’s planning more attacks after it damaged a pipeline belonging to a unit of Italy’s Eni SpA.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said in an e-mailed statement today that the Feb. 4 attack affected 200,000 barrels a day. Rome-based Eni said yesterday it lost “around 4,000” barrels per day of “equity production” from the incident. The pipeline carries crude to an export terminal in the coastal town of Brass, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) southwest of the oil-industry hub of Port Harcourt, said MEND’s spokesman, Jomo Gbomo.

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More News On Militant Attacks In Nigeria's Oil-Rich Niger Delta

With oil pipeline attack, Niger Delta rebels announce return -- Christian Science Monitor
Nigeria military confirms militants used dynamite to bomb Eni SpA pipeline in oil-rich delta -- Washington Post/AP
Nigerian militants claim attack on oil pipeline -- IOL News
Nigeria oil militants Mend 'hit Eni Bayelsa pipeline' -- BBC
Nigerian Militants Attack Eni Oil Pipeline in Delta -- New York Times/Reuters
Oil Pipeline in Niger Delta Attacked by Militants -- Voice of America
Nigerian militants attack Eni oil pipeline in delta -- Reuters
Army condemns attack on Agip oil pipeline -- Vanguard
Who are Nigeria's Mend oil militants? -- BBC

is Civil War In Nigeria's Oil Rich Delta Region At An End?

Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua. Photo form The Daily Nation

Last Known Rebel Leader Disarms In Nigeria's Delta -- Reuters

OPOROZA, Nigeria (Reuters) - Nigeria's last prominent militant leader agreed to halt fighting in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta and surrendered his weapons on Sunday in return for an unconditional pardon.

Tompolo, whose gunmen were behind many of the attacks against Nigeria's oil industry, handed over rocket launchers, machine guns and explosives to Defense Minister Godwin Abbe at a ceremony in his camp in Oporoza in the creeks of Delta state.

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More News On Nigeria

Nigerian militant leader accepts amnesty offer -- AP
More Nigerian Militants Give Up Arms Ahead of Amnesty Deadline -- Voice of America
Nigerian rebels opt for peace -- The Daily Nation
Nigeria Says Amnesty Successful as Tompolo Disarms -- Bloomberg
Senior rebels disarm in Nigeria's oil-rich Delta -- CNN
Thousands cram into boats to see top rebel disarm -- Angola Press
Leading Nigeria oil rebel disarms -- BBC
Militants give up guns for promise of jobs -- ABC News (Australia)
FACTBOX-Three key militant leaders in Nigeria's oil delta -- Reuters

Nigeria Rebels Declare 'Oil War'

A naval officer assembles his machine gun before starting to patrol the restive oil-rich Niger Delta region. The most prominent militant group in oil-rich southern Nigeria, MEND, said it had declared an "oil war" and threatened all international industry vessels that approach the region. (AFP/File/Pius Otomi Ekpei)

Militants Says Clashes With Nigerian Army Mean War
-- Yahoo News/AP

LAGOS, Nigeria - The main militant group in Nigeria's southern oil region declared a state of war Sunday after two days of clashes with government forces, launching reprisal raids and raising the specter of more conflict in Africa's biggest oil producer.

The group warned international oil companies to avoid the region or take "a foolhardy risk of attack."

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta has mostly focused on hobbling Nigeria's oil industry since it emerged nearly three years ago, bombing pipelines in hopes of forcing the federal government to send more money to the impoverished oil-producing south.

But a military task force involving marine, land and air forces have stepped up their anti-militant activities in recent weeks. On Sunday, militants said they attacked soldiers protecting sites run by Chevron Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell — payback for a rare ground battle Saturday when the armed forces attacked a militant base camp.

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More News On Nigeria Oil Unrest

Militant group in Nigeria 'declares war on oil industry' -- Yahoo News/AFP
Nigeria rebels declare 'oil war' -- CNN
Nigerian militants threaten tankers, pipelines in 'oil war' -- Calgary Herald
Militants says clashes with Nigerian army mean war -- International Herald Tribune
Nigeria militants warn of oil war -- BBC
Chevron confirms attack on Nigeria oil platform -- Reuters Alert
Chevron confirms shooting incident at Nigeria facility -- Africaisia
From Boom to Bust in Nigeria -- Washington Post

My Comment: Angola exports more oil than Nigeria now, in fact Nigerian oil exports are at a quarter from what they were a year ago. Violence, crime, grinding poverty, a complete collapse of law and order, ethnic hatreds that are now coming to a boil .... the promise of the boom that Nigeria was to receive from its oil exports have vanished, and the Nigerians have no one to blame but themselves.

Nigeria: Sliding Toward The Abyss?

From Strategy Page:

June 3, 2008: The government is not making much progress in shutting down the tribal rebels, particularly MEND, in the Niger Delta. Stealing oil and kidnapping foreign oil workers for ransom has become too lucrative for too many people for the police and military to cope. About a quarter of the nation's oil production has been halted by the unrest. A newly president, who promised to crack down on corruption and ineffective government, is showing signs of tolerating the same old bad habits.

Additional News From Other Sources:
Nigeria: Oil and Gas Operations Fragile - Shell -- All Africa.com
Corruption blamed for Nigeria's failure sluggish development -- China View
Oil Brings Revenue, Problems to Africa -- Voice Of America

My Comment: A culture of corruption and lawlessness was already present before the discovery of oil in Nigeria .... or for that matter the entire continent of Africa. Until this culture changes, there is no hope for justice and sustainable development to occur in Africa.