[b]Militant youths affirm role in barracks car bombing
By Onajomo Orere (Lagos) and Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt)

IN an open declaration of defiance against the Nigerian state, a militant youth group has claimed responsibility for Wednesday's bomb explosion at a military barracks in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in two e-mails to both local and international media houses, also threatened more attacks against the government's interests and those of oil companies operating in the region.

A Mercedes Benz 200 mysteriously exploded at the 2 Amphibious Brigade, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday night, killing persons and seriously wounding six others.

The explosion came a few hours after the Federal Government announced a "Marshall Plan" for the oil producing areas, the details of which the group, however, dismissed as a token.

But the head of the Brigade Command, Brigadier General Samuel Salihu, yesterday urged Nigerians to await Police report on the incident. He also berated the foreign media for attributing the explosion to Niger Delta militants.

MEND, in one of the emails, expressed regrets for the loss of lives at military camp, but added that such a development was not unexpected in a "conflict."

In one of the e-mail messages MEND claimed responsibility for the explosion and in the other, gave details of how it did it.

The group had on Wednesday vowed to renew hostilities in the region because its "demands" for resource control and justice and equity were not met in Wednesday's plan of the government.

In one of the statements yesterday, the group said:

"At 1955hrs today, April 19, 2005 (sic), our operatives in Rivers State planted and detonated by remote control, one car bomb in the Bori Camp Military Barracks in Port Harcourt. This act was symbolic rather than strategic and serves as a further warning to the Nigerian military, oil companies and those who are attempting to sell the birthright of the Niger Delta peoples for a bowl of porridge."

It then threatened: "In the coming weeks, we will carry out similar attacks against relevant oil industry targets and individuals".

The group said in the second statement that the bomb was planted in a Mercedes Benz 200, 1980 model and detonated by cell phone "by our operatives who were well clear of the explosion".

MEND said its "aim was not to cause death amongst the civilian population but to serve as a warning to the Nigerian government and oil companies who are negotiating with frauds. We are deeply grieved by the loss of civilian life. Unfortunately, this is the nature of conflict".

Meanwhile, the bomb unit of the Rivers State Police Command has begun investigation into the explosion.

Briefing journalists at the Brigade Headquarters yesterday, Brig. Gen. Salihu, confirmed that one person died on the spot, while the other died later at the military hospital along Aba Road.

He explained that shortly after, the area was cordoned and the police bomb squad unit was contacted to assess the scene. The Brigade Commander, however, refuted allegation in the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Cable News Network (CNN) that the explosion was caused by militants.

He said: "You are here now, have you seen any militant pursuing us in the barracks as alleged by the CNN and the BBC?"

The Army Chief added: "What baffles me about the BBC and CNN is that they did not confirm their report. British soldiers are dying daily in Iraq. How many times have they reported that to Nigerians?"

The Brigade Commander explained that the two deceased were male while two females and four males remained in critical condition.

Conducting journalists round the scene, the Public Relations Officer of the Brigade, Major Saqir Musa, confirmed that the bombed car was a Mercedes Benz 200. He also said the car was not stationary when the incident occurred and that all the victims were civilians.

"There was nothing like militant attack in the barracks. It was a car explosion. Whether it was bomb or dynamite, we are yet to confirm because

professional police officers were here yesterday (Wednesday) and they have taken some debris they require to make professional investigation,"

Musa added.

Security has now been beefed up at the area. The two major entrances to the military barracks, along Aba and Ikwerre roads, have been closed. Private vehicles have also been barred from the route, which had earlier been open to the public to decongest traffic along Aba and Ikwerre roads.

The explosion, which was described as massive, shattered the louvres and windows of some houses close to the scene. The barracks was immediately plunged into darkness.

Wires of electricity poles destroyed by the explosion yesterday littered the street.

Two cars, a Peugeot 504 and a Hilux 2.8d, as well as motorbikes were badly damaged by the explosion. Bloodstains of the victims were splashed on the ground.

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Samuel Adetuyi, told The Guardian that his men had begun investigation incident.

He disclosed that the analysis would take some days before the final report would be ready.

Adetuyi urged persons with relevant information to assist the police team in the investigation. He also urged residents of the state to be more security conscious and report all suspected movements to relevant security agencies.


© 2003 - 2006 @ Guardian Newspapers Limited (All Rights Reserved).


ARE WE BACK TO THE DAYS OF PANIC?

Militant youths affirm role in barracks car bombing
By Onajomo Orere (Lagos) and Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt)

IN an open declaration of defiance against the Nigerian state, a militant youth group has claimed responsibility for Wednesday's bomb explosion at a military barracks in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in two e-mails to both local and international media houses, also threatened more attacks against the government's interests and those of oil companies operating in the region.

A Mercedes Benz 200 mysteriously exploded at the 2 Amphibious Brigade, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday night, killing persons and seriously wounding six others.

The explosion came a few hours after the Federal Government announced a "Marshall Plan" for the oil producing areas, the details of which the group, however, dismissed as a token.

But the head of the Brigade Command, Brigadier General Samuel Salihu, yesterday urged Nigerians to await Police report on the incident. He also berated the foreign media for attributing the explosion to Niger Delta militants.

MEND, in one of the emails, expressed regrets for the loss of lives at military camp, but added that such a development was not unexpected in a "conflict."

In one of the e-mail messages MEND claimed responsibility for the explosion and in the other, gave details of how it did it.

The group had on Wednesday vowed to renew hostilities in the region because its "demands" for resource control and justice and equity were not met in Wednesday's plan of the government.

In one of the statements yesterday, the group said:

"At 1955hrs today, April 19, 2005 (sic), our operatives in Rivers State planted and detonated by remote control, one car bomb in the Bori Camp Military Barracks in Port Harcourt. This act was symbolic rather than strategic and serves as a further warning to the Nigerian military, oil companies and those who are attempting to sell the birthright of the Niger Delta peoples for a bowl of porridge."

It then threatened: "In the coming weeks, we will carry out similar attacks against relevant oil industry targets and individuals".

The group said in the second statement that the bomb was planted in a Mercedes Benz 200, 1980 model and detonated by cell phone "by our operatives who were well clear of the explosion".

MEND said its "aim was not to cause death amongst the civilian population but to serve as a warning to the Nigerian government and oil companies who are negotiating with frauds. We are deeply grieved by the loss of civilian life. Unfortunately, this is the nature of conflict".

Meanwhile, the bomb unit of the Rivers State Police Command has begun investigation into the explosion.

Briefing journalists at the Brigade Headquarters yesterday, Brig. Gen. Salihu, confirmed that one person died on the spot, while the other died later at the military hospital along Aba Road.

He explained that shortly after, the area was cordoned and the police bomb squad unit was contacted to assess the scene. The Brigade Commander, however, refuted allegation in the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Cable News Network (CNN) that the explosion was caused by militants.

He said: "You are here now, have you seen any militant pursuing us in the barracks as alleged by the CNN and the BBC?"

The Army Chief added: "What baffles me about the BBC and CNN is that they did not confirm their report. British soldiers are dying daily in Iraq. How many times have they reported that to Nigerians?"

The Brigade Commander explained that the two deceased were male while two females and four males remained in critical condition.

Conducting journalists round the scene, the Public Relations Officer of the Brigade, Major Saqir Musa, confirmed that the bombed car was a Mercedes Benz 200. He also said the car was not stationary when the incident occurred and that all the victims were civilians.

"There was nothing like militant attack in the barracks. It was a car explosion. Whether it was bomb or dynamite, we are yet to confirm because

professional police officers were here yesterday (Wednesday) and they have taken some debris they require to make professional investigation,"

Musa added.

Security has now been beefed up at the area. The two major entrances to the military barracks, along Aba and Ikwerre roads, have been closed. Private vehicles have also been barred from the route, which had earlier been open to the public to decongest traffic along Aba and Ikwerre roads.

The explosion, which was described as massive, shattered the louvres and windows of some houses close to the scene. The barracks was immediately plunged into darkness.

Wires of electricity poles destroyed by the explosion yesterday littered the street.

Two cars, a Peugeot 504 and a Hilux 2.8d, as well as motorbikes were badly damaged by the explosion. Bloodstains of the victims were splashed on the ground.

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Samuel Adetuyi, told The Guardian that his men had begun investigation incident.

He disclosed that the analysis would take some days before the final report would be ready.

Adetuyi urged persons with relevant information to assist the police team in the investigation. He also urged residents of the state to be more security conscious and report all suspected movements to relevant security agencies.
     

© 2003 - 2006 @ Guardian Newspapers Limited (All Rights Reserved).


ARE WE BACK TO THE DAYS OF PANIC?

What do I say?

This is what you get when you push people too far. The Ijaws and indeed the Niger Deltans are wiser now. They have reached that point of no return. No amount of carrot dangling can break their resolve to ''possess their possession''

From the acquisition of deadly/sophisticated arms & ammunition to hostage taking and the recent car bomb in the largest army formation in Port Harcourt. Where does all these lead us? With no genuine and proactive action by the federal government in tackling the fundamental problems in the south-south, can anyone guess the next move of the militants?

The techniques of mass mayhem are readily available on the internet, where even a novice can quickly master the procedure for creating improvised explosives, detonators and timing devices.  The MEND boys have seen the havoc created by a few determined individuals in Iraq, and are taking those lessons to heart.  I would be very surprised if this first car bombing inside a Nigerian Army barracks in Port Harcourt will be the last.

Another aspect of the delta war that has so far been overlooked is that weaponry from the area of conflict WILL leak out into the hands of armed robbers THROUGHOUT Nigeria.  Reports from some areas of Kogi State in the middle belt of Nigeria indicate that highway robbers have been spotted operating with infantry weapons including rocket propelled grenade launchers (RPGs).   Even if the Niger Delta problem could be solved in 24 hours with the wave of a magic wand,  the light and portable instruments of anarchy are already flooding the land via the underworld's messengers of death.

Jakumo:

Another aspect of the delta war that has so far been overlooked is that weaponry from the area of conflict WILL leak out into the hands of armed robbers THOUGHOUT Nigeria. Reports from some areas of Kogi State in the middle belt of Nigeria indicate that highway robbers have been spotted operating with infantry weapons including rocket propelled grenade launchers (RPGs). Even if the Niger Delta problem could be solved in 24 hours with the wave of a magic wand, the light and portable instruments of anarchy are already flooding the land via the underworld's messengers of death.

Bros,
So everybody should gird his/her loins, for the worst is yet to come.

Criminals are mobilizing themselves, yay! Ono and Owo, rejoice, for your brothers are mobilizing!

Nwoke:

Criminals are mobilizing themselves, yay! Ono and Owo, rejoice, for your brothers are mobilizing!

Please define the term 'your brothers'. Could it be that its the criminals that you mean by[b]'your brothers' [/b]?

you call them "militant youths" and "disgruntled Niger Deltans". I call them stealers.

What do you mean by stealers? And who's this Nwoke from the blues?

Nwoke=Seun=Nwoke=Seun=Nwoke=Seun

Nwoke, we are still waiting for you!!!

I see. But, why change your name?

Igbo Kwenu! (my next name will be adamu)

stealers == criminals, robbers, thieves, miscreants.

Nwoke:

Igbo Kwenu! (my next name will be adamu)

stealers == criminals, robbers, thieves, miscreants.

I see, so, you're calling the MEND boys miscreants and thieves abi? It's OK. Anyways, it's good to know you're doing your own bit to unite the country. All well and good.

[size=14pt]They taught Boko Haram to copy[/size]