Nigerian 'Oil War' Persists

Nigerian armed militants have recently declared an “oil war” in the south of the country. Yesterday the group claimed to have “blown up a major pipeline in their latest attack on oil installations in the region.” (Agence France-Presse)

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) says it blew up a pipeline thought to be operated by Royal Dutch Shell and Italian company Agip and made a statement about their activities, claiming the bombs were planted at 9:30 am at Rumuekpe, in Rivers state. MEND is the most powerful of groups operating in the Nigerian Delta area.

A couple hours before the attacks, MEND claims they worked with a recent ally, the NDVF, to destroy Royal Dutch Shell in Africa’s main producing region. “The rebels moved in with speed boats, dynamite and hand grenades in their attack on the Orubiri flow station,” the army said. This reportedly happened around 10 pm Tuesday. This attack was the third on a Shell in 48 hours. US Chevron has also been sensitive to recent vandalism and demolition.

MEND claims they killed all the soldiers on guard at the Orubiri facility and took their weapons, but the army denies such proclamations, saying, “None of the 10 naval personnel or guards on duty died or sustained injuries.” The group warned the soldiers and oil workers to abandon the oil properties, including deep offshore. They are calling their latest offense “Hurricane Barbarossa.” The group attacked Shell’s flagship back in June and have affected pipelines offshore.

Lieutenant-Colonel Rabe Abubaker, spokesman of the special military unit policing two other neighboring oil states of Bayelsa and Delta, has warned the group that any attacks on these oil facilities will follow with “grave consequences.” He added that the unit “will not fold its hands and watch the senseless destruction of national economic assets” committed by unpatriotic civilians.

But MEND says they’re fighting for the people to get a greater share of their large oil revenues. The group has also taken many hostages and just 2 were seized only last week. This oil war has been going on since 2006 and shows no signs of stopping.

Read More Articles At WeEarth.com