Leadership (Abuja)
Osa Okhomina
1 October 2008
Yenagoa — Hundreds of suspected militants have been arrested by security forces in the Niger Delta region, a military spokesman said yesterday in Warri, Delta State.
Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa said 443 suspects were detained in military raids that began last week after the militants ended a string of attacks and declared a ceasefire September 21.
The recent spike in militant activity was the worst to hit Africa's oil giant in years.
The state oil company said daily production is now down about 40 per cent from Nigeria's normal daily output of 2.5 million barrels, helping send crude prices to historical heights this year in international markets.
The militant group emerged about three years ago, calling for more federally controlled oil-industry revenue to flow to the impoverished southern states where the petroleum is produced.
The military has arrested more than 400 suspected militants following a spate of attacks in the restive southern oil region, an official said Tuesday.
Musa said the raids in the area surrounding the oil hub of Port Harcourt were prompted by intelligence reports that the insurgents were launching a recruitment drive to replace heavy losses suffered in their recent six-day campaign.
Many of the suspects were released following questioning but some are being held in prison awaiting trial, he said.
The recent spike in militant activity was the worst in years in Nigeria. The country's most potent militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, declared a unilateral ceasefire September 21.
The group, which is a loose alliance of various armed gangs operating in the southern Niger Delta, attacked military positions, destroyed pipeline-switching stations and blew up pipelines that carry crude from wells to export terminals in southern Nigeria.
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A govt that would not allow FOI bill is quoting phantom numbers - how can we trust it? Even if this is so, how much dent does the JTF think it has caused the activists agitating on a legitimate mission on behalf of its people. You wack-a-mole in the Niger Delta and its offshoot pops up in Kano then the JTF go to wack-another-mole in Kano and its offshoot pops up in Ibadan, ad infinitum.... For how long does the JTF hopes to sustain this wack-a-mole scenarios - till the country is engulf in a war within itself? You're playing with fire and pray that y'all keep it up till you turn a simple issue of granting federalism plus 50% derivation to all 36 states of the federation into a battle ground that may be similar to the 40 year civil wars in the Congos or Somalia. It takes a spark to light an inferno.
Niger Delta problems needs constitutional fix. We have a defective federal structure and our political leaders are selfish. JTF will not solve the problem. JTF is a bunch of hired thugs like the so called militants. When JTF talk cites intelligence reports about militant movements, they are lying to the media. Most of the people arrested are poor unemployed males between 18 and 45yrs who reside in the slums. If you know PH, only those that can afford to pay a yr or 2yrs rent to Ikwerre land lord in most Ikwerre villages around PH. Try it. Poverty has forced most youths to live in the 40 slums around PH cos we have accute housing problem. Just try to find a 2room or a flat in PH and you will understand why people live in massive slums around PH. Are all the people living in Ajegunle (Lagos State) criminals? To JTF, every male Niger Deltan is a militant. JTF is making money in Niger Delta and they will not get theat remuration in Sokoto or Ibadan. Does JTF report about militant arrests in GRA, Ahoada, Rumuola, Agip estate, Elekohia? So, the Hausa-Fulanai suya seller has become intelligent agents in PH? We need peoples constitution (federalism) and an effective electorial law. JTF can never suppress the wish of the people. JTF propaganda! Nobody wants violence! True Federalism. Just an opnion..
WHILE I AM NOT IN SUPPORT OF VIOLENCE IN THE RESOLVE OF THE ISSUES AFFECTING THE NIGER DELTER INDEGENES REGARDING GOVT NEGLECT OF THE REGION...I AM VERY CURIOUS TO KNOW WHO IS TO HEAD THE NEWLY FORMED MINISTRY OF NIGER DELTA...IS IT GOING TO BE SOMEONE FROM THE REGION OR ANOTHER NORTHERN NIGERIA INDEGENE....HOW MUCH INPUT WILL THE GOVT SOLICIT FROM THE INDEGENES OF THE AREA AND THE DIFFERENT STATE GOVTS THAT CONSTITUTE THE NIGER DELTA REGION....WHILE I APPLAUD THE PRESIDENT'S CONCERN ON THE SECURITY OF THIS REGION AND THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE, MY 2CENTS ADVICE IS THAT THE FED SHOULD ATTEMPT TO INCOPORATE IDEAS FROM THE LEADERS OF THE GROUPS,THE STATE GOVTS AND THE MINISTRY...THIS WILL ALLOW FOR CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE AMONGST THESE INTERESTED PARTIES...THE ARRESTED MILITANTS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF PIPELINES AND OTHER STRUCTURES IN THE AREA...THEY SHOULD BE PUT TO WORK IN THE REPAIRS OF THESE STRUCTURES AT SOME CAPACITY AND PART OF THEIR WAGES WITHHELD FOR THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE REPAIRS...FUTURE CONCERNS BY THESE MILITANTS MUST BE AIRED DIPLOMATICALLY AND HANDLED LIKEWISE WITHOUT FURTHER DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTIES AND VIOLENCE TO PERSONS IN THE REGION...VIOLENCE WILL NOT SOLVE ANYTHING, HOWEVER CIVIL DESOBEDIENCE HAS A TENDENCY TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE....