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Tag: attacks

  • Herdsmen attacks: State or national issue?

    The big question begging for an answer in the public domain since the precarious incident of the herdsmen attacks on communities and innocent citizens of the country is whether the heinous acts should be categorized as a state or national issue.

    The above question is against the backdrop of the continuous attacks in recent times which have led to wanton destruction of lives and property of the people. What is more worrisome is the fact that the Federal Government, which is constitutionally saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property of the citizenry through its security agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, the Army, the State Security Services (SSS), among others, has not taken decisive actions against the ceaseless and inhuman atrocities of the herdsmen.

    The worries remain that the present administration has not treated the herdsmen issue with the urgent dispatch it requires, thereby posing a serious security threat to the peace and unity of the nation. Painful to note is the fact that in the past one year, the nation has witnessed series of attacks and killings of innocent people as a result of the weird attitude of the herdsmen.  The situation has become so terrifying that Nigerians keep wondering what could have come over these cattle rearers, that they now unleash grievous terror on their fellow Nigerians with sophisticated weapons, while nothing much is being done to tackle the issue.

    Coming to the recent attack on Attakwu Community of Enugu State, and the misconception and sentiments being attached to it in the arena of public opinion, one is first compelled to frontally condemn the unfortunate incident as callous and barbaric. But the truth remains that the Enugu incident is not as grievous as the ones that occurred in other states of the country, yet people have not raised their eyebrows over how the affected state governors have addressed the issue.

    It is on record that the recent report released by the United States government to its citizens traveling to Nigeria, named 20 unsafe states in the country and marked them as no-go-areas for the reason of “pockets of crimes being carried out by faceless persons that are hardly brought to book”. Enugu State was not in the list.

    When one takes an inventory of how many people that have been killed and injured by the herdsmen in ravaged states such as Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Delta, Imo, among others, it becomes obvious that Enugu does not deserve the negative comments it receives from cynics.

    In Benue State for instance, the casualty rate of persons killed by suspected herdsmen between May 30 and June 20 this year, in Logo and Ukums local government areas alone, according reports is about 81 persons. Even though the Benue State Police Command said it witnessed 22 deaths, the number is still high compared to what was witnessed in Enugu State on the two occasions the herdsmen struck. The statistics are the same in other ravaged states.

    The questions now are these: Why is the Enugu State issue different? What have the governors of these other states mentioned above done constitutionally to address the issues   that the Enugu governor has not done? Under our lopsided federalism, does the power to direct the security agencies to crush the marauders rest squarely on the shoulders of the governors or the President and Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces? Do the people expect a governor who swore an oath of office not to take unlawful actions that could lead to bloodshed or jeopardize the unity of the country, to make inciting statements?  Is it the responsibility of the state assembly to enact laws bordering on national issues such as grazing bill or is it the duty of the National Assembly?

    These and other questions are indeed begging for answers, considering the fundamental rights of every citizen of the country as contained in our constitution.

    One, therefore, takes exception to the falsehood being peddled by the likes of Amanze Obi in the Thursday, September 1, edition of his Broken Tongues in Daily Sun, where he alleged that the “Fulani herdsmen massacred an entire community” in Enugu State. Nothing could be farther from the truth – how could that be true?

    I live and work in Enugu and to the best of my knowledge there is no record of an entire community being wiped out anywhere in the state. The state despite the unfortunate recent incident of the herdsmen has remained peaceful and is still rated as the least among the states ravaged by the herdsmen in the country. There is no doubt that the governor is working tirelessly with the security operatives to do all that are necessary and lawful to bring the culprits to book and end the menace of the marauders.  This is evident in the recent arrest of a suspected herdsman in the state by the police for allegedly being in possession of a sophisticated AK47 riffle.

    One appreciates the stance of the Enugu State students, who “lampooned” those inciting the students and youths of the state to stage reprisal attack on the Fulani herdsmen over the recent carnage in the state, particularly that such vengeance would be counter-productive and might lead to the endangering of lives of youths and students in the state. While condemning the attack in its entirety, they noted that the menace of the herdsmen was a national issue and requires the swift intervention of the federal government, which is constitutionally empowered to nip in the bud the atrocities of the marauders.

    They reasoned wisely that “unlike in Ekiti State, the population of the Igbos living in the northern parts of the country is enormous, allaying fears that any unlawful action against the herdsmen in retaliation may likely put the Igbos in the north at the receiving end.”

    On the call by some Igbo groups for the Enugu Governor to emulate Governor Ayo Fayose’s actions against the herdsmen, the students said that “no true Igbo leader would support any act that could lead to bloodshed or undermine the peace and unity of the country.” According to them, “Governor Ugwuanyi as a responsible leader believes in due process and constitutional means of addressing issues of this nature and should not be pushed to instigate the people of the state to take laws into their hands, as that is certainly not the best option under a democratic setting.”

    Hence, the Enugu Students passionately “called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies to step up actions to put an end to the dastardly acts of the herdsmen in the overall interest of the country.”

    In the same vein, the workers of the state through the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) shared similar views with the students, calling on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to exercise his constitutional powers to ensure that the issue of the herdsmen was laid to rest.  In their joint statement signed by the state chairman and secretary of the congress, Comrade Igbokwe Chukwuma Igbokwe and Comrade Benneth Asogwa, they also commended the Enugu Governor, “for his prompt visit to the ravaged community and the efforts he had put in place to maintain peace, protect the lives and property of the people of the state as well as ensure that the incident did not escalate.”

    From the foregoing, it is clear that the menace of the herdsmen is a national issue and should be tackled holistically with the full support and cooperation of the federal government for a peaceful, united and prosperous nation – thereby sustaining the dreams of our founding fathers.

     

    • Chukwuma, a public affairs analyst writes from Enugu.
  • Communities cry out over robbers’ incessant attacks

    Communities cry out over robbers’ incessant attacks

    The fear of armed robbers is the beginning of wisdom for residents of Awofeso, Babayemi and Ogunnaike streets in Palmgrove, Somolu Local Government Area of Lagos.

    The robbers in the last three months, The Nation learnt, have continued to terrorise the communities.

    Besides carting valuable goods and cash away, they robbers were said to have left some of their victims injured.

    Food vendors and shop owners in the communities were said to have been the latest victims.

    Three shop owners on Awofeso and Babayemi streets, according to the residents, were robbed thrice within three weeks.

    A food vendor on Awofeso Street was also robbed thrice between May and July.

    The Nation learnt that the robbers reportedly break into shops, carting away electricity generating sets, Plasma televisions, stabilisers, home theatres, bags of rice and money.

    They usually rob in the mid night, a resident said.

    According to Olawale Olumide, the victims, mostly food vendors and shop owners are fed up with the situation of things, stressing that they are tired of reporting robbery cases to the police as little or no effort is made to arrest the situation.

    A food vendor at Awofeso Street, who simply gave her name as Mrs Salau told The Nation that she had been robbed thrice within a space of three months.

    She said: “If I begin to share my experience with these armed robbers, I may land in the hospital. I have been selling here for the past seven years. The first robbery attack I experienced was two years ago. Then, it was not as serious as the ones of recent. I took fate and continued with my business. On May 16, it was a terrible day for me. We got to the shop around 6am to prepare early. Around 6:30, these people came with guns and entered my shop. They scattered my store and took the money we kept there. They carried the two big generators, plasma television, my daughter’s laptop that is in the store and thousands of money we had in the bag. They also carried the stabilisers for the freezers before they left.

    “I reported to Pedro Police Station in Somolu and they came. They asked if I suspect anyone then. People around told them they suspected one guy and the police arrested him. After some weeks, I realised I am even the one spending more because the police were demanding for money. It got to a point people started pleading on his behalf and I was tired of the whole thing. I had to drop the case and left everything to God.

    “I still continued with my business. Again on June 7, the second day of Salah, I got to the shop with my assistants and we met the doors opened. They even broke the wall and carted away with everything they could lay their hands on. I had money inside; they left with all valuables in the shop including the new generator I bought and all the food stuffs.

    “Last Monday, as usual, I met the two shops door opened in the morning. I was almost rushed to the hospital. My husband had to come to the scene. I was so confused. I thought I was the only one only to hear from my neighbour who sells next to me that they visited her shop too. I am not interested in bringing in the police because they should be the one in charge of our security. I want the Lagos State Governor to come to our aid in Somolu. These armed robbers have made it a routine. We are helpless.”

    Another food vendor on the same street, Mrs Silas told The Nation said: “I have never experience this kind of thing before in the past four years I have been selling here. Although I normally hear of robbery cases, I never knew mine is near. I got to the shop on June 3 and met it opened. They broke the padlock and enter. They took my Plasma television and generating set. I didn’t keep any money in the shop. They must have been searching for money because the whole store was scattered. Since then, I can’t ice my drinks as there is no generating set. I will implore Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to help us deploy more policemen to man our street. It is becoming unbearable.”

    Mrs Kehinde Ama, a caterer on Babayemi Street said the armed robbers, who broke into her shop July 20 at midnight, also made do with her television, generating set, bags of rice and cake.

    She said: “I learnt residents discovered around 3am that my shop has been burgled and alerted officer at Pedro Police Station. They were said to have announced their coming with their siren which made the robbers left and escaped. When I got to the shop that morning, I didn’t bother to report it to the police. This is becoming rampant. Aside from vendors, they also rob shops too. It shows the dearth of insecurity in Somolu, we need the government to take a quick action.”

    A barber on the same street who share his shop with a soft drink seller, Mr Abdul Yaqeen Mafimisesin narrated his ordeal with the robbers who visited his shop on July 13 during Ramadan period.

    He said: “I slept in my shop with the intention to wake by 4am and eat Sahur. I heard a knock around that 4am because I checked the time on my handset. I heard some voices saying ‘Alfa, wake up for Sahur. It is time.’ I opened and saw four men smoking Indian hemp; they entered and pushed me. They were not wearing any top; they had only trousers on them. They held cutlass and asked me to bow down.

    “They began their search, took my television and collected my phone; they even removed my Sim card and threw it at me. They also took my big electricity generating set. They ask for what is in the next shop and I told them it is drinks. They took water and plastic drinks and three stabilizers, one from my shop and two from the other shops. They wanted to make do with my home theatre when one of them noted that the bus is full. That got me surprised but I kept quiet. They saw my bag which contained N25,000. They also took the money. They were about to leave when one of them suggested they matchet me, others disagreed, saying I didn’t prove stubborn. They shut the door at me and left.

    “I wasn’t myself for the next two hours because I have not experience such in my life before. Some people speculate they must have operated with the aid of an insider but I don’t even know who it could be. Many customers come in to cut their hairs, how would I have known who might have informed them. I want the Lagos state Government to help us. These armed robbers now see it as a normal because no one has taken action. We want our Governor Ambode to provide us with effective security.”

    A panel beater on Ogunnaike Street, who gave his name as Yahya recalled that the robbers made use of jack to steal the batteries of a car and bus parked at his workshop for repair, adding that he met their bonnets opened on July 20. A resident of Babayemi Street, Mrs Sarah Mabawonku expressed her dissatisfaction over the persistent robbery cases, stressing that the robbers must have intended to extend it to houses if not for the gate constructed on the street.

    She said: “Before now, we have heard lot of robbery cases. May 2014 was a terrible period for Babayemi residents when one of our neighbours was brutally matcheted by some armed robbers. His attack brought about the gate we constructed for security purpose. The case was taken up by the government and those people were arrested and jailed during the tenure of Mr Babatunde Fashola. We lock the gate by 11pm and we have never had of anything since then. Now, that they have started robbing shops, it shows they mean another serious business. We want Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to interfere this time.”

  • Attacks on task force men

    Attacks on task force men

    •Lagos State must go tough on those assaulting its officials

    Unless the Lagos State government takes stern actions against individuals and institutions that assault members of its task force on environment and special offences (enforcement unit), the rationale for the establishment of the task force may be defeated. We are worried that the officers and men of this agency keep falling victims to all manner of persons –  touts, drivers, bus conductors and even uniformed men who should know better.

    The latest such assault on the men of the task force occurred on June 10, when two officers, Goyit Bulus and Sunday Olugbogi, of the Nigerian Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Ikeja, Lagos, slapped the magistrate attached to the task force, Lekan Aka-Bashorun, and beat up two other of its officials. The magistrate’s sin was ordering that some vehicles belonging to the Customs men parked where vehicles were forbidden from being parked be impounded. Two policemen and two paramilitary officials attached to the task force were beaten up for giving effect to the magistrate’s order. The Customs men who destroyed court exhibits and recording gadgets claimed that the task force had no right to seize their vehicles.

    The Lagos State government set up the task force for the primary purpose of ensuring sanity on roads in the state. Its mandate includes essentially enforcing the state road traffic law as well as ensuring that the environment is conducive to habitation. It has raided dark spots in the state and arrested many suspected criminals. The government followed up with the establishment of mobile courts to try minor offenders as a way of decongesting the regular courts and ensuring that justice is dispensed without delay.

    Because of the very nature of its mandate, agents of the task force have become easy targets for the hoodlums and other lawless elements who took advantage of the chaotic nature of affairs before the coming of the task force to perpetrate crimes.

    Just last February, a paramilitary officer attached to the task force, Mr. Uzan Rildwan, was stabbed on his head and had two  of his fingers cut off by commercial drivers and market touts under the Oshodi bridge in Lagos. This followed a fracas between men of the task force and commercial bus operators who were picking passengers indiscriminately under the bridge, thus obstructing traffic and causing gridlocks in the area.

    What such attacks do, particularly when the culprits are not made to pay for their actions, is to dampen the morale of the task force personnel, which will not augur well for the state. This latest incident is particularly saddening because of reports that the matter had been settled amicably between the heads of the security agencies. This kind of settlement should belong in the past. The issue is, laws have been broken by some people and they should pay for it.

    What is the business of the heads of the security agencies that were said to have resolved the matter? Were they the ones who sent their men to break the law, beat up a magistrate and law enforcement officers, and confiscate court properties? If not, then, the matter is clearly beyond them at this stage. It has become a public issue and the law must be seen to take its full course. The excuse by the Customs image maker that the Customs officials did not know that the person they slapped was a magistrate does not hold water. What is important is that they knew the task force officials were on official duty in the area.

    It is high time we made our security agents know that they are not above the law and that the arms they bear are carried on behalf of the state to facilitate their job; not to intimidate civilians or other government agents in the course of their official duties. So, whoever buried the incident between the Customs men and the task force officials must exhume it now to allow the law take its course. The aim of task forces like the one in question would be defeated if incidents like this are treated as ‘family affair’ and swept under the carpet.

  • Fed Govt begins talks to end attacks on oil facilities

    Fed Govt begins talks to end attacks on oil facilities

    The Federal Government may have struck a deal with militants in the Niger Delta to halt further attacks on oil installations.

    A meeting between the Federal Government and stakeholders was held at the Delta State Government House, Asaba, on Wednesday night, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    If the truce holds, International Oil Companies (IOCs) and local operators will have the chance to repair their facilities destroyed by the rampaging Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    Minister of Petroleum Resources (State) Dr Ibe Kachikwu, who led the Federal Government’s delegation and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa met with representatives of Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Chief Ayiri Emami and other stakeholders.

    It could not be ascertained if representatives of the NDA whose activities have badly affected Nigeria’s oil output, attended the meeting.

    Tompolo has been fingered by various sources as the founder of the group, an allegation that he has vehemently denied.

    The ongoing deliberation is being held amidst objections from former militant leaders and the Pa JOS Ayomike-led Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, who believe that the move will encourage further destruction of oil facilities in the name of agitation.

    Tompolo’s Media Consultant, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, told our reporter that his boss was represented by Chief Dan Ekpebide. A prominent member of the Traditional Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, represented the kingdom.

    Ekpebide confirmed the report, but did not give any details. He said he was on a flight when our reporter called him.

    Chief Godspower Gbenekama, who represented Gbaramatu Traditional Council, said their participation was no confirmation that the militants were from the kingdom.

    He said: “We held a meeting with the minister and the governor as representatives of Gbaramatu Traditional Councol and we assured the minister of our resolve to work with the Federal Government for peace.

    “It is a continuation of the meetings that the minister has held in Akwa Ibom and other parts. It does not mean that those attacking oil installations are from Gbaramatu. We are people from the riverside areas where these attacks occur that is why we were invited.”

    Gbenekama urged President Muhammadu Buhari to show sincerity in handling Niger Delta issues.

    “We are ready to work with government to ensure peace in the area and we appeal to those who are aggrieved to sheathe their swords and work for peace in the interest of the region and the country at large,” Gbenekama added.

    The Ijaw leader refused to divulge further details, insisting that “it was a private meeting”.

    A source privy to the meeting said: “What I know is that the minister and the governor met separately with the various interest groups, including representatives of Tompolo, Chief Ayiri Emami and other Itsekiri leaders in the area.

    “It is difficult to ascertain the kernel of the discussion because Governor Okowa and the minister met separately with the various groups and their discussions were in secret, without third parties.

    “What I heard was that the minister and the governor impressed on the protagonists that there is need to sheathe their swords and allow the government time to fashion out a way to address the issues affecting the region,” the source, who asked not to be named, said.

    Although it was gathered that Tompolo’s representatives insisted that he was not part of the NDA, some of the issues raised by the group were discussed with Gbaramatu leaders.

    One of the key demands of the Gbaramatu people is the take-off of the NIMASA University. There are indications that the Federal Government will grant the request.

  • Group flays continued attacks on pipelines

    A group, Concerned Professionals Congress (CPC), has condemned the attacks on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) oil and gas pipelines in Niger Delta by a militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    CPC urged youths, the elite and elders of the oil-rich region to stem the trend before it is too late.

    The group expressed worries about the alleged intimidation of the militant gang with the issuance of a two-week ultimatum to owners and operators of oil companies to shut down, evacuate their workers and leave th region.

    In a statement by its Coordinator, Tukur Tilde and Chief Media Strategist, Emeka Nwapa, CPC said the quit order was in bad taste because of its negative effects on the nation’s critical oil revenue.

    It said the militants’ bombings would put pressure on the region, especially the masses, for whom the Federal Government hasd finalised series of critical developmental programmes.

    The group urged traditional rulers, community leaders, elders, youths, students, the clergy, professional associations and the elders’ councils in the region to prevail on NDA to stop its attacks on oil pipelines.

  • Pipeline attacks: IYC cautions members against vandalism

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), has expressed concern about the resurgence of militancy in the region following which it conveyed a meeting of ethnic youth groups in the region. The meeting will hold on Thursday.

    Last weekend’s attack on an NNPC gas trunk line at Ogbe-Ijoh clan in Warri South West Local Government area is believed to be a systematic spread of the attack to other Ijaw clans.

    “If you look at the trend, it started in Ogulagha, from where it spread to Gbaramatu and now it has gone to Ogbe-Ijoh. That is to tell you that it is following a plan and pattern.

    “From across the Ijaw communities, we know that they won’t stop there, but they are bound to move to the Itsekiri areas and other riverside communities,” a security source told our reporter on Sunday afternoon.

    Another source, who asked not to be named, said intelligence report tend to give credence to feelers that the attacks is aimed at frustrating the present administration.

    “Do not forget that about a week before there was a spike in the attacks, a youth leader from Gbaramatu, Chief Michael Johnny, said there was a PDP-instigated plan to frustrate the present administration.

    “In the wake of that alarm raised by the Ijaw youth, several key oil and gas installations have been crippled and they are planning to spread it to other areas,” our source, who asked not to be named stated.

    A statement by IYC Spokesperson, Mr Eric Omare said the meeting, “Which would be under the auspices of foremost Niger Delta youth organization, IYC, would review the new militant activities in the region and take a common position.”

    Omare said leading activists in the region, including Chief Bello Oboko, Ms Annkio Briggs and Mr Tony Uranta, among others are expected to grace the event.

    He said the gathering “is expected to come out with a communique on the common position of the youths of the Niger Delta region on the renewed insurgency and attacks on oil facilities.”

    Nevertheless, our findings revealed that the event which is to conclude the Adaka Boro day celebration is being viewed with distrust by a section of the tribal youth groups in the region.

    Some youth leaders who spoke with our reporter said it was an attempt to railroad the region into another avoidable crisis that would only benefit the Ijaw ethnic group, which youths are suspected to be behind the attacks.

    Leader of the South-south Liberation Movement, Comrade John Adie flayed the meeting as attempts by to widen the scope of the crisis.

    “The so-called Niger Delta agitation has become an Ijaw affair – this is visible from the beneficiaries of the amnesty programme and those empowered under the Goodluck Administration. The so-called Niger Delta response to the crisis is aimed to extending the problem to others.

    “The Ijaws are a part of the Niger Delta or Southsouth, so the IYC cannot call a meeting of the region without collaboration with other ethnic groups.

    “They should save us this stress. Those bombing the oil installations are not doing the Niger Delta people any good. What business do we have with Col Sambo Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu or Biafra?

    “What we want is good governance and development of the region but those bombing oil facilities are doing so for their pocket and their paymasters,” he added.

  • Forum condemn attacks on Niger Delta Minister

    Forum condemn attacks on Niger Delta Minister

    The Cross River All Progressives Congress Stakeholders Forum (CRSAPC) has condemned attacks on the person of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, saying they calculated attempts by some detractors to smear his character and destroy his hard earned reputation.

    The Forum said they decided to “stand-up against the unwarranted attacks against the minister orchestrated by of some persons masquerading as members of the APC, that have continued to write frivolous petitions to President Muhammdu Buhari, heaping every manner of unsubstantiated allegation against Usani, all in the pursuit of their illicit desire to pull him down.”

    Addressing reporters in Cabar Friday, Coordinator of the group, Mr. Cletus Ogban, said the minister was innocent of the allegations leveled against him, especially those bothering on murder and the defeat suffered recently by the APC in his constituency.

    Ogban said they decided to come out openly to defend the minister because the falsehood being spread, if allowed to continue, was capable of misrepresenting the character and personality of Usani, whom they described as a very humble and patient person.

    He said, “The Minister’s  detractors believe in the pull him down syndrome like the force of gravity and therefore write frivolous petitions and publications castigating  an innocent character in the person of the Minister of the Niger Delta to give the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria so as to create an erroneous impression in the President about Usani.

    “The detractors, mischief makers, and reprobates who perpetrate these actions are not even committed members of the party. These people are making these mischievous publications merely for gratification and merely to satisfy the desire of their sponsors.

    “The contending issue at hand (murder case) took place about 20 years ago, which he was exonerated by the State Security Agencies and was also cleared by the Oputa Panel, and now because he has been given an appointment as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, they are using it as a cheap blackmail to smear his character.”

    The group defended the Minister against the defeat suffered by the APC at the Yakurr 2 State Constituency rerun election, where he comes from saying, saying the party lost the elections because it was sabotaged by some of its new entrants from the Labour Party (LP), who rather than support the APC candidate, opted to work against him at the polls when it mattered most.

    “ Our concern now is how to contribute our own quota by supporting those Mr. President has chosen or appointed to represent us at the centre and not to scatter or destroy his plans for Cross River State,” he said.

     

  • Attacks put Nigeria oil output at 22-year low

    Attacks put Nigeria oil output at 22-year low

    A series of attacks on oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta has pushed Nigeria’s output of crude close to a 22-year low, according to Reuters data, putting intense pressure on the country’s finances.

    Shell workers at Nigeria’s Bonga oilfield in the southern Niger Delta were evacuated following a militant threat, a senior labour union official said yesterday. Attacks late last week forced Chevron to shut its Okan offshore facility, taking out 35,000 barrels per day (bpd).

    Shell said the unrest had not yet impacted production, but its Forcados field is still closed and under force majeure following a February subsea pipeline attack, taking out 250,000 bpd.

    The violence has depressed production in Africa’s largest producer to roughly 1.69 million bpd this month, the lowest since at least June 2007, when production fell to 1.68 million bpd, according to International Energy Agency data.

    A small reduction from any field would quickly send output to the next low, seen in August 1994, when it hit 1.46 million bpd, according to the IEA data.

    “It’s really not a good situation,” said Eugene Lindell, senior energy analyst with JBC Energy in Vienna, Austria, noting that the global excess of crude was keeping Brent prices from moving significantly higher on the back of the outages.

    “They have less production, and they’re getting less bang for their buck.”

    Nigeria’s 2016 budget, signed into law just last week, assumes 2.2 million bpd of oil production at $38 a barrel. In a country analysis released late last week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration noted that pipeline sabotage and oil supply disruptions had increased in 2016, putting direct pressure on the country’s finances.

    “Because Nigeria heavily depends on oil revenue, its economy is noticeably affected by changes to its oil production and/or to global crude oil prices,” the report said.

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said there would be a crackdown on “vandals and saboteurs” in the Niger Delta. Analysts said the violence could scare investment away from the country.

    “If it continues like this … there are companies who will probably not consider Nigeria” for upstream investments, Lindell said.

     

  • Herdsmen attacks: Solidarity from across borders

    Herdsmen attacks: Solidarity from across borders

    The lawmaker representing Afikpo Northeast constituency in Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon Maria Nwachi has visited two hospitals in Enugu State to donate relief materials to victims of the recent herdsmen attacks in Uzo Uwani.

    The lawmaker who raised money for the visit through her facebook group page, described the attacks as abominable.

    Hon Nwachi and some members of the group first visited a hospital in Nsukka where they met one victim while the rest have been transferred to the orthopaedic hospital in Enugu.

    The group after donating to the patient, proceeded to Orthopaedic Hospital where they also donated items and cash to the victims.

    During the visit, The Nation learnt that attacks by Fulani herdsmen have been going on in Enugu State long before the recent massacre in Uzo Uwani community.

    It was learnt that many isolated cases had been recorded in the state though the attacks were on a few people at a time.

    More surprising is the fact that some of the attacks took place in the day time as against previous attacks which occurred at night.

    One of the victims, Nwobodo Onyeka, who narrated his ordeal, said he was attacked by three herdsmen at Amoji Nike on April 9 two weeks before the Uzo Uwani attacks.

    He said he had gone to the area to survey a land he wanted to buy when the herdsmen attacked them accusing them of killing their cows.

    He said, “We took a car and got to a particular place and took a cab. My younger sister, her friend, the agent who is also a female and myself after surveying the land, were now coming out when the three of the herdsmen came out from the bush with guns.

    ”One of them shot at us and the bullet hit my hand, the bullet went out and entered into the other woman’s belly. Some particles also hit my sister’s friend in her eyes.

    Then they started saying, “Sebi na una dey kill our cows abi, we go kill una today for this land”, meaning you are the people killing our cows, we will kill you today on this land”.

    Reacting, the lawmaker wondered why non-governmental organisations and humanitarian agencies have abandoned the victims.

    She said; “The mayhem, the wanton killing, the gratuitous violence, visited on a people in their land is unheard of, abominable and calamitous”.

    “If this were the civilized world, you would see so many charity organizations falling on top of each other to help the victims, financially and otherwise, but here nothing, you are on your own”.

    “I appeal to government, NGO, humanitarian agencies and individuals to please not abandon victims of this herdsmen mayhem to fend for themselves”.

    “Please, visit them in hospitals and take care of their hospital bills, they cannot be put through this for no fault of their own and then be saddled with how to pay their hospital bills or to get themselves out of the hospital”.

    “Some of the victims, the ones that were conscious, were so happy despite their pain, they felt, people cared. The unconscious ones just looked on, as we consoled them and dropped off their goodies”.

  • Tompolo blames oil firms for pipeline attacks

    Tompolo blames oil firms for pipeline attacks

    A former Niger Delta militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), has urged security agencies to investigate activities of oil companies in Niger Delta for the spate of attacks on pipelines and oil facilities in the region.

    Reacting to insinuations that he was behind the Niger Delta Avengers, a group which claimed responsibility for the attacks on key oil facilities, including the Forcados Crude Export line in Burutu, Delta State, Tompolo said oil servicing companies angling for the repair contracts, and not him, were responsible for the attacks.

    In a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, Tompolo assured that oil multinationals and their service firms had nothing to worry about him because he was reformed.

    He said: “I wish to appeal to the servicing companies to go about their normal operations, particularly the repair of the Forcados 48-inch pipeline, which is key to our economic stability.”

    “I have said I will not resort to violence because of my case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or to wage war against the Federal Government, as my legal team is working towards the resolution of the issue. I pray God should see me through these trying times.

    “It is unfortunate that I am accused of pipeline vandalism, despite my statements to deny involvement in the renewed hostilities in Niger Delta. Since the declaration of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2009, which I wholeheartedly embraced and accepted, I had sworn not to be part of any arms struggle, either overtly or covertly.

    “Most Nigerians are aware of the role I played in safeguarding and protecting crude oil and gas facilities during the last administration; I am still interested in doing so for the love of country, humanity and out of patriotism. It is worthy of mention that as I was protecting oil facilities, I incurred the wrath of pipeline vandals and illegal refinery operators; till now some of them are still angry with me.

    “Therefore, it is worrisome for security agencies to link me with such people who are still angry with me. It would be recalled that when I founded the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) at the peak of the Niger Delta agitation for a better living for the people, I did not mince words. So, if it was me that is behind the Niger Delta Avengers, I would have come out openly to claim the leadership.

    “I am a man of my word. Therefore, I should be taken as such by security agencies. It is unfair to link me with this new militant group, which I do not agree with, in terms of its philosophy, ideology and mode of operation. I am not a part of the Niger Delta Avengers.

    “Let it be known that I am proud of my achievements through non-violence advocacy since the enthronement of the 2009 Presidential Amnesty Programme for the Niger Delta region, particularly in the coastal areas. For instance, the establishment of the first maritime university and a dock/ship building yard and other good things.

    “I make bold to say that I have attracted more development to the Niger Delta region than my traducers. Therefore, it is unreasonable and unimaginable to associate me with any person(s) or group involved in pipeline vandalism and other criminal activities in Niger Delta.”

    Tompolo urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government to look inward in the search for masterminds of recent attacks.

    According to him, his party men in Bayelsa State were getting agitated over lack of political patronage.

    He said: “I am aware of how such persons are chasing the Minister of Petroleum for State, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, around. I advise the Federal Government to investigate some of the servicing companies engaged in repairing damaged pipelines; sabotage on their part is not ruled out. Some of them may not have the capacity to carry out such repairs, but must have worked their way to get the contract in connivance with people in the corridor of powers, and turn around to tender the security situation in the Niger Delta as an excuse, as they are being paid ‘down time’ payment.”