Leadership (Abuja)
Austine Unoarumi
27 May 2008
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has once again claimed responsibility for an attack on a major oil pipeline yesterday in Rivers State and the killing of 11 soldiers in the process, in spite of denials on the said casualties from the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in the state.
The group disclosed that the incident occurred after they had successfully sabotaged the pipeline located at Awoba flow station in Degema Local Government Area, and an attempt by a military gunboat to open fire blindly on them.
They said as heavily armed fighters, they counter-attacked.
Commenting on the incident, the spokesman of the JTF, Col. Sagir Musa, explained that contrary to widespread allegation noarmed personnel was either shot or maimed during the inferno as the incident could not be linked to militants operating in the region.
"There was no military attack or encounter along or after the area where the oil flow station pipeline is located. Therefore, the rumour that eleven soldiers were killed is not only a lie, but also a propaganda and bunkum."
Also the Rivers State police public relations officer, D.S.P. Rita Abbey, who also confirmed the incident, said even though the the cause of the explosion was yet to be ascertained, it might not be unconnected with leakages in some of the oil pipes due to its explosive contents. She maintained that the tragedy has nothing to do with militants.
Meanwhile, a team of policemen has been drafted to the scene to wade against the usual rush by residents of the area who might want to cash in on the situation to acquire oil irrespective of its consequences.
A reliable source who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity explained that the explosion was indeed the handiwork of heavily armed fighters, detonation engineers from the MEND who have vowed to sabotage the oil flow belonging to Shell.
The source refuted the allegation that no armed soldier was killed, stressing that the MEND members encountered a military gunboat which opened fire blindly on the advance guard and in the process engaged them in a counter-attack, killing in close combat all the drunken soldiers numbering 11, collecting their weapons, ammunition and bullet-proof vests before using dynamite to sink the gunboat with its dead occupants.
He maintained that two traumatised adolescent girls found in the company of the soldiers were hurt, not from the skirmish, but from gang rape by the soldiers of the Nigerian army.
Our informant described the attack as "a dedication" to the administration of Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan "who have failed after one year in office to ensure peace, security and reconciliation in the Niger Delta region."
Meanwhile, the implementation of the Niger Delta masterplan will no doubt end the restive political agitations in the Niger delta area of the country, the Federal Government has said.
According to President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, since government has identified that as a possible solution to the crisis, it will not hesitate to implement it.
Yar'Adua was briefing the new ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria, Mr. Flemming Bjok Pedersen, on the situation in the Niger Delta, at the presentation of the latter's letters of credence at State House, yesterday.
"We already have a 15-year masterplan for the comprehensive development of the Niger Delta region, and once this is implemented, the basis for the political agitation will no longer be there," he stated.
Yar'Adua said the issue of criminality and bunkering had to be separated from the genuine political agitation, adding that his Administration had reached an advanced stage in the discussions with political and community leaders, as well as the militants, in efforts to find a lasting solution.
The president said the Niger Delta was one of the priorities of the Administration, and tremendous efforts were being put into finding a solution.
Speaking on bilateral issues, he directed that arrangements be made for a Nigerian trade delegation to reciprocate the Danish trade delegation's visit of October, 2007, adding that this was one of the ways of strengthening relations.
Earlier, Mr. Pedersen had commended the president's efforts towards achieving peace in the Niger Delta and requested a reciprocal visit to his country by a Nigerian trade delegation next month.
During a separate audience, Yar'Adua told the new Singaporean ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Shabbir Hassanbhai, that Nigeria appreciated the technical cooperation between the two countries, especially in the area of training, and assured him of necessary support to make his tenure a success.
The two ambassadors, who are non-resident, expressed their condolence to Yar'Adua on the death of 46 Nigerian soldiers in an accident last week.
Meanwhile, leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta in Bayelsa State, Commander Joshua Maciver, yesterday denied the group's involvement in the plot to blow oil pipelines in the state, dismissing the allegation as not a true reflection of the MEND but belief in the Niger Delta struggle for peace and development.
He said the earlier report by the media was blown out of proportion and promised to be patient and allow the state and the federal governments to implement some of the programmes meant to alleviate the suffering of the people.
The MEND in Bayelsa State has threatened to destroy oil pipelines in the state and called on construction giant, Daewoo Nigeria Limited, and other companies operating in the state to leave in their own interest.
The rebel group also accused the Federal Government of enriching some individuals and groups in the name of peace initiatives in the oil and gas region.
The MEND leader last week met with the state chairman of the Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Chief James Jeftha, over the issue and said those involved in the issuance of the threat misconstrued his position and promised the state government of his faithfulness to the peace deal reached with militants on peace in the state.
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