The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger-Delta

  • Troops seize Bayelsa creeks in search of militants

    Troops seize Bayelsa creeks in search of militants

    Search for Niger Delta militants began, Tuesday, as stern-looking and war-kitted troops barricaded some creeks and waterways of Bayelsa State.

    The operation commenced following the declaration by the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS) that it would go “on the offensive” to fish out all the militants and killers of soldiers at a military checkpoint in Nembe on Monday morning.

    Militants dared the military on Monday when they ambushed the checkpoint, killed three soldiers on duty and carted away gunboats, rifles and ammunition.

    They held the community spellbound with gunshots that lasted for about 30 minutes.

    It was gathered Tuesday that there was massive movement of troops to the community and surrounding creeks.

    Fighter jets were said to have hovered continually over the community as soldiers took strategic positions and cordoned off some waterways.

    Nembe was described by a resident who spoke in confidence as “ghost town” following massive exodus of panic-stricken locals out of the community.

    “The town is deserted. People who ran away are yet to return. Stores and shops are closed. We can’t even find anything to buy. Some ran into the mangroves, others into smaller communities and Yenagoa.

    “Some of us are only able to stay because the Deputy Governor, John Jonah, and the JTF commander held a town hall meeting with us and assured us of our safety. But people who ran away have not come back,” he said.

    Jonah who led a delegation of the state government and the Commander of ODS, Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, were said to have met with the residents.

    The deputy governor commiserated with the military over the brutal killing of the soldiers.

    At the meeting that was held at the King Koko Square, Nembe, Jonah noted that the killing of the innocent soldiers was senseless, barbaric and not in the best interest of the government and people of the state, especially the peace-loving people of Nembe.

    He described the incident as most painful and unfortunate and recalled that a similar one occurred in July, last year.
    He said the visit was to console and engage the military authorities to douse the palpable tension in the community.

    He urged fleeing members of the community to return home and called on youths and other stakeholders to help the military fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

    He further begged the clergy to continue to pray for lasting peace in the community.

    But Okojie was reported to have said that the troops would not molest innocent people.

    He assured the people of Nembe that the perpetrators of the dastardly act would be made to account for their mindless actions.

    According to him troops are already on the trail of the criminals and will soon arrest and bring them to justice.

    Okojie also urged members of the community to volunteer useful information to the military authorities, appealing to them not to be scared of military presence.

    Some leaders in the community were said to have spoken at the occasion condemning the killing of the soldiers.

    Persons who expressed their condolences were a state lawmaker from Nembe, Ebi Ben-Ololo; Vice-Chairman, Nembe Council, Chief Bright Erewari-Iweka, and Chief Walter Feghabo-Amain.

    They noted that since the coming of JTF to Nembe, the community had enjoyed relative peace.
    They said members of the community would continue to cooperate with the military to ensure that perpetrators were apprehended and made to face the law.

    But a notable chief from the community, Wilfred Ogbotobo, said it had become expedient for the Federal Government to confront the militants with maximum force instead of pampering and indulging them.

    He said treating criminals with kid gloves was the reason why they had become emboldened to carry out attacks.

    He said: “All the peace-loving people of Nembe condemn in the strongest terms this latest and all forms of criminality perpetrated in Ijaw territories under the guise of Niger Delta struggle.

    “We want to sound it loud and clear that these indolent, cowardly and dastardly acts of terrorism with no head or tail would only compound and diminish the genuine struggle for the wellbeing and uplifting of the people and the region”.

    Ogbotobo said the despicable acts perpetrated in the region did not represent the ideals of Ijaw heroes such as King Koko of Nembe Kingdom and Isaac Adaka Boro.
    “Hence, if the motive is the prevalent delusion that every piracy, kidnapping and destruction means a rational continuation of the Boro militancy, it is warped and unacceptable.

    “The Niger Delta comprises different nationalities and cultures; hence, we must be careful about the image with which we brand our identity.

    “Any attempt, under a warped and distorted delusion to make the region ungovernable for President Muhammad Buhari would only isolate the Ijaws further.

    “Boro certainly would have opted to build a national political party to project the interests of the Ijaws and pursue the aspirations of the people of the region.

    “This should not be a period of militancy rather IY should be a period of reflection considering the unprecedented corruption and ineptitude of the past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, an Ijaw man.”

    The Nembe chief said the present realities demanded that the people of the region should imbibe seriousness in their lives, hold their traditional, local and state governments accountable.

    He said: “It is abundantly clear that the youths spearheading these dangerous ventures have not been adequately cautioned about the full implications and wrath associated with the kind of things they are doing.

    “The Federal Government should, therefore, declare a state of emergency in the affected areas and apply maximum force to dislodge ever criminal tendency and restate the entire region back to safety to fast-track development.”

  • Niger Delta: In the throes of a looming invasion

    Niger Delta: In the throes of a looming invasion

    Residents of the Niger Delta region are daily hoping for a permanent resolution of the ongoing agitations that has pitched many militant groups against the federal government. Shola O’Neil, S’South Regional Editor, Port Harcourt and Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, Lagos, in this piece, report that following announcement that a military operation may be necessary to end the crises in the region, many now live in unending apprehension.

    AFTER the interregnum of peace, tension is again rising in the volatile Niger Delta region over several threats by the Federal Government to unleash the full weight and prowess of its armed forces on the region, if militants who have crippled oil production in the oil-rich region, fail to accept its offer of peace.

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Commanding the Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba, stoked the fire last week in Warri, Delta State, when he disclosed that the Defence Headquarters had raised the military alert level in the region, stressing that formations are on ‘Red Alert’.

    “All of us are at alert and that’s why you can see all the deployment all over; the Air Force, Navy, Army, Police and DSS, all of us are working together. There is no cause for alarm because we have already taken up all strategic places,” he added.

    The Nation’s reporter in the troubled area, Bolaji Ogundele, confirmed the military top brass’ assertion, saying the army, navy and police “were seen mounting surveillance in the communities of Burutu, Ughelli, Patani, Warri, Effurun and Warri South West local government areas.”

    The threat of military option is causing panic in the region. The anxiety is ricocheting everywhere: from Delta to Bayelsa and other states, but mostly in Warri area, notably in Gbaramatu Kingdom. The reasons for the anxiety of the people in these areas are not farfetched: In the past decade Gbaramatu has suffered countless military invasions through the air, sea and land.

    The clan’s richness in oil and gas is matched by its profusion in militancy, restiveness and uncompromising attitude. It is seen as a bastion of militancy and violence, a reputation burnished by its role as the birth place of the terror of the 2000s – Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and now perceived widely (community leaders say erroneously) as the birthplace of the new terror on the block, Niger Delta Avengers.  It is therefore no surprise that another invasion threat is sending shivers down the spines of residents of communities.

    Analysts say the FG’s stance is indicative of frustration with the failure of several steps, including offer of ceasefire, meetings with key leaders from the region and other overtures to stem rising attacks on oil and gas facilities in the region. Despite these steps, the scope of the attacks are widening and worsening.

    Instead of violence abating, from Delta/Bayelsa, the Avengers and affiliate groups expanded the sphere of their destructions to Akwa-Ibom State, hitting pipelines and facilities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and ExxonMobil gas line at Nsit Ibom and Qua Iboe 48″ export lines respectively.

    FG dealing with impostors, fraudsters

    Prior to those attacks, NDA had warned the Federal Government against dealing with impostors and fraudsters, insisting that it was not in negotiation with it. The Buhari peace train (some say jamboree) led by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu and another by Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung among others, had also met with representatives of Tompolo, Gbaramatu clan and other stakeholders.

    Sources in the region who spoke in confidence with our reporter blamed the logjam on numerous issues, chiefly what it perceived as lack of coordination between the government’s agents and attempt by officials to score financial and political goals.

    The clearest sign that FG delegation were backing the wrong tree emerged when Dalung’s  purported “visit to Oporoza to dialogue with Avengers and the community leaders” was disavowed by stakeholders. In a stern denial, the chairman of the community, Mr. Johnbull  Dumebi, said, “We doubt the claim of the Minister, that he visited Oporoza community and had a meeting with members of Niger Delta Avengers and other community people.”

    He warned officials of the government against hobnobbing with mercenaries who are only out to make money. “Minister Dalung should know that he has been deceived by mischievous persons and perhaps must have been swindled. And so whoever that intend to visit our communities should make proper arrangement with the leadership of such communities so as to avoid any mishap in the course of embarking on such journey,” he said.

    Independent investigations by The Nation also revealed that tribal and communal leaders with genuine intentions are not only sidelined because of political and other considerations, but are thrown into confusion about who among the teeming officials have the mandate of President Buhari to lead the process.

    “It seem like everybody is jumping into the fray, for what reason? Only they and their backers can tell, but there is no doubt that this is not the right way to go,” an Ijaw leader told our reporter.

    It was also gathered that some of the militant leaders do not trust the Minister of Petroleum Resources who hails from the non-oil producing area of Delta State. A reliable source opined that an Ijaw or someone from one of the core oil producing communities would be more acceptable to the hot-blooded elements.

    Similarly, findings show that unlike in the past when MEND held sway in the region, several militant groups and impostors have emerged since the outbreak of the latest crisis. A notable splinter group is the Adaka Boro Avenger (ABA), which ‘aborted’ its threat to declare a Niger Delta republic on August 1.

    The water is further muddled up by the involvement of the apex Ijaw youth body, Ijaw Youth Council, MEND and other groups that either confirm or deny that dialogue was ongoing. There were suspicions that some questionable characters were fanning the embers of crisis while others are angling to benefit from the expected patronages from the FG, notably pipeline contract as that obtainable during the MEND insurgence. “That is why you see different group coming up with their agenda’s demand and threat. Unfortunately history shows, clearly too, that those who benefit from ‘agitation for development of Niger Delta’ are the violent group.”

    The role of Tompolo is also not so clear, with several sources hinting that he could be looking for political solution and a way out of his corruption case with the EFCC. His media adviser, Comrade Paul Bebenimino, who was contacted, was yet to respond to our inquiry at press time on Friday.

    In its reaction through its Spokesperson, Mr. Eric Omare, IYC advised the FG to be wary of what he described as “computer militant groups’, whose threat do not go beyond their computers.” He also criticized the FG’s ‘propaganda’ on ongoing discussion and dialogue to resolve the crisis, saying there had been no meeting.

    He said, “The FG cannot use the ‘failure of a non-existing dialogue’ to attack hapless communities. In the first place, there is no dialogue going on, as far as we know. It therefore means that the threat (of military invasion), where there is no dialogue, is a ploy by the Federal Government to find an excuse to kill innocent children, women and youths of the Niger Delta region and that will be unfortunate.”

    Omare, a lawyer, while responding to our reporter’s question on whether the Udengs Eradiri-led IYC was also interested in the peace talk for pecuniary and selfish reasons, thundered that nothing could be farther from the truth. We have always said that there is no dialogue; we only said we welcome attempt to dialogue but there was never dialogue.

    “Having said that, it is wrong to say IYC is angling to be part of dialogue. We represent the largest percentage of youths in the Niger Delta; we are not begging to be part of it; the government needs IYC, if it is truly desirous of finding a lasting solution. IYC has a traditional and constitutional right to be part of it.”

    On its media role, particularly when speaking on attacks on oil facilities, he explained: “I have a duty to bring attacks on oil facilities to the media who call me for confirmation because you (media) know that we (IYC) are dependable group in the region. I have a duty to you journalists and it is unfortunate to make insinuation, that we are want to be involved in the dialogue because of this.”

    On the way out, Omare said only a dialogue with tribal leaders from the region and not meeting with militants would bring lasting solution. He particularly cautioned against acquiescing to the caprices of the armed gangs, stressing that the government would only be throwing money at the problem and not providing sustainable panacea.

    Earlier, Tompolo has also hinted of his frustration with lack of progress in resolving the logjam.

    The reticent Tompolo, in his latest ‘communication’ with President Muhammadu Buhari, hinted of plan to step aside and watch the drama unfold due to the harassment of his clan members and associates by security operatives.

    He said, “Mr. President Sir, I have written you several open letters. I have stated my position clearly each time I write you. This may be my last open letter to you. I believe the truth will come to stay one day.”

    Conflict resolution experts opined that statement is a subtle warning by Tompolo, who it is believed wants to use the crisis to wriggle his way out of his EFCC case, that things could get worse. He also flayed the President’s ignorance about the Niger Delta situation, adding that the APC-led FG is only interested in the oil from the region.

    FG, military don’t scare us – Avengers

    In a voice that matched the military’s warning, Niger Delta Avengers says it is unperturbed by the military threat option being canvassed. In a statement on Thursday, the group’s spokesperson, Murdoch Agbinibo said, “The Nigeria Military is playing some war game on some illegal bunkering camps and showing video of how they carry out the bombardment. That is so unprofessional don’t think they can intimidate the NDA with those scrap jet bombers. They can deploy fourth generation jet-bombers (still) that will not stop us from fighting for our people.

    “We challenge the military to share with the public the militants killed in the so-called sir strike. We are very sure they won’t share the images of militants killed because none was killed except innocent women and children”, he added.

    The NDA’s allusion to alleged killing of innocent women and children explains why the aged, women and children in the region are the most panicky as a result of the FG threat of “all out military action”.

    In May Oporoza, Kurutie and several other communities where the centre of destruction as soldiers went in search of Ekpemupolo and members of the Avengers.  The weeklong operation neither led to his arrest nor those of key Avengers’ members. It only earned them the anger of women, youths and children who were forced to flee their homes (not for the first time) in search of safe havens outside the area.

    Although the Avengers may be repudiating the federal government’s threat, many others are living in fears, the communities that experienced the booming of guns and clashing of combatants who survived the 2009 military invasion of the Niger Delta, according to some Ijaw elders have spent the rest of their lives praying against a recurrence.

    On May 15, 2009, a military operation undertaken by a Joint Task Force (JTF) began against Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) militants operating in the Niger Delta region. It came in response to the kidnapping of Nigerian soldiers and foreign sailors in the Delta region. The operations commenced after weeks of appeals and negotiations which failed to bring the then rampaging militants to reasoning.

    At the end of the military offensive that lasted over a week, thousands of Niger Deltans fled their villages and hundreds of people lay dead.  As the soldiers advanced on the creeks, the overpowered militants, who had earlier swore to defend their communities with the last drop of their blood, either got killed as they swore or took to their heels, leaving their unarmed and helpless kinsmen at the mercy of the invading army.

    Many villages lay in ruin and numerous families, communities remain displaced till today. The scars of the unfortunate incident are yet to heal and many activists are still reeling out figures of people who got maimed, killed or displaced while the operation lasted. The Nigerian military authorities continue to defend the operation as a “necessity in the quest to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria.” But all in all, many residents of the region, who witnessed the invasion, would wish it never happened.

    Fleeing residents

    The Nation also gathered that some of the communities are gradually being depopulated as residents daily flee to seemingly safer places far and near. Checks by our correspondents revealed that many people, unable to bear the uncertainty that pervades their communities, are seeking safety and certainty elsewhere.

    A community leader in Eweleso who spoke on condition of anonymity, said many residents, especially able-bodied men and youths, are relocating to other communities for fear that they could be mistaken for militants when the invasion commence. This, he added, had left many of their villages desolate.

    “Come around and see things for yourself. Our young men are fleeing the villages. Even mothers and wives are now encouraging the youth to relocate. This is because we fear they could be mistaken for militants when the invasion commence. The situation is affecting the economy of our communities,’ he said.

    Speaking on the matter, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, said fear and uncertainty have compelled many residents to flee their homes, especially with the alleged maltreatment melted out on them by the soldiers. He reiterated the position of the community that it is not a home to militants or any other criminals.

    Clark, Izoukumor, others, want dialogue not military action

    It was against this backdrop that activists in the region, including Chief Favour Izoukumor and Comrade Sheriff Mulade of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, have urged the Federal Government to tread with caution.

    Izoukumor particularly frowned at the fear and panic being spread in the area. “You do not set your house on fire simply because you are trying to catch a mouse, do you? The government should be seeking support and cooperation of community leaders, not antagonizing them,” he said.

    The Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom traditional titleholder also flayed profiling of the Ijaw people as militants. “There are people who have genuine grievances, there are those who feel they are being victimized and persecuted because of their political roles in the 2015 elections. These are genuine issues which must be addressed.

    “The threat of military operation cannot be the solution to what is happening. The Federal Government must portray itself as one that is not against the Niger Delta people or its leaders. That is the only way that they can gain the peoples’ support and tackle the criminal elements who are hiding under and exploiting the genuine feelings of marginalization and siege mentality generated by these actions,” he stated.

    Speaking in the same vein, Mulade, who is the President of Kokodiagbene community, advised sabre rattling militant groups to sheathe their swords: “I want to strongly caution militants in the region particularly ABA to abort their alleged plan to declare Niger Delta Republic which is not the primary interest of the people but development and remediation of the devastated environment,” he added.

    Rising from a meeting at the home of foremost Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark in Warri during the week, Ijaw leaders also advised the FG and militants to give peace a chance. The attendees of the meeting including Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, deputy governor of Delta State, Kinsley Otuaro, former Rivers State deputy governor, Sir Gabriel Toby, former Minister of Culture, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas and many others, were unanimous that military operation was not the answer.

  • Navy optimistic of political solution to re-emergence of militancy in Niger Delta

    The Nigerian Navy says it is optimistic that dialogue and political intervention will address the re-emergence of militancy in the Niger Delta region.

    It, however, said that where both processes failed to yield the desired result, it is “more than ready to take the military option’’.

    Commodore Christian Ezekobe, the Director of Information, Nigerian Navy headquarters, made this position known when he featured at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.

    “What has posed some level of challenge is the re-emergence of militancy in the Niger Delta – the blowing up of oil and gas infrastructure, which is crucial to the nation’s survival.

    “This we are grappling with right now.

    “Over the news you would have heard of various levels of arrest being made and handover of suspects to DSS also being made and so on.

    “But we are praying for a political solution a way of dialogue and political intervention

    “However, where that fails, we are more than ready to take the military option.’’

    He said that between June 2015 and Dec. 2015, the rate of maritime-related crimes at the sea such as robbery, kidnapping and piracy dropped sharply.

    Ezekobe, however, said a surge in the rate of such crimes was recorded in Feb. 2016 and continued up to April, when the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas initiated Operation ‘Tsare Teku’.

    “Since April, when ‘Operation Tsare Teku’ was initiated, we have had only two cases (of maritime-related crimes).

    “When it was initiated, the operation was to last 90 days.“

    He said although the operation ended two weeks ago, the second phase was recently inaugurated by the chief of naval staff in Port Harcourt.

    Ezekobe noted that before Tsare Teku was initiated, 47 attacks by pirates, were recorded.

    He said since then, the Navy had clamped down on illegal bunkerers and crude oil thieves, who were moving stolen products from the hinterland to the sea.

    Ezekobe said the Navy had acquired boats from an indigenous firm for use to patrol the creeks, rivers and rives in the region.

    “So, overtime, we are going to see that our partnership with Epenal leads to the mass production of patrol boats within the creeks and rivers of the Niger Delta,“ he said.

    He, therefore, urged all relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to join the crusade against piracy in the country.

    “But the solution to that problem is land-based and like I said, all the agencies of government need to intensify their efforts so that we can all solve the problem,“ he said.

    He disclosed that ‘Operation Awatse’ had put in place to check pipeline vandalism and other crimes.

    “The operation has addressed this issue and largely eliminated pipeline vandalism – at least in the Lagos lagoon area.“

    According to him, the re-emergence of militancy in the Niger Delta has encouraged some criminal elements to infuse themselves into the local criminal groups in the area to heighten the spate of insecurity and sabotage to oil and gas infrastructure.

  • Ominous clouds in the Niger Delta

    Ominous clouds in the Niger Delta

    The activities of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the Adaka Boro Avengers (ABA) and other militant groups in the Niger Delta and the military’s readiness to cow them have put the region on the edge, reports Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

    The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the Adaka Boro Avengers (ABA) and other militant groups in the Niger Delta have put the region on the edge. Fear walks on all fours.

    The people, especially children, they claim to be fighting for are living in fear. The region is not faring better. The environment is devastated and no investor is thinking about the Niger Delta. The region wears the toga of violence and no development comes to any area that is notorious for hostilities.

    Besides, stakeholders from the region are also asking the militants to embrace dialogue if indeed their agitation is driven by their love for the Niger Delta. Everybody is scared that if the militants failed to accede to the peace talks, the full weight of the Federal Government’s wrath would be brought to the region.

    Indeed, the military and other security agencies have demonstrated their readiness to take the war to the militants. Different security measures have been mapped out. The Joint Task Force (JTF) has been reorganised and renamed Operation Delta Safe (ODS).

    The recent visit of the Minister of Defence, Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (retd) and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, to the headquarters of the ODS in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, is an indication that the government is prepared for any eventuality.

    Apparently, they were in the state to assess the readiness of the ODS; determine its logistics needs and roll out fresh plans to deal with criminals in the region. The two security heads took their time to tour facilities of ODS and to inspect the components of the outfit. They held a meeting with the component heads of ODS behind closed doors.

    Gen. Dan-Ali and Gen. Olonisakin rolled out some of their plans when they visited the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd). The security measures are to be put in place despite the outcome of the ongoing dialogue. But they will be deployed in full gear if the dialogue fails.

    First, civilians and ex-militant leaders including community leaders and governors will be integrated in the operations of the ODS. This is to replicate the civilian JTF operating currently operating in the North-East. New brigades are to be set up in the region at strategic points in the creeks.

    Military personnel operating in the region will be constantly rotated. There is an indication that  troops fighting Boko Haram insurgents will be relocated to the Niger Delta. Already, there are ongoing mass transfers of soldiers in the Niger Delta to the Northeast.

    Gen. Dan-Ali, while addressing the operatives, said they should not see their transfer to the North-East as punishment. He commended their sacrifices to the country and asked them to always fight for the unity of the country. The troops harmoniously told the minister that they would not allow the country to divide in their time.

    Undoubtedly, the presence of Gen. Dan-Ali and Gen. Olonisakin, their activities and new security measures boosted the morale of ODS led by Rear Admiral Joseph Okogie. The ODS commander, component heads of ODS; Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command (CNC), Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba, and the Air Force Commanding Mobility Command, were all part of the visit.

    Gen. Dani-Ali said: “I come here to see how we can improve their logistics. You may recall that during our last meeting with the Vice-President where all the governors from Southsouth and east attended, it was agreed that whatever security arrangement that we will have must involve people within the general area.

    “I am here to enforce the decision whereby all the governors and locals in the general area will be accommodated in the security architecture. We have such arrangement in the North-East where we have local JTF and they were of tremendous assistance to our armed forces especially when it comes to gathering of intelligence.

    “This is one of the cardinal arrangements and that is why I said I should come and have a pure assessment of how we could imbibe them in this new security architecture of this new operation called Operation Delta Safe”.

    He added: “We are also of the opinion of getting some of these amnesty students that have graduated involved in the security architecture. They are being paid and we are thinking of the way they can be useful to us instead of just paying them.

    “We are also of the opinion that we should be having constant rotation of our security personnel to give us better understanding of how some of them will not be engaged in these illegal activities because if they overstay, they also get accustomed and get involved in some of these illegal activities. We also thinking of establishing special brigades”.

    The minister warned persons fanning the ambers of division and said Nigeria must remain unified. He said: “I wish to add that keeping Nigeria is a task involving all of us. Rght from the civil war, our armed forces have been doing their best in getting the nation as one. We are asking for your continuous support for what we could call unification of the nation. We need to know that if Africa is united, it is stronger”.

    He hinted of the fate that would be fall the region if the ogling dialogue fails. He said: “This is one of the cardinal point that brought us here, to look for peace, but we are also preparing in case the peace and negotiations are not favourable, and we are also on our own side making all the arrangement so that there will be peace in the Niger Delta. We cannot rule out force.

    “We have started the dialogue and we remembered that the negotiation started after our meeting with the Vice-President and South-South governors. This is one of the reasons why I am here. I came to see what is available on the ground and the operational capability of the armed forces within the zone”.

    On plans to avoid collateral damage in case the military decides to use force, the minister said: “We are not saying that we are going to war. We are doing internal security work and internal security work is not war.

    “So you cannot be talking about collateral damage. We know our rules of engagement. We cannot use just forces like that without any mandate. So collateral damage should not come in. As far as we are concerned we are just trying to stop criminality in this general area”.

    Gen. Olonishakin asked the aggrieved persons to embrace dialogue saying the military has the constitutional duty to ensure peace. He warned persons sabotaging the country’s critical infrastructure to stop or prepare to face the music.

    He said: “The military has a constitutional duty to ensure that there is peace and we are here for peace and whatever we need to do we will ensure that.

    “We have allowed truce to ensure that whoever that wants to come to talk can be given the opportunity, then while giving the opportunity we also ensure that our troops are in position to make sure that the truce is well implemented.

    “However, we want to tell those who are sabotaging the critical infrastructure that they have to put on their reasoning cap and ensure that they come to the negotiation table and discuss.

    “We in the military will enforce and ensure that critical infrastructures are protected and ensure that anyone found sabotaging the economy is properly dealt with and we will also ensure that those who are being involved in all the criminality are brought to book.”

    Few days after the departure of the chief of Defence staff and the minister, the military demonstrated what could happen in the region if the dialogue failed and the attacks on pipelines continued. The military was heavily present at Kaiama, the hometown of the late Ijaw icon, Isaac Adaka Boro.

    Their presence was informed by reports that ABA wanted to use the town as its base to declare the Niger Delta Republic. The massive presence of the military, however, thwarted the move.

    Speaking on Kaiama operation, Okogie said the military would not allow any group to use any part of the Niger Delta to declare a republic in Nigeria. Okogie, warned troublemakers and said the troops of the ODS were fully on ground to deal with them.

    Okogie spoke shortly after a close-door meeting that lasted for over five hours with component commanders of the ODS at the conference room of the outfit’s Headquarters in Igbogene, Yenagoa.

    Okogie said: “The information that was passed recently by some faceless organisation about creating certain republic for themselves will not be allowed to happen.

    “So, for that reason, we have to tell everyone that ODS under the Commander in Chief and Chief of Defence Staff is fully on ground and we are doing our own bit”.

    He described the Kaiama operation as routine and said the armed forces had the right to be anywhere at anytime.

    He said: “The Federal Republic of Nigeria belongs to all of us and the armed forces can be anywhere at any time. And we have decided to show our presence in this general area because ODS covers the whole of the Niger Delta maritime area.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Partnering for sustainable development of Niger Delta

    The crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region, comprising Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Abia and Imo States, is the hotbed of militancy and youth restiveness.

    Militancy started with the Niger Delta youths and other stakeholders genuinely agitating for commensurate development of the region, thereby ending the years of neglect and marginalisation, but the struggle was later hijacked by criminals for pecuniary benefits.

    To restore sanity to the region and ensure sustainable development, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was established in year 2000 by the Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

    The Niger Delta, with a land area of 112,110 sq. kms., with population of over 40 million people and forty different ethnic groups, speaking 250 languages and dialects, with 13,329 settlements in 185 local government areas.

    The region is the third largest wetland in the world. Niger Delta has rich biodiversity, with five distinct eco-zones: mangrove forest and coastal vegetation, fresh water swamp forest, lowland rain forest, derived savannah and montane region.

    In order for NDDC to bring all the partners to speed on the challenges and opportunities inherent in the Niger Delta, the Partners for Sustainable Development (PSD) forum was put in place and had been meeting sparingly since December 2004.

    The forum is a consultative platform where key development stakeholders in the Niger Delta can plan, network, harmonise and coordinate developmental activities, towards a sustainable development of the region.

    The main mission of the PSD forum is to drive the implementation of the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan.

    It provides an opportunity for members to interact, share experiences, mutually learn and forge actionable partnerships, as well as a platform for collaboration among the development stakeholders in the Niger Delta.

    The forum is made up of active development partners in the Niger Delta, such as the governments of the nine states of the region, oil and gas producing companies, the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and International Development Agencies (IDAs).

    Other partners include the Federal Government’s National Planning Commission, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Amnesty Office, as well as chairmen of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the nine states of the Niger Delta, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and NDDC.

    The first meeting in 2016 of the PSD forum took place at the Atlantic Hall of Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt in Rivers State on July 19 and had as theme: “Effective Collaboration in the Development of the Niger Delta Region,” with a former Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, as the interventionist agency’s Acting Managing Director.

    The next day (July 20), President Muhammadu Buhari appointed an ex-Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Nsima Ekere, as the substantive managing director of the commission, to complete the four-year tenure of Bassey Dan-Abia (in line with the NDDC’s Act), also from the same state, but sacked by the President after two years in office.

    President Buhari also appointed a former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, an indigene of Cross River State, who recently defected from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as the Chairman of the Board of the commission.

    Members of the National Assembly, especially the Senate, will screen and confirm the appointed managing director, chairman and other members of the board of the commission, from September 13, when they are expected to resume plenary from their last sitting of July 21.

    The acting managing director of NDDC, in her welcome address, reiterated that the last PSD forum was held between Monday, November 30, 2015 and Tuesday December 1 last year, while the PSD meeting of July 19 this year was the first to be held, since her December 2015 appointment as the commission’s helmsman.

    She stated that the PSD forum was to provide a clearing house of information for stakeholders during project planning, budgeting and implementation stages, to ensure that stakeholders were aware of what others were doing and planning to do.

    Mrs. Semenitari pointed out that the forum would afford stakeholders the opportunity to devolve development functions, avoid duplication of efforts and waste of scarce resources.

    She said: “The goal (of the PSD forum) is to bring all partners to speed on the challenges and opportunities inherent in the Niger Delta region.

    “The importance of this forum in the development of the Niger Delta cannot be overemphasised, especially at this auspicious time, when the country is relying on major actors in the Niger Delta to come together and address the development challenges facing the region, in view of the change agenda of Mr. President.”

    The NDDC’s helmsman also lauded President Buhari and members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for their unalloyed commitment to the development of the Niger Delta, while assuring that their efforts would not be in vain.

    Many guest speakers presented papers at the PSD forum, with emphasis placed on how to move the Niger Delta forward and ensure sustainable development of the region.

    Mrs. Semenitari, in her presentation titled: “Partnership/Partnering: Strategies to Deepen Collaboration with tiers of Government and Development Agencies,” noted the critical roles of partners in the protection of projects in the communities.

    She pointed out that as critical partners with NDDC, communities of the Niger Delta must always safeguard projects within their localities, in order to drive development.

    Ex-Rivers information commissioner said: “What we are doing is to seek collaboration of our partners to protect investments. The people of the communities in the Niger Delta are critical stakeholders and are partnering with NDDC to protect their investments.

    “The communities’ people are the owners of the development projects and national assets, such as pipelines and they must protect them.”

    The NDDC boss also urged the people of Niger Delta to get themselves educated and look beyond their immediate environment, stressing that they must be aware of the world and maximise the benefits.

    The Country Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Dr. Larry Boms, noted that the institute had always been a partner of NDDC, while assuring that UNITAR would continue to engage with the NDDC, but noted that collaboration was essential, to ensure development of the Niger Delta.

    The Secretary of the Ledum Mitee-led Technical Committee on Niger Delta, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo, noted that recommendations of the committee led to the creation of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and granting of amnesty to repentant Niger Delta militants.

    Toyo also admonished Niger Deltans to always think outside the box, envision how the region would look like in the next 50 years, thereby giving peace a chance and remaining united to ensure commensurate development.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Multimesh Broadcasting Company Limited, Godfrey Ohuabunwa, in his remarks, urged people of the region to dream big, for the Niger Delta to be a model and Nigeria to be better for it, reiterating that government would not be able to employ everybody, while calling for human capital development.

    While also speaking, Prof. Paul Nwolu of the Ford Foundation’s West Africa Office, stated that the foundation was happy to partner with the NDDC, while admonishing the people of the Niger Delta to learn how to make their challenges work and support decent livelihood, to solve most of the problems of the region, through dignity of labour.

    The pioneer Military Administrator of the old Rivers state, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, in his remarks, pointed out that state governments were cash-strapped because the oil was not flowing, declaring that if the situation was not urgently addressed, the Federal Government would also be cash-strapped.

    Diete-Spiff, who is the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass in Bayelsa state, said: “The Niger Delta has been the treasure base of the nation and we would have liked to see everybody in the region living like those in Dubai or Kuwait. They should be looking prosperous, confident, completely relaxed and cool.

    “That is the Niger Delta I will like to see. Where our children go to school, with top-level hospitals and other institutions and everybody is coming down here (Niger Delta) because they know this is the beehive, the land flowing with milk and honey, with the people themselves being given their rightful position.

    “I will like to see a Niger Delta, where everybody has peace of mind and equanimity and do not feel at all that they are being short-changed. I will like to see a Niger Delta where there is enough employment and where it is a joyful and happy family, proudly contributing and leading the nation’s economy.

    “The youths (of Niger Delta) are not employed. The older ones, even the pensioners, are not getting their pensions, because the earnings have dropped seriously. Everybody is agitated and what you see is a spill-over. When a kettle or a pot boils, it spills over and so the Niger Delta is boiling. We are trying to get to the root of it and we will see how we can control it and make everybody cool down.”

    The first-class monarch also described the PSD forum as a milestone in the history of Niger Delta, while urging the people to work as a team, to make the Niger Delta an enviable region, thereby moving forward, even without crude oil and gas.

    King Diette-Spiff urged the people of Niger Delta to change their attitude and make the region a better place for all, stressing that the region was supposed to be a tourist destination, while urging the people to work towards building industries and make Niger Delta an economic hub of Nigeria.

    The National Chairman of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROMPCON), His Majesty Eze Akuwueze Raphael Ikegwuruka, Ezeahurukwe II, described the actions of members of Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other militant groups as diametrically colossal.

    He urged the Federal Government to restore sanity to the crude oil and gas-rich region without further delay and to dialogue with the warlords.

    The monarch also called on the Federal Government, oil companies and others properly fund the NDDC.

  • Militancy, insecurity in Niger Delta didn’t deter me from service, says retiring Irish missionary

    A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Paul Hardy, has said that militancy and kidnapping in the Niger Delta did not deter his 52 years of missionary work in the region.

    Speaking at a send-off ceremony in his honour, Hardy, who started his missionary work in 1964 in Calabar, said that the insecurity in the Niger Delta was not enough to deter him from serving in God‘s vineyard, adding that the zeal to impact life was paramount.

    The priest said that though he was a foreigner, he had no economic or commercial value to attract kidnappers, hence he did not bother about his personal security as he lived among the ordinary people.

    “I have no economic and commercial value, but I have enormous spiritual value for all mankind and so I have nothing to be afraid of,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the parishioners of Christ the King Parish, Imiringi in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa took turns to shower him with encomiums for his selfless service.

    The Chairman of the men’s fellowship in the parish, Chief Jude Ogbuku, said the entire Bomadi Vicariate would miss the priest.

    Ogbuku said Hardy would be remembered for his relentless missionary service to the entire vicariate, appreciating his fatherly love shown to both Christians and non-Christians who came in contact with him.

    While praying God to bless the priest on earth and later in heaven, the chairman challenged indigenous priests to lead lives worthy of emulation.

    Chief Napolian Izuan, who spoke on behalf of Imiringi community, commended Hardy for his compassion to the poor, the needy and the less privileged in the society.

    “The legacy he left behind will not be forgotten,” he said.

  • Ijaw oppose today’s Niger Delta Republic declaration

    The Ijaw have dissociated themselves from today’s planned declaration of a Niger Delta Republic by a group, the Adaka Boro Avengers (ABA).

    In a statement yesterday, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) said there was no plan by the Niger Delta to secede from Nigeria.

    The statement signed by its spokesman, Eric Omare, advised the public to disregard ABA’s threat and cautioned the armed forces against using that (the threat) to attack Ijaw communities.

    Last night, there was heavy security at Kaiama, the venue of the planned declaration.

    Soldiers, police and Department of State Service (DSS) operatives took strategic positions in the historic town.

    IYC also warned the Reformed Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) against attacking the Ijaw living in some parts of Lagos and Ogun states because that could lead to violence.

    It implored the security agents to do their jobs and get to the root of the attacks in some Southwest communities.

    The statement reads: “We call on residents of Kaiama town to be calm and go about their normal activities. There is no plan by the Ijaw people to declare a republic and the threat by the Adaka Boro Avengers should be completely disregarded.

    “We wish to warn groups and individuals not to further expose Ijaw and Niger Delta communities to unnecessary tension and danger. The growth in modern means of information technology should not be abused to the detriment of our communities by issuing unnecessary threats and ultimatums.

    “The IYC also call on security agencies to stop forthwith unnecessary threat and attacks on Ijaw and other Niger Delta communities because of threats by faceless groups. The Ijaw nation has a leadership and they should also check with the leadership on issues of security concern instead of threatening or attacking innocent communities and people.

    “On the ultimatum and threat by the Reformed Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), the IYC call OPC members and the leadership of the Yoruba nation to allow security agents do their constitutional duty of apprehending criminals responsible for the Ogun and Lagos attacks.

    “As at this morning, information at the disposal of the IYC indicates that some Ijaw people resident in Lagos and Ogun states for fear of attack are already relocating from their places of residence to the Southsouth.

    “The IYC seriously warn against attack on innocent Ijaw people in the south western part of the country as it would result in unnecessary reprisal attacks in parts of the south-south where Yoruba people are resident as well. An inter-ethnic clash between the Ijaw and Yoruba people is totally unnecessary. The Ogun and Lagos attacks are clear cases of criminality and should be treated as such instead of threatening to attack innocent Ijaw people and their businesses”.

    Last week, ABA threatened to declare a Niger Delta Republic today and asked indigenes of the region to return home for the exercise.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Gen. Edoms Ayayeibo, the group urged former President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Edwin Clark, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, Ankio Briggs, Joseph Eva, Patrick Fufein, past and present military personnel from the region, serving senators and House of Representative members to be present at the meeting.

    The statement reads: “We are also using this medium to call of the Niger Delta famous sons and daughters, the children of the late Pa Isaac Adaka Boro and all sons and daughters of Niger Delta Republic to come to Kaiama for the official declaration of the Niger Delta Republic on August 1.”

  • Military plans new security measures for Niger Delta

    •Civilian JTF, ex-militants to join operations, says CDS

    The Federal Government and the military have planned new security measures to protect Niger Delta, following the outcome of the dialogue to end hostilities in the region.

    The government is said to be considering the integration of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and former militants in the new JTF, Operation Delta Safe (ODS), as well as establishing new brigades.

    The Minister of Defence, Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (retd), and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin spoke in Bayelsa State on the government’s plans to end hostility in the region when they toured ODS units.

    Dan-Ali said the government was planning to establish the local JTF, following the feat a similar outfit achieved in the war against Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast.

    Dan-Ali and Olonisakin were accompanied by ODS Commander Rear Admiral Joseph Okogie; component heads of ODS; Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command (CNC), Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba and the Air Force Commanding Mobility Command.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, the state capital, the minister said the government was considering involving locals and other stakeholders in the region, including the governors, in the new security architecture to replicate the civilian JTF in the Northeast.

    He said: “I come here to see how we can improve their logistics. You may recall that during our last meeting with the Vice-President, where all the governors from Southsouth and Southeast attended. It was agreed that whatever security arrangement we would have must involve people within the general area.

    “I am here to enforce the decision whereby all the governors and the locals in the general area will be accommodated in the security architecture. We have such arrangement in the Northeast where we have local JTF and they were of tremendous assistance to our Armed Forces, especially when in intelligence gathering.

    “This is one of the cardinal arrangements, and that is why I said I should come and have a pure assessment of how we could imbibe them in this new security architecture of the new operation called Operation Delta Safe.”

    During a visit to Governor Seriake Dickson, who was represented by his deputy, John Jonah, the minister urged the state to help the Federal Government to identify some illegal websites used by some people to spread falsehood against the military.

    Dan-Ali said: “We are also of the opinion that you will help us in identifying some of the illegal websites that are used for rumour mongering and painting our Armed Forces in bad light; painting them in the activities that we thought should not be.

    “We are also of the opinion that it is necessary to get some of these Amnesty students, who have graduated, involved in the security architecture. They are being paid and we are thinking of the way they can be useful to us, instead of just paying them.

    “We are also of the opinion that we should be having constant rotation of our security personnel to give us better understanding of how some of them will not be engaged in illegal activities. This is because if they overstay, they also get accustomed and get involved in some illegal activities. We are also thinking of establishing special brigades.”

    The minister, who had closed meetings with component commanders of ODS at the Yenagoa headquarters of the outfit, said the unity of Nigeria was not negotiable.

    He urged all to key into government’s efforts to unite the country.

    Dan-Ali said: “I wish to add that keeping Nigeria is a task involving all of us. Right from the Civil War, our Armed Forces have been doing their best in keeping the nation united.

    “We are asking for your continuous support for what we could call the unification of the nation. We need to know that if Africa is united, it is stronger.”

    The minister said the Federal Government was in dialogue with stakeholders to end the economic sabotage in Niger Delta.

    Though he did not say who the government was talking with, Dan-Ali said the government would use force, in case dialogue fails.

    He said: “This is one of the cardinal points that brought us here – to look for peace. But we are also preparing, in case the peace and negotiations are not favourable. We are also, on our own side, making all the arrangement so that there will be peace in Niger Delta. We cannot rule out force.

    “We have started the dialogue. We remember that the negotiation started after our meeting with the Vice-President and Southsouth governors. This is one of the reasons I am here. I came to see what is available on the ground and the operational capability of the Armed Forces within the zone.”

    On plans to avoid collateral damage, in case the military decides to use force, Dan-Ali said: “We are not saying we are going to war. We are doing an internal security work; this is not a war.

    “So, you cannot be talking about collateral damage. We know our rules of engagement. We cannot use just force like that without any mandate. Collateral damage should not come in. As far as we are concerned, we are just trying to stop criminality in this general area.”

  • Military prepares new post-dialogue security measures for Niger Delta

    The Federal Government and the military have mapped out new security measures to protect the Niger Delta region despite the outcome of the ongoing dialogue to end hostilities in the region.

    In the new arrangement, the government is considering the integrations of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and ex-militants in the operations of the new JTF, Operation Delta Safe (ODS) as well as establishing new brigades in region.

    The Minister of Defence, Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (retd) and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, dropped the hints in Bayelsa State when they toured various components of ODS in the state.

    Dan-Ali said the government was planning to establish the local JTF following the feats a similar outfit achieved in the war against the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.

    Dan-Ali and Olonisakin were accompanied by the Commander, ODS, Rear Admiral Joseph Okogie, component heads of ODS; Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command (CNC), Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba, and the Air Force Commanding Mobility Command.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, the state capital, the minister confirmed that the government was considering involving the locals and other stakeholders in the region including the governors in the new security architecture to replicate the civilian JTF in the North-East.

    He said: “I come here to see how we can improve their logistics. You may recall that during our last meeting with the Vice-President where all the governors from Southsouth and east attended, it was agreed that whatever security arrangement that we will have must involve people within the general area.

    “I am here to enforce the decision whereby all the governors and locals in the general area will be accommodated in the security architecture. We have such arrangement in the North-East where we have local JTF and they were of tremendous assistance to our armed forces especially when it comes to gathering of intelligence.

    “This is one of the cardinal arrangements and that is why I said I should come and have a pure assessment of how we could imbibe them in this new security architecture of this new operation called Operation Delta Safe”.

    While paying a courtesy visit to the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, who was represented by his deputy, John Jonah, he asked the state to help the federal government identify some illegal websites used by some persons to spread unfounded allegations against the military.

    He said: “We are also of the opinion that you will help us in identifying some of the illegal websites that are used for rumour mongering and painting our armed forces in bad light; painting them in the activities that we thought should not be.

    “We are also of the opinion of getting some of these amnesty students that have graduated involved in the security architecture. They are being paid and we are thinking of the way they can be useful to us instead of just paying them.

    “We are also of the opinion that we should be having constant rotation of our security personnel to give us better understanding of how some of them will not be engaged in these illegal activities because if they overstay, they also get accustomed and get involved in some of these illegal activities. We also thinking of establishing special brigades”.

  • ‘Only Buhari can chair dialogue on Niger Delta peace’

    ‘Only Buhari can chair dialogue on Niger Delta peace’

    A coalition of Niger Delta ethnic nationalities and civil society groups, under the aegis of United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to revive the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to avert further attacks by the region’s militants.

    The coalition noted that the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua deployed the tactics in 2009 to halt armed agitation in Niger Delta.

    In a statement by its Secretary General, Tony Uranta, UNDEDSS said the Federal Government needed to adopt the late Yar’Adua’s template by appointing a more credible Special Adviser on the region and re-establishing the Niger Delta Committee/Council, which operated five sub-committees to “holistically and sustainably” address the challenges identified in the region.

    The statement said: “UNDEDSS and other leading stakeholders in the region have tirelessly interfaced with very senior members of this administration and given them a detailed template the President should deploy now to resolve this growing insecurity in the region, which is negatively impacting all of Nigeria.

    “In the light of the conflicting statements being made by too many putative representatives of both the region and the Federal Government, it is necessary, however, to state that the Niger Delta is not going to know sustainable peace via the coterie of so-called Contact Groups or Committees! And, that there cannot be any reliable dialogue between the Federal Government and the region without a commitment to Justice and Equity by President Buhari himself.”

    Reiterating that all the Federal Government needed to do was adopt what the 2008 Niger Delta Technical Committee’s Report advised, UNDEDSS listed immediate actions the government could also adopt to reassure Niger Delta of its sincere commitment to Justice and Equity.

    UNDEDSS said: “These include the release of 10 secondary school children and others detained as prisoners-of-war for many weeks since the military’s invasion of Gbaramatu Kingdom; the return of symbols of Gbaramatu traditional worship and, most importantly, President Buhari addressing the nation to announce that he would personally lead the revival of the 2009 Template premised on a Niger Delta Development Committee under his direct supervision, plus grant free passage to all stakeholders he is ready to directly dialogue with.”