IJAW, ITSEKIRI SPAR OVER POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS

There could be fresh possible break down of law and order resulting to ethnic crisis between the Ijaws of Egbema Kingdom and the Itsekiri in Warri North local government area of Delta State over imbalance and marginalization of political appointments.

It is a case of lopsided appointments and marginalization of the Ijaws of Egbema kingdom in the council area by the Itsekiris, in connection of the provocative a unconstitutional exclusion of the Ijaws from the participation in the council and government of the state.

This was disclosed in protest letter addressed to the Senate President, signed by Chief Abel A. Ugedi, National Chairman of Egbema General Assembly, and ex-presidential aspirant, Chief Midwest Mukuru, National Secretary and mave available to Newsmen, decreid that since the creation of Warri North in 1991, the Ijaws of Egbema were completely neglected and marginalized in political appointments, and civil services despite the fact that the Ijaws were more in population as ninety percent of political appointments in the area fovoured only the Itsekiris to the detriment of the Ijaws of Egbema kingdom.

It also stated the negative action of former governor James Ibori, and the present administration of Dr. Uduaghan as completely breach and violation of the fundamental rights of the Ijaws of Egbema in the Warri North, insisting that if the imbalance and marginalization is not urgently and properly corrected , the Ijaws of Egbema may be force to react.

And that the federal character commission in the past wrote to the then council chairman, Hon. Mike Diden in a letter dated 14th June, 2005, directing him to redress the imbalance and marginalization of the Ijaws of Egbema within three weeks, but was ignored and aborted.

It therefore called on the Senate president to kindly prevail in correcting the deadly imbalance of the Ijaws of Egbema in warri North and bring to book those involved in the deliberate defiance of the mandatory provision of section 14 (3) and (4) of the 1999 constitution.

IJAW/ITSEKIRI FACE-OFF OVER POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS IN WARRI NORTH

There could be fresh possible break down of law and order resulting to ethnic crisis between the Ijaws of Egbema Kingdom and the Itsekiri in Warri North local government area of Delta State over imbalance and marginalization of political appointments.

It is a case of lopsided appointments and marginalization of the Ijaws of Egbema kingdom in the council area by the Itsekiris, in connection of the provocative a unconstitutional exclusion of the Ijaws from the participation in the council and government of the state.

This was disclosed in protest letter addressed to the Senate President, signed by Chief Abel A. Ugedi, National Chairman of Egbema General Assembly, and ex-presidential aspirant, Chief Midwest Mukuru, National Secretary and mave available to Newsmen, decreid that since the creation of Warri North in 1991, the Ijaws of Egbema were completely neglected and marginalized in political appointments, and civil services despite the fact that the Ijaws were more in population as ninety percent of political appointments in the area fovoured only the Itsekiris to the detriment of the Ijaws of Egbema kingdom.

It also stated the negative action of former governor James Ibori, and the present administration of Dr. Uduaghan as completely breach and violation of the fundamental rights of the Ijaws of Egbema in the Warri North, insisting that if the imbalance and marginalization is not urgently and properly corrected , the Ijaws of Egbema may be force to react.

And that the federal character commission in the past wrote to the then council chairman, Hon. Mike Diden in a letter dated 14th June, 2005, directing him to redress the imbalance and marginalization of the Ijaws of Egbema within three weeks, but was ignored and aborted.

It therefore called on the Senate president to kindly prevail in correcting the deadly imbalance of the Ijaws of Egbema in warri North and bring to book those involved in the deliberate defiance of the mandatory provision of section 14 (3) and (4) of the 1999 constitution.

TAKE ACTION ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, OIL COYS, GOVT TOLD

The leadership of youth groups in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State have appealed to the management of oil companies and government agencies to stop paying lip to the issue of environmental pollution.



President of Gbaramatu Youth Council, Comrade Sheriff Mulade made the appeal yesterday against the backdrop of face-off between some communities in the kingdom and management of Chevron Nigeria Limited over oil spillage.



It would be recalled that CNL and eight host and impacted communities in the kingdom are locked in conflict over oil spillage from the Otunana and Abiteye platforms of the oil company since August, 2008.



The possible causes of the spills are now a major subject of debate among both parties: while CNL attributed them to 3rd party intervention, Kokodiagbene and other communities insisted that they resulted from equipment failure.



However, Mulade yesterday insisted that CNL must “take proactive steps because various governments and companies have paid lip service to the issue of environmental pollution for so long. It has drastically degraded the ecosystem, reduced the soil quality, loss of organic matters, fishing rights, vegetation and economic impairment among others.”



He said it is imperative to note that the communities disagreement with Chevron over Utonana spill will not tear “us apart because we have a cordially relationship with Chevron.



He accused the company of outright neglect in spite of the cordial relationship, noting that its indigenes do not benefit from employment, contracts and other sundry benefits that should usually accrue to them as host.



Meanwhile, Mulade, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Monday, revealed that the Kokodiagbene and seven communities impacted by the oil spill have set up a 10-man non-exco to investigate the cause of the lingering issue.



He said the committee would carefully and thoroughly investigate to ascertain the root cause to end the lingering matter, adding that its report to be submitted to him in his capacity as General Secretary of Kokodiagbe, would determine the direction and further step to be taken by the communities.

LET THERE BE PEACE IN UGBORODO - HOPE HARRIMAN

WARRI-REAL Estate guru and frontline politician cum elder statesman, Chief Hope Harriman has called for support for the newly constituted Ugborodo Trust led by Mr. Thomas Ereyitomi even as he berated all those attacking Pa. J.O.S. Ayomike for co-initiating the peaceful reconciliation of the fueding parties in the oil -rich Ugborodo community.

Chief Harriman who is also from the Ugborodo community and the Sobaloju of Ife was the first Chairman of the Community Trust in the 60s has also joined Pa. J.O.S. Ayomike in asking for peace in the troubled community that has long been ravaged by internal strife.

He described as 'rascally and senseless the feeble attempt by some misguided miscreants in Ugborodo to cast aspersion on Pa. Ayomike who has developed himself in the annals of Nigerian History and the entire Itsekiri people to become a reference point just as he charge them to retrace their steps and to the path rectitude and emulate others to develop Ugborodo land.'

It would be recalled that the immidiate past Chairman of Warri South-West Council area of Delta State and a one time Chairman of the Ugborodo Trust, Mr. David Tonwe last Week, led some few Ugborodo indigenes to attack the person of Pa. Ayomike for initiating the peace settle that for once brought all the principal authorities and institutions together in harmony.

' MEND'S IROKO CAMP ATTACKED WRPC PIPELINE'

A militant group in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State have been identified as the mastermind of the Independence Anniversary morning attack on the System 2C pipeline of the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) in the area.



The group carried out the attack from a militant camp, identified as Iroko Camp around Gbaramatu Kingdom of the area just as our investigations revealed that the attack was motivated by financial gains rather than Niger Delta crisis.



Already, it was gathered that the leader of the group that carried out the attack (names withheld) was arrested on Friday afternoon and taken to Camp 5, where they are being interrogated by youth leaders opposed to the action.



Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col. Rabe Abubakar, neither confirmed nor denied the report when our correspondent contacted him on Sunday afternoon. He said he could only comment on activities of the task force.



The attack on the strategic pipeline has crippled the operations of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), which relies on the facility for supply of crude oil from facilities of Chevron Nigeria Limited used in its operation.



The System 2C was ruptured around Egwa community in Chanomi Creeks of Warri South West LGA, barely eight months after the facility was re-commissioned in February, 2008.



The repair of the pipeline by Fenog Nigeria Limited set the Federal Government back by US$57-million (about N7-billion) even though an international company had earlier placed a tag of over US$102m for the same job.



It was first bombed by militants around the same area in February 2006 during the wave of attacks by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).



The repair process dragged on for two years because of security and communities’ disturbance, during which period the WRPC became comatose.



However, the facility was successfully repaired in February, paving the way for the resumption of operation at the refinery, which subsequently hit 100 per cent production capacity in August.



But System 2C was again blown up in the area last Wednesday by the militant group, which was allegedly working for some indigenous contractors.



A security operative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said its investigation revealed that the gang carried out the attack allegedly for an unnamed indigenous firm that expects to get contract from the repair of the facility.



“We believe that they did it absolutely for financial gains because they had no agitation or complaints either politically or with the company involved. So, the initial indication right now is that they are working for a contractor, most likely, an indigenous firm that stands to benefit from the repair job.



“From the above and some other revelations that I cannot tell you right now, those most likely to benefit are they who would provide security for the companies carrying out the repair, those who would provide houseboat, barges, and every other supply that is involved in the entire repair process,” our source added.



Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that the leader of the Camp 5 militant base in the area ordered the arrest of the perpetrators of the Wednesday’s attack: they were taken to the base where they are being detained in a caravan, it was learnt.

DELTA COMMUNITIES TO INVADE CHEVRON OIL PLATFORM

Angry indigenes of Kokodiagbene and others impacted by the August 17 crude oil spill from the Jacket 8D of Otunana and Abiteye flow stations of Chevron Nigeria Limited, have vowed to invade the facilities on Monday over refusal by the company to start compensation payment processes.


Already, a 7-day ultimatum given to the company by the impacted and host communities following a breakdown in negotiations elapsed yesterday morning.



Community sources said the aggrieved communities would invade the impacted areas with a team of surveyors and other experts as part of the demarcation exercise, allegedly being avoided by Chevron.



Community representatives told our correspondent on Sunday afternoon that they would carry out the exercise with or without the cooperation of the company.



It would be recalled that the spills from the two facilities have pitched the host communities against American oil firm: both sides disagreed over the cause of the spill.



However, CNL’s position was weakened by its swift repairs of the facilities, contrary to the best practice in the industry that required a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to ascertain its cause.



Consequently, Kokodiagbene, Jones Creek and other impacted communities insisted on carrying out the usual process of demarcation, mapping and other activities preparatory to compensation payment.



But CNL’s management, according to our sources, is only prepared to pay out ex-gratia money to the communities, even as it insists that the spills resulted from 3rd party intervention.



A source within the host communities told our correspondent yesterday, “We have concluded plans on the expiration of our ultimatum to carry out our own independent survey and demarcation on impacted areas, demarcation.



“We are going there tomorrow (Monday) with team of surveyors and members of Kokodiagbene and the eight impacted communities. After the exercise we shall go to the platform (Otunana),” our source added.



Our source, who craved anonymity, further revealed that the communities have shelved its planned siege and take over of the platform because of the intervention of youth leaders like Comrade Sheriff Mulade and other prominent Ijaw leaders.



“But we shall still go there after the exercise with the team of surveyors who will produce the survey map of the affected areas just to convince Chevron that we would not let the issue die like that,” our source added.

IJAW, ITSEKIRI AND URHOBO MARCH FOR PEACE IN WARRI

As the battle of the creeks raged in Port Harcourt , Rivers State , thousands of hitherto warring youths in Delta State Saturday held a rally to celebrate the prevailing peace Warri area and demand location of the headquarters of Niger Delta Ministry in the state.



The rally drew former archrival youths from Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic groups, who challenged their counterparts in Port Harcourt to emulate the Warri initiative and embrace peace.



A prominent youth leader in the region and the Vice-Chairman of Delta State Waterways Security Committee, Mr. Ayiri Emami, said the Saturday’s rally in the oil city was also ahead of the test running of his peace initiative in the creeks 911 Resort, tagged, ”Peace and Creek”.

Emami said the rally is targeted at spreading the peace the state to other parts of the Niger Delta, adding, “You know everything started from here in Delta State but gradually with the help of the Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and other stakeholders, the crisis was over in this state, particularly in Warri area.

“The local government chairman, who is an Ijaw man sees me everyday, we talked together to ensure that there is peace in the area. I am the Vice-Chairman of Delta State Waterways Security Committee and my Chairman, Mr. George Timinimi, an Ijaw man, is ensuring that there is peace. So you can see the calibre that we are working together. All the one time actors are now working together.

“But now that 911 Resort is here and we are doing test running of the peace project, tagged: “Peace and Creek”, we are sensitising Nigerians about the existence of the Resort in Ugborodo, Escravos in Warri South West Local Government Area of the state. More importantly, we are celebrating the prevailing peace in the state.

“A lot of people say you can’t get fun in Warri because of the crisis and we want to correct that erroneous impression. We have a lot of night clubs in Warri here and we have taken the fun now to the creeks in Escravos. A lot of artists are coming from Lagos , different parts of the country to perform in the creeks to let people know that there is peace, so we went round to let them know that Warri is back to life again.”

Emami and other youth leaders at the rally lamented the situation in Port Harcourt , Rivers State , where the Joint Task Force is battling with some youths in the area, saying it contrasts with Warri where the youths have given peace a chance.

He attributed the prevailing peace in the state to the efforts of the Itsekiri and Ijaw youth leaders, saying, “Both the Ijaw and Itsekiri in Warri have created the enabling environment for them to come and develop the area because all of us are suffering due to the prevailing abject poverty and underdevelopment.

“We hope those guys in Port Harcourt end would emulate what is happening here and embrace peace. The initiative behind the 911 Resort is to demonstrate to the whole world that peace has returned to Delta State axis of the Niger Delta and to let our brothers in other parts of the region, especially in Rivers State to know that it pays to embrace peace.

With the peace here, we are asking the Federal Government to come and develop the area. That it is not by killing the youths, the government need to point at something because for now they have nothing to show for in this area right now. People have been crying for a long time for development. From Warri to Escravos I can assure you that there is peace as the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Urhobo have pronounced that the war is over

The test running of 911 Resort is scheduled to coincide with the Nigerian Independence Anniversary celebration slated for Wednesday, October 1.



On the location of the headquarters of the Niger Delta Ministry, Emami said it should be sited in Delta State , because the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is in Port Harcourt .

CHEVRON, COMMUNITIES BICKER OVER OIL SPILL

Hopes of an amicable resolution of the face-off between Chevron Nigeria Limited and hosts to its Otunana and Abiteye facilities were dashed during the weekend as the aggrieved communities gave the company 7-day ultimatum over the crude oil spills.



Our correspondent gathered that communities have revived plans to invade the facilities again on the expiration of the ultimatum on Thursday morning.



The communities, including Kokodiagbene and about eight others, have been at daggers drawn with CNL over crude oil spill from the Utonana Well 8D and Abiteye Flow station Jacket 7 Line 2D oil spill.



A warning letter dispatched to Chevron on Thursday said “It is pertinent to refresh your (CNL) memory on the decision taken at Abuja (National Oil Spill Detection and Remediation Agency). It was jointly agreed by all affected parties that the decision of NOSDRA that the impacted area be delineated to make room for further discussion on the assessment, negotiation and payment of compensation.



“We have virtually waited for nearly two weeks for the implementation of the decision. As a way forward in our peaceful disposition, we ask you to fix a date for the delineation within 7 days from the date of this letter,” the letter added.



The communities accused Chevron of reneging on the later part, even though fresh hope of peaceful resolution of the disagreement was raised last week after the host and impacted communities accepted relief materials donated by CNL.



Our correspondent gathered that further negotiations broke down last week following the communities’ insistence that the spill occurred as a result of equipment failure and demand fro due process in its assessment.



Although no competent CNL official could be reached for comment a reliable source accused some members of the communities of “interfering with the valves that cause the spill in order to get undue financial benefits.”





Our source said the company is only willing to dole out some money to the communities in order to maintain the cordial relationship but not to pay compensation for the spill.



Conversely, community members said Chevron’s claim was a ploy to avoid due process in assessing the extent of damage and payment of adequate compensation for the communities whose source of livelihood have been affected by the spill.



An executive member of the Impacted Host Communities of Otunana and Abiteye, told our correspondent on condition of anonymity that “We (communities) have beenr reliably informed that Chevron want to give us peanuts as ex-gratia payment so as to avoid due process.



“That is the reason why we have given them this ultimatum, which expires at midnight on Thursday. If they refuse to follow the normal process, we would have no option but to invade the platforms and shut them down.”



Contacted, Sheriff Mulade, General Secretary of Kokodiagbene, confirmed that the community wrote to the company to intimate it of their intention to stop its operation if due process was not followed over the spill.



Nevertheless, Mulade, who spoke in a telephone chat, said he and other leaders of the communities are appealing to the youths to give peace a chance in the negotiation process.

A prominent youth leader in the region and the Vice-Chairman of Delta State Waterways Security Committee, Mr. Ayiri Emami, said the Saturday’s rally in the oil city was also ahead of the test running of his peace initiative in the creeks 911 Resort, tagged, ”Peace and Creek”.

Emami said the rally is targeted at spreading the peace the state to other parts of the Niger Delta, adding, “You know everything started from here in Delta State but gradually with the help of the Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and other stakeholders, the crisis was over in this state, particularly in Warri area.

“The local government chairman, who is an Ijaw man sees me everyday, we talked together to ensure that there is peace in the area. I am the Vice-Chairman of Delta State Waterways Security Committee and my Chairman, Mr. George Timinimi, an Ijaw man, is ensuring that there is peace. So you can see the calibre that we are working together. All the one time actors are now working together.

“But now that 911 Resort is here and we are doing test running of the peace project, tagged: “Peace and Creek”, we are sensitising Nigerians about the existence of the Resort in Ugborodo, Escravos in Warri South West Local Government Area of the state. More importantly, we are celebrating the prevailing peace in the state.

“A lot of people say you can’t get fun in Warri because of the crisis and we want to correct that erroneous impression. We have a lot of night clubs in Warri here and we have taken the fun now to the creeks in Escravos. A lot of artists are coming from Lagos , different parts of the country to perform in the creeks to let people know that there is peace, so we went round to let them know that Warri is back to life again.”

Emami and other youth leaders at the rally lamented the situation in Port Harcourt , Rivers State , where the Joint Task Force is battling with some youths in the area, saying it contrasts with Warri where the youths have given peace a chance.

He attributed the prevailing peace in the state to the efforts of the Itsekiri and Ijaw youth leaders, saying, “Both the Ijaw and Itsekiri in Warri have created the enabling environment for them to come and develop the area because all of us are suffering due to the prevailing abject poverty and underdevelopment.

“We hope those guys in Port Harcourt end would emulate what is happening here and embrace peace. The initiative behind the 911 Resort is to demonstrate to the whole world that peace has returned to Delta State axis of the Niger Delta and to let our brothers in other parts of the region, especially in Rivers State to know that it pays to embrace peace.

With the peace here, we are asking the Federal Government to come and develop the area. That it is not by killing the youths, the government need to point at something because for now they have nothing to show for in this area right now. People have been crying for a long time for development. From Warri to Escravos I can assure you that there is peace as the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Urhobo have pronounced that the war is over

The test running of 911 Resort is scheduled to coincide with the Nigerian Independence Anniversary celebration slated for Wednesday, October 1.



On the location of the headquarters of the Niger Delta Ministry, Emami said it should be sited in Delta State , because the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is in Port Harcourt .

A prominent youth leader in the region and the Vice-Chairman of Delta State Waterways Security Committee, Mr. Ayiri Emami, said the Saturday’s rally in the oil city was also ahead of the test running of his peace initiative in the creeks 911 Resort, tagged, ”Peace and Creek”.

Emami said the rally is targeted at spreading the peace the state to other parts of the Niger Delta, adding, “You know everything started from here in Delta State but gradually with the help of the Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and other stakeholders, the crisis was over in this state, particularly in Warri area.

“The local government chairman, who is an Ijaw man sees me everyday, we talked together to ensure that there is peace in the area. I am the Vice-Chairman of Delta State Waterways Security Committee and my Chairman, Mr. George Timinimi, an Ijaw man, is ensuring that there is peace. So you can see the calibre that we are working together. All the one time actors are now working together.

“But now that 911 Resort is here and we are doing test running of the peace project, tagged: “Peace and Creek”, we are sensitising Nigerians about the existence of the Resort in Ugborodo, Escravos in Warri South West Local Government Area of the state. More importantly, we are celebrating the prevailing peace in the state.

“A lot of people say you can’t get fun in Warri because of the crisis and we want to correct that erroneous impression. We have a lot of night clubs in Warri here and we have taken the fun now to the creeks in Escravos. A lot of artists are coming from Lagos , different parts of the country to perform in the creeks to let people know that there is peace, so we went round to let them know that Warri is back to life again.”

Emami and other youth leaders at the rally lamented the situation in Port Harcourt , Rivers State , where the Joint Task Force is battling with some youths in the area, saying it contrasts with Warri where the youths have given peace a chance.

He attributed the prevailing peace in the state to the efforts of the Itsekiri and Ijaw youth leaders, saying, “Both the Ijaw and Itsekiri in Warri have created the enabling environment for them to come and develop the area because all of us are suffering due to the prevailing abject poverty and underdevelopment.

“We hope those guys in Port Harcourt end would emulate what is happening here and embrace peace. The initiative behind the 911 Resort is to demonstrate to the whole world that peace has returned to Delta State axis of the Niger Delta and to let our brothers in other parts of the region, especially in Rivers State to know that it pays to embrace peace.

With the peace here, we are asking the Federal Government to come and develop the area. That it is not by killing the youths, the government need to point at something because for now they have nothing to show for in this area right now. People have been crying for a long time for development. From Warri to Escravos I can assure you that there is peace as the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Urhobo have pronounced that the war is over

The test running of 911 Resort is scheduled to coincide with the Nigerian Independence Anniversary celebration slated for Wednesday, October 1.



On the location of the headquarters of the Niger Delta Ministry, Emami said it should be sited in Delta State , because the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is in Port Harcourt .

35-year old teacher rapes 9-year old student in Warri, Delta State

Delta Careers College in Warri, Delta State is in crisis over revelations of an illicit sexual relationship between a 35-year old teacehr and a 9-year old pupil of the school.


The revelations came to light Tuesday at the school premises. The suspect, simply identified as Godwin, a teacher of Fine Arts at the school is already cooling his heels in the police cell.



Police Public Relations Officer in Delta State Command, Mr. Charles Muka, confirmed the report in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Sunday afternoon. He said the suspect is at the “A” Police Division while investigation is on.



But the victim’s mother Grace (surnames withheld), who also confirmed the report, accused the school authority of attempting to put a lid on the scandal, saying some top official allegedly threatened to deal with her for reporting the incident to the police.



Narrating her account Grace said, “On Tuesday, my baby went to school (Delta Careers) at about 7:30am. She was supposed to be back by 6:00pm because the closes at 4:00pm, while the lesson closes by 5:30pm.”



However, the distraught mother told our correspondent that on the fateful day her daughter did not show up as she was wont to do, a development that threw her (mother) into panic.



A call to the lesson teacher, who is also a staff of the college, revealed that the child did not attend lesson on that day.



“I became very worried and was going about looking for her when I got a call from one of the teachers in the school. He told me that my daughter was with him – that was about 7pm – I was very angry and I asked him how can you keep my daughter till 7pm.”



She, however, went to the school, picked up her daughter and took her home, apparently unawares of what had purportedly transpired between the teacher and her child.



“When we got home, I asked her (daughter) to go and take her bath, but when she took off her pant I saw tissue paper on her bum. I was shocked; I quickly laid her down and examined her. To my greatest surprise, I found that my daughter was wide open and there was sore all over her!”



Grace said she took the child to the Warri General Hospital , where a Dr. (Mrs.) Oghale examined her. The examination confirmed her worst fears that her 9-year-old daughter had lost her virginity.



Curiously though, she said the child refused to disclose the man responsible for the bestial act because she (daughter) said she was afraid her that he would deal severely with her if she revealed his name.



“She said she would only reveal the name of the person in the police station where she was sure that she could be protected against the anger of her defiler. So we took her to the “A” Division, where she disclosed that it was the Fine Arts teacher who was with her when I went to pick her up that evening,” Grace told our correspondent.



Attempts to get the proprietor of Delta Careers College , Mr. E.E. Ukeredi to comment on the report proved abortive as he refused to take our correspondent’s call: a text message inquiry was yet to be replied at press time on Sunday.

TROOPS IN THE DELTA LAUNCH MANHUNT FOR ATEKE TOM, OTHERS

The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta region code-named “Operation Restore Hope”, on Sunday placed all its troops on an increased state of alert, following reports that warlords in Rivers State are fleeing to Delta and Bayelsa states axis of the region.



Reports of the flight of the militant warlords, including Niger Delta Vigilante leader, Ateke Tom to the states because of military operation in Rivers State , led to panic among dwellers of riverside communities.



But JTF Commander, Brig. General Wuyep Rimtip told our correspondent in a telephone interview that law-abiding citizens of the areas have no cause to fear.



The artillery-trained soldier told our correspondent that the JTF was on top of security situation in its AOR (Area of Responsibility), which covered the two states, promising that all legal activities would go on unhindered.



Rimtip revealed to our correspondent that all troops in the region have been asked to watch out for the fleeing militants, adding that there would be no safe havens for them in his area of operation.



“We have placed our troops on alert and they are looking out for these militants that are fleeing Rivers State . We are determined that they do not enter into these parts and start making trouble here. We will not tolerate that.



“My advice to them (militants) is that they should change their ways immediately because they cannot have peace in these two states. They should renounced violence and join in efforts to move the area and the nation forward that is the only way they can live peacefully.



“Our troops are watching out for these militants and we are prepared to pounce whenever any of them surfaces in Delta or Bayelsa states,” Rimtip added.



Although Rimtip did not disclose the strategies that would be adopted to contain the ethnic militants if they arrived, our correspondent learnt that increase patrols of the creeks and surveillance of oil installations have been ordered.



“There will be stringent security arrangements for travellers in the waterways and all suspicious cargoes would be stopped and checked for arms and ammunition because we do not want another arms build up in this area,” a source in the JTF revealed.



In spite of JTF's assurance, states’ officials and riverside community residents were apprehensive yesterday that the arrival of the Okirika-born Ateke in the area could torpedo the peace being enjoyed in the state for over one year now.



It was gathered that Ateke is believed to be cooling off in a boundary community between Delta and Bayelsa State, after fleeing his base in Okochiri because of clashes with the Joint Task Force.



Over 100 persons have been killed in the renewed violence in the Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt and other riverside towns and the reported arrival of the NDV leader is generating fears among indigenes of the riverside communities.



It would be recalled that a similar visit by Ateke to Bayelsa State a few months ago led to a bloody clash between him and his host, Ukodo, whose death was blamed on Ateke.



Meanwhile, Chief Edwin Clark has appealed to the Rivers State Government officials to soften its stance on the face-off with militants, adding that only dialogue can restore peace to the region.



Clark , in a telephone interview with our correspondent, hinted that militant leaders including Ateke and others were relocating because of the violence in the state.



He said any peace that is not won through genuine dialogue with the aggrieved warlords could be temporary because they could return to foment trouble in the oil-rich state when the military operation dies down.



Consequently, he advised Governor Rotimi Amaechi to enter into negotiation with the aggrieved warlords, saying the search for peace in the region should be a give and take situation.



To this end, he reaffirmed his call for amnesty to the genuine militants, including Henry Okah of MEND and others who agree to lay down their arms in order for them to be part of the emerging Niger Delta.

JTF ARREST THREE SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS

The Joint Task Force on Sunday 21 September 2008 arrested three suspects who were said to be connected to the kidnap of the father of the Accountant General of Bayelsa State . Pa Zidatamour in December 2007 who was set free through the combine efforts of the JTF and other security agencies.

The names of the suspects are Akpos Number 26, years and Number Kemezide, 28 years both from Sagbama Local Government of Bayelsa State.


However, the kidnappers ran out of luck during another plan to unleash another terror by planning to kidnap at Bolou-Orua Community, Sagbama local Government of Bayelsa State.

It was at this point that, they were apprehended by the Combined efforts of the men of the JTF and other security agencies in the State through tip off and long surveillance mounted on the suspects.



The Commander JTF Brig. Gen. Wuyep Rimtip, commanded the men of JTF and the other security agencies on the arrest of the suspected kidnappers. He also encouraged them to put more efforts on their security measures so as to get the State rid of crime in the region. He further stated that the Joint Task Force has zero tolerance for crime of whatever nature in the Niger-Delta.



Also commenting on the arrest of the coordinator, Joint Task Force Media Centre, Lt. Col. Rabe Abubakar reiterates the JTF commitment in sustaining relative peace and security enjoyed by Delta and Bayelsa States citizens which was made possible through the continuous efforts of the JTF and other security outfits.



He also appealed to the general public to give vital information about the perpetrators of such crime to enable the JTF arrest the situation promptly. He further re-assured the citizens of Niger Delta that JTF is on top of the situation and they would not stop until crime is reduced to the barest minimum in the region.



The suspects will be handed over to the appropriate authority for prosecution.

DESOPADEC TO CONTINUE FUNDING OF AGRIC PROGRAMME

The Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), has assured its consultant of continuous support and proper funding in order to sustain the successes recorded in its agriculture development programme.
Executive Chairman of the Commission, Chief Wellington Okirika gave the assurance during a visit to the commission by the consultants working in the programme..
Chief Okirika said, “Due attention must now be given to agricultural initiatives so that apart from creating food sufficiency other sources of income could be created through well organize agricultural intervention of DESOPADEC”
In a statement by Prince Monday, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Chief Okirika promised that the body would do everything within available resources to re-focus its agric intervention programme so that more communities within its mandate areas could benefit.
Earlier in his brief to the Chairman, Prof Bola Okuneye of the Federal University of Agriculture; Abeokuta , said DESOPADEC agric intervention is fast yielding positive results as communities youths and women groups are clamoring for centers in their communities.
This, Prof. Okuneye stressed, is a paradigm shift from the hitherto impression that young boys and women in oil/gas bearing communities are lazy and are not ready to work.
“Our visit to all the agric centers have shown that the people are very ready to work what I believe is needed is a culture of support and government commitment to grow agriculture”
Prof Okuneye said his team has capacity to expand the agric supports initiative of the Delta Oil Commission, adding that what is needed is greater commitment from constitutional authorities within the state and country.
He maintained that agriculture would provide food sufficient jobs opportunities to millions of unemployed youths,

Two women and a deaf and dumb handicap were among eleven persons arrested when operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) code-named ‘Operation Restore Hope’ swoop on an illegal petroleum depot in Warri, Delta State .



About 400,000 litres of petroleum products suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) was seized from the suspects, who operated from a depot near the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) yard in Warri.



The refined petroleum products were loaded in over 1,500 drums, two surface tanks and jerry cans among others, when the JTF operatives stormed the scene.



Petroleum product dealers told our correspondent that the street value of the recovered products is about N60,000,000:00 going by the current market value of N150 per litre of diesel.



It would be recalled that the task force had busted nearly 300 illegal refineries in Delta State within the past months.



However, 11 suspects, who were believed to have stolen the products from a pipeline in the riverside community, were scooping them into drums for movement into the market when nemesis caught up with them.



They were picked up on Friday at the Miller Waterside in Warri, Delta State .



JTF’s Joint Media Campaign Centre Coordinator, Lt. Col. Rabe Abubakar, said the 11 suspects, who are being detained at JTF Headquarters, Effurun, were caught while scooping petroleum products, suspected to be diesel, into drums.



Lt. Col. Rabe said the JTF operatives, “acting on a tip-off have once again discovered an illegal petroleum depot at the site near Nigeria Port Authority, Warri which led to the arrest of the oil thieves.”



Items recovered according to him, included over 1, 500 drums, two Cotonou boats, 16 pumping machines and several surface tanks filled with substance suspected to be Diesel which if translated into monetary value could be hundreds of millions of naira been lost to this menace.



Colonel Abubakar said, in addition to the economic lost which the illicit activities have done to the Government, it equally damages motor vehicles of some innocent buyers of such products.



Meanwhile, the JTF Commander, Brig. Gen. Wuyep Rimtip, has vowed that he would not summit to the intimidation and blackmail by crude oil thieves operating in the region.



He said he was entirely focussed on providing efficient service delivery and optima security in the volatile oil-rich Niger Delta region, adding, “no amount of intimidation or blackmail would deter the security outfit from carrying out its legitimate duties, that is, Internal Security Operation and the protection of oil installations and its personnel and other law abiding citizens.”



Similarly, Rimtip, in a statement by Lt. Col. Abubakar, also dismissed as “baseless, untrue and unpatriotic” insinuations that the task force is responsible for the lingering crisis in the region.

PIPELINE FIRE IN ADEJE, DELTA STATE

There was a fire out break on a pipeline of the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, in Adeje Community of Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.

The fire was still raging at the time of this report on Saturday evening.

It was gathered that the fire raging at two points - just about 100 metres apart - was the second within 24 hours.

Reliable local sources told our correspondent that a similar fire broke out on Friday morning after youths invaded the facilities during the night.

“The pipeline was ruptured at several points by suspected vandals who ostensibly after siphoning enough kerosene from the point, left the scene for youths and women from the communities, who invaded with jerry cans and all sorts of containers with which they fetched kerosene from the ruptured points,” a source told our correspondent.

Although the cause of the pipeline fire was yet to be ascertained at the time of this report on Saturday, our correspondent gathered that inhabitants of the area are relocating from around the scene.

A similarly pipeline fire in nearby Jesse town of Ethiope West LGA led to the death of several hundreds of persons in ten years ago.

Huge black cloud from the raging fire enveloped Adeje and neighbouring Opuraja, a development that greatly reduced visibility and increased fears of disaster among residents.

Armed personnel including anti-riot policemen and soldiers were sighted around 200 metres from the scene of the raging fire on the NNPC right of way.

The security agents, who arrived the scene in three patrol vans, prevented our correspondent from taking photographs of the fire. The leader of the team told our correspondent that they had no mandate to allow journalists into the scene after our correspondent properly identified himself as a reporter.

Nevertheless, independent investigation by our correspondent revealed that the fire, which gutted the pipeline on Friday and Saturday morning, could have resulted from sabotage following a clash between security agents and youths from the community.

A source who craved anonymity said earlier on Friday morning soldiers from the David Ejoor Barracks in Effurun, swooped on innocent citizens of the community who they indiscriminately arrested and molested.

Specifically, it was gathered that the troops targeted commercial motorcyclists, rounded them up and compelled them to frog leap through the length and breadth of the community.

Consequently, it was suspected that some of the aggrieved victims or hoodlums who were prevented from siphoning kerosene from the damaged facility went back and set it on fire.

Although fire fighters, who were called in later put off the Friday’s fire, another fire was started at about 2:00pm on Saturday.

Attempts to get officials of the PPMC or competent NNPC personnel to comment on the incidents proved abortive: it was gathered that pipeline surveillance team attack to the PPMC had alerted the relevant authorities.

It would be recalled that the Managing Director of the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Mr. Andrew Yakubu had raised the alarm over activities of vandals around the area.

Yakubu, an engineer, told newsmen that although WRPC plants had hit 100 percent capacity utilization, it was unable to produce optimally because of lack of evacuation facilities.

Specifically, he said the pipeline that convey products from Warri to Benin Depot of NNPC was ruptured at over 100 points, a situation which restrict product evacuation to only by truck and marine.

NIGERIA SOLDIERS RESPONSIBLE FOR CRUDE OIL THEFT IN THE NIGER DELTA ... COMMUNITIES

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) operational base at Forcados in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State have raised an alarm over the intimidating presence of military personnel in their areas, just as they expressed fears over the risk of arm building up to their existence and psychological minds.

The four communities which comprises of Agge, Ogulagha, Izon-Burutu and Agoro, have also indicted the men and officers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Niger Delta, code-named Operation Restore Hope,” headed by Brig. Gen Wuyep Rimtip, over an alleged involvement in illegal bunkering activities in their communities, as soldiers were seen at midnights off-loading products from barges seized from bunkerers into vessels and moving out to unknown destinations.

Spokesman of the affected communities who addressed newsmen in Warri yesterday under the auspices of ‘’Concerned Indigenes Against Forcados Settlements Oppression,” Chief Zion Perebowei, said they can no longer continue fold their arms and allow the occupation of soldiers in their homeland in the name of maintaining law and order.

He stated that their worries was further compounded by the fact that their women and children now live in fear on daily basis, as they have to go to sleep seeing men in arms everywhere and woke up the next morning with the sight of soldiers who had taken over the strategic positions in their communities.

Chief Perebowei who demanded to know the rationale behind the continuous deployment of troops in to their communities by the military authorities, stated that the unprecedented arm build-up in their area has affected the psyche of their kinsmen who now feels insecure in their homes.

On the indictment of JTF Personnel in an alleged illegal bunkering activities, Chief Perebowei, noted that the military authorities have been double speaking in their claim to be putting an end to illegal bunkering activities, stating that on daily basis in the last two months, they have been off-loading products from barges seized from illegal bunkers to vessels and taking away to unknown destination.

According to him; “what the military authorities under JTF are making us to believe is not what it seems. They have painted a picture of fighting crimes and reducing illegal bunkering but from what we have seen lately they are involved in the illegal act themselves”

“Who are they deceiving and why are they pretending? Are they the one that should be evacuating the products from the seized barges to vessels? How come they carry out such illegal act at dead nights, where the two vessels that had left Forcados are channel being taking to up till now and who gave the directive for such an exercise to be carried out,” he queried.

Investigations gathered revealed that over 26 barges loaded with products trapped in one of the locations used as hideout by illegal bunkerers during the early days of Brig. Gen. Wuyep Rimtip in office as Commander of JTF had been under the watchful eyes of soldiers stationed at every strategic entry and exit locations in the area.

Entreaties by the perpetrators to have the barges released had met with brick wall, as the commander of JTF, had bluntly refused to release the barges to their owners.

But yesterday’s outburst by Chief Perebowei raises doubt as to weather the products are still in the seized barges or made its way in two vessels to the high sea where potential buyers have received the products to for onward transmission to the open market.

ITSEKIRI DEMANDS COMPENSATION FROM NIGERIAN GOVT OVER 7-YEAR WAR

The Itsekiri ethnic group has demanded compensation for the destruction of their communities and death of an estimated 2,000 of their kinsmen during the 7-year Warri crisis.

Mr. Newuwumi Omolubi (JP), President of Iwere Development Association (IDA), an umbrella group for the ethnic group, made the call.

Speaking against the background of the 5th anniversary of the end of the fratricidal war between the ethnic group and its stronger Ijaw neighbours, Newuwumi, said the Federal Government had consistently neglected the plight of his people because of their minority position.

He wondered why his kinsmen have not been compensated for the deaths and destruction of hundreds of their communities at the heat of the crisis that was sparked off by Federal Government’s relocated of a local government headquarter from an Ijaw town to an Itsekiri community.

Similarly, he said Itsekiri’s disposition as peaceful ethnic group was constantly being exploited by successive governments.

Asked if he thought government was taking his people for granted because of docility, he said, “It is true that because we do not go out to foment trouble that is why we are not being responded to timely.

‘The government of Nigeria believe in violence, government of Nigeria recognise agitation, they believe in agitation, believe in force this will take you to the fact that we are inn minority.

“We have a natural their problem, which is our population; we are in a minority position. But we would always cry until we are answered, until we are responded to. We believe that we are supposed to be compensated after the war. If it is not possible today, I think one day we will be compensated.”

In the same vain, Newuwumi, who is also the Vice President of the Itsekiri National Youth Association, lambasted his kinsmen, particularly those in public office, who he said have refused to identify with the problem of the ethnic nation.

Hear him, “Itsekiri as a people, I think we have a common problem because we never remember ourselves when we are in position of authority, we never think of yesterday.

“When we have problems those that are supposed to rally round never see the problem as theirs. They think others should be responsible and not them. In a nutshell, they do not know that they are supposed to do at the right time. Its not only on the Itsekiri or Warri crisis, it is a general problem,” he added.

Nevertheless, he commended the Warri Community in United Kingdom and Ireland, which recently gave out scholarship to children and relatives of the victims of the Warri crisis.

Newuwumi said, “It is better late than never: we have to start from somewhere. It is a takeoff point and an encouragement to other Itsekiri groups to come up with programmes to encourage those who are disfigured and their loved ones left behind.

“The deaths of those persons were untimely because they did not plan it and they did not know it would be like that. So their loved ones should be assisted; some of them still have parents, we can’t abandon them.

GROUP THREATENS ATTACKS ON BONGA AND AGBAMI FIELDS OF SHELL AND CHEVRON/TEXACO

Pennington-Dodo-Ramos Salvation Front (Pendora), a group in Bayelsa State, has given itself 14 days to partner with freedom fighters in “suicidal” repeat attack on Bonga, Agbami and other oil fields if their operators SNEPCO (Shell) and Chevron-Texaco Nigeria Ltd refuse to sign MOUs with their host communities.

Comrade Perekunakuna Braun, the group’s Publicity Secretary in a statement regrets the planned violence but said patience had not paid for the Pendora communities he listed as Ezetu, Ekeni, Bilabiri, Amatu, Bissangbene, Letugbene, Orobiri, Azambiri, Ogbeintu and Agge, all in Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor LGAs in Bayelsa State .

Calling on the concerned oil companies to open discussions with their hosts under the watch of MEND and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), he asserted that despite shifts in references to Bonga Oil Field as being in the deep offshores of Lagos and then in Bayelsa by the media following attacks by General Boyloaf and MEND freedom fighters, the fact is that Pendora communities were the hosts that must be recognized for peace to reign.

“It is so sad and regrettable to note that about 105 Nigerians were (recently) sent to the Gulf of Mexico to acquire requisite skills to work on board the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel stationed in Bonga field and are now currently on board the FPSO to the exclusion of the uncountable unemployed youths from the (host) communities that are roaming about in the streets of Yenagoa and Warri”, the statement lamented.

The group which commended and endorsed General Boyloaf’s 30-day ultimatum calling on the Bayelsa and Rivers State Governors to set up oil commissions added that it was necessary for oil and gas producing communities to do good service to the memory of Isaac Adaka Boro and Ken Saro-Wiwa by uniting in moral support of freedom fighters to confront the oil companies which it described as “the real enemies”.