Leadership (Abuja)
Osa Okhomina
26 August 2008
Yenagoa — The most prominent armed group in the country, Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), has accused the military of killing 12 people after attacking their boat.
"A civilian commercial transport boat which plies the Yenagoa-Fropa (southern Ijaw) route of Bayelsa State was attacked by the men of the military Joint Task Force (JTF) on Sunday, August 24, 2008, by about 16:30 hours," MEND said in a statement.
"The JTF's explanation of the attack, which led to the death of 12 passengers and one critically injured survivor made up of students, women and children, was that they heard the sound of gunfire minutes before the emergence of the passenger boat."
The group called for the withdrawal of soldiers from the restive region.
"This unfortunate killing of innocent civilians again calls for the replacement of the military task force with the police in civilian areas," it said, urging the Bayelsa State government to investigate the incident and compensate the families of the victims as soon as possible.
MEND, which says it is fighting for greater control of the region's oil wealth by local people, came into prominence in January 2006. It has carried out a series of violent attacks on the oil industry and kidnapped hundreds of local and expatriate workers in the region.
Several foreign firms have left the Niger Delta because of the security problems.
The unrest has reduced Nigeria's oil output by a quarter, causing it to lose its position as Africa's biggest oil producer to Angola, according to April figures from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Meanwhile, a Nigerian ship with eight crew members has been hijacked in the region, security sources said yesterday.
The "Benue", owned by service and repair firm West African Offshore Ltd (WAO), was seized on Sunday afternoon, said an official from Nigeria's national intelligence unit.
"We have received a report about the hijacking of this vessel," a security source told AFP, adding that it was seized at Bonny Channel, off the coastal Rivers State, on its way from Agbami oil field to Onne, a major hub for local offshore activities.
The WAO, which owns the ship, did not comment immediately.
The company provides ships as well as repair and maintenance services to oil companies in the region and logistical support for offshore operations.
Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, has called for the collective effort of all Niger Delta people to put an end to the problem of negative militancy in the region.
He made the call at a reception in honour of the Minister of State for Energy (Petroleum), Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, by the Rivers-Bayelsa Business Forum in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Doife Ola, yesterday, the governor emphasized the need for the people to speak with one voice in resolving the problem, noting that what is happening in the Niger Delta is a failure on the part of the leadership of the region.
Sylva, who decried the disruption of work on major project sites in the area, particularly the dualisation of the East-West road, wondered why people should fritter the much needed opportunities required for their growth and development of the region.
"I have never seen a society where in the course of demanding for more development, destroys the only thing it has", the governor observed.
He stressed that it was incumbent on the present generation to re-direct the youths with the aim of bequeathing a better life to future generations.
While commending the choice of Mr. Ajumojobia as Minister of State for Energy (Petroleum), Sylva solicited the support of the people to enable the minister succeed. This he said was imperative as Ajumojobia was heading an industry that was crucial to the development of the Niger Delta and its people.
The governor also expressed government's support to the Rivers-Bayelsa Business Forum towards ensuring capacity-building and empowerment of the people of both states. He underscored the importance of such a forum to address some of the challenges confronting their personal development as a people.
In his remarks, Ajumogobia expressed gratitude to the founder of the Rivers-Bayelsa Business Forum, Chief Olu Lulu-Briggs, for the honour bestowed on him.
On the Niger Delta problem, Ajumogobia said the Federal Government earmarked 15 billion dollars in the 2008 budget, a lot of which is meant for development projects in both Bayelsa and Rivers States, in addition to billions of dollars expected to be invested in the two states.
The minister noted that if the trend of militancy continues, the potentials that abound in the region would not be realized. He pointed out that the region has been identified as one of the destinations for the oil and gas sector but observed that such investment could be diverted elsewhere if urgent steps are not taken to check the problem.
He pointed out that the problem of militancy has reduced significantly in Bayelsa and called on the governors of the Niger Delta to join forces to enthrone lasting peace in the area.
In his welcome address presented by his wife, the founder of Rivers-Bayelsa Business Forum, Chief Olu Lulu-Briggs, described Ajumogobia as an exemplary leader whose service to Rivers State was responsible for his present appointment.
Lulu-Briggs, who said the minister was being honoured and celebrated as a beacon for the people of the Niger Delta, stressed the need to draw inspiration from Ajumogobia who became a role model through hardwork.
Ajumogobia, who was the former Attorney-General of Rivers State, is listed in the International Who's Who of Oil and Gas Lawyers.
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