http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LE420686.htm



[center]Nigeria militants rescue two German hostages [/center]

14 Aug 2008 21:01:33 GMT
Source: Reuters



ABUJA, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Nigeria's most prominent militant group on Thursday rescued two German hostages seized by an armed gang, an unprecedented intervention by a group that has wrought havoc on the OPEC member's oil sector.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said this was the first time it had freed hostages taken by another armed gang since it launched a campaign of violence against the oil sector in early 2006.

"(MEND) concluded a successful rescue of the two German hostages and staff of Julius Berger ,  from inside the heavily fortified hideout of the group that kidnapped them," the group said in an e-mailed statement.

MEND, responsible for attacks that have cut a fifth of Nigeria's oil output since early 2006, released the two men near the oil hub Port Harcourt. A Julius Berger source confirmed the two employees had been freed.

MEND said it carried out the rescue operation after discovering that one of the hostages had suffered severe spinal injuries during his abduction.

The two Germans were seized on July 11 at Emohua in Rivers state in the Niger Delta, an area notorious for kidnappings.

The kidnapping by around 15 gunmen, travelling in armoured jeeps accompanied by 28 soldiers, was so brutal that Julius Berger, the country's largest construction firm, decided to suspend all operations in the delta.

MEND announced about a week later it had identified the kidnappers and would seek the release of the hostages.

NON-OIL WORKERS

The militant group said it wanted to intervene because the pair were not part of the energy sector but were working to help build the delta's infrastructure.

Among other projects, the Nigerian unit of German builder Bilfinger Berger <GBFG.DE> is rebuilding the main east-west road across the Niger Delta and is one of the country's biggest private sector employers, with more than 16,000 employees.

Julius Berger has yet to resume its work in the delta, prompting MEND to increase its pressure on the company by threatening earlier this month to attack its foreign employees unless it halted operations in the capital, Abuja.

MEND said it would drop the threat once Julius Berger returned to the Niger Delta.

MEND, which is split between a number of different factions, says it is fighting for development and greater local control of the delta's resources.

But the breakdown of law and order in the region has allowed criminal gangs to thrive by kidnapping for ransom and stealing crude oil.

More than 200 foreigners have been seized in the Niger Delta since early 2006. Almost all have been released unharmed. (Editing by Tume Ahemba and Tim Pearce)

the kidnappings are confusing.

One doesnt know who is MEND and who is the other "armed gang".

They could be one and the same, for all anyone knows.

However, it generally does get reported when the kidnapping victims are released.

That's more important than knowing the monikers of the various armed groups in the region.

Its like knowing the names of all the 300 tribes in Nigeria. Why bother.

Ibime:

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LE420686.htm

The kidnapping by around 15 gunmen, travelling in armoured jeeps accompanied by 28 soldiers, was so brutal that Julius Berger, the country's largest construction firm, decided to suspend all operations in the delta.

What will you not see in this Nigeria. Now Soldiers are doing the kidnapping and MEND are doing the freeing.

I told you guys that MEND must have been the ones who orchestrated the freeing of that woman who said that snipers came and saved her. . . . even if they didn't free the woman themselves, they must have provided the info. . . when Lulu Briggs' wife was kidnapped, some idiots claiming MEND claimed to have kidnapped her. Yet it was MEND that went and freed her.

Ibime:

The militant group said it wanted to intervene because the pair were not part of the energy sector but were working to help build the delta's infrastructure.

Among other projects, the Nigerian unit of German builder Bilfinger Berger <GBFG.DE> is rebuilding the main east-west road across the Niger Delta and is one of the country's biggest private sector employers, with more than 16,000 employees.

Julius Berger has yet to resume its work in the delta, prompting MEND to increase its pressure on the company by threatening earlier this month to attack its foreign employees unless it halted operations in the capital, Abuja.

MEND said it would drop the threat once Julius Berger returned to the Niger Delta.

Note: We can see that MEND is interested in the development of the Niger Delta

Its a known fact that MEND has and is still behind most of the kidnappings while on the other hand cleverly turn to act as rescuers.
Whichever way they go about it, i wont hold much agaisnt them as there was enough time for Nigeria to prevent all these activities by MEND which arose as a result of years of neglet.

ibime you don reach here, ok na mend free the woman as long as you agree that she is not lying. ehnn!

We have been waiting to see how long it will take MEND to come to their senses.

ok,  this is really funny here. MEND has bad belly against another terrorist group. Goes out to rescues hostages kidnapped by that group, basically pushing that it, MEND, is the only legit organization allowed to take hostages, and we need to give em medals??

ROFLMAO!!!

Nigerians and their love affairs with their PROCLAIMED heros!!! ROFLMAO!!

The same MEND that stood idly by while Soboma George's cultists kill innocent civillians in Rivers State?
The same MEND that popularized kidnapping can come out to pontificate?
The same MEND that babble on about people stealing Ijaw resources, yet lamely offer that 'big men in Abuja' are the ones behind oil bunkering?

Gimme a break!

texazzpete:

The same MEND that stood idly by while Soboma George's cultists kill innocent civillians in Rivers State?
The same MEND that popularized kidnapping can come out to pontificate?
The same MEND that babble on about people stealing Ijaw resources, yet lamely offer that 'big men in Abuja' are the ones behind oil bunkering?

Gimme a break!

i have been thinking about it too!

i think i need a break like u on dis one

Note: We can see that MEND is interested in the development of the Niger Delta

it sure is, reducing nigeria's Oil Output and creating an unfriendly business environment definitely encourages development in the Niger Delta. smart group cult

Thanks to the Freedom Fighters(MEND), For their Heroic Rescued of the Julius Berger Workers from hands of Dirty Stinking ugly looking FULANI/HAUSA/YORUBA thugs called Nigeria Soldiers.

Ibime:

Note: We can see that MEND is interested in the development of the Niger Delta

I'll only believe that when they start kidnapping 'the other armed groups'

I can see that when the cat was away, the rats came out to play.

Well, everyone is entitled to their opinion but as long as Niger Delta is behind MEND, phock what everyone else has to say. It is notable that the Repubican McCain supporters are the quickest to proffer opinions on what they know nothing about.

I have given enough arguments on Nairaland so I won't even waste my breath again. Just know that we ain't going nowhere . . . . so you can like it or lump it, you still have to deal with it. You better believe that MEND is representing us. . . so anything you have to say to us, you will have to say to them first.

Annkio Briggs was on BBC's Hardtalk last night, letting the whole world know that the Ijaw nation is definitely behind MEND.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00d9fpg/


As we can see, this is a respectable, well educated woman, repping Ijaw and MEND to the fullest.

WilyWily:

Thanks to the Freedom Fighters(MEND), For their Heroic Rescued of the Julius Berger Workers from hands of Dirty Stinking ugly looking FULANI/HAUSA/YORUBA thugs called Nigeria Soldiers.

na jealousy dey worry you.

Is it a crime to be fine.

texazzpete:

The same MEND that stood idly by while Soboma George's cultists kill innocent civillians in Rivers State?

My man, go and develop this your argument again. . . .blinkered argument does not help because your mind is already made up. . . .  .Soboma George is fighting with Ateke and JTF and you want MEND to come in and fight Soboma George in the presence of JTF? Would you fight a dog in the presence of a lion?. . . .how does MEND coming in to PH to fight Soboma stop the killing of innocent civilians?. . . .if anything, more civilians will be caught in crossfire. . . Soboma George is a PDP creation - Nigerian Government should clear up their own mess. Now you want MEND to act as police? It is bad enough that we have to rescue Julius Berger workers from your soldiers, now you want us to police for you as well? 

texazzpete:

The same MEND that popularized kidnapping can come out to pontificate?

Another blinkered argument. . . . kidnapping is a law and order problem. . . .nothing to do with MEND.

This woman (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00d9fpg/) had her sister-in-law kidnapped by so-called fake MEND militants and yet she is a supporter of MEND, even speaking for them on BBC. . . . it is you who read it in newspaper that want to cast stones. . . . . obviously, your mind is already hardened.

texazzpete:

The same MEND that babble on about people stealing Ijaw resources, yet lamely offer that 'big men in Abuja' are the ones behind oil bunkering?

Maybe you can offer statistics comparing non-Ijaw to Ijaw bunkering. I am sure the ratio is nothing less than 19:1 . . . we have seen it with our own eyes, no be say na tory. . . . .before you ask us to do things by the book, YOU start to do things by the book.

I guess you did not read this story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7519302.stm

Lemme quote it for you:

Under cover of night dozens of barges queue up to dock at a jetty in a creek somewhere in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta.

Their holds are filled with stolen oil running from valves illegally installed into a pipeline.

Full, they chug downstream to meet around 10 larger ships near the oil export terminal in Bonny, Rivers State, where they disgorge their cargo.

By 0500, in the darkness before dawn, the ships uncouple from the barges and move out in a convoy to sea to rendezvous with a tanker which will spirit away the stolen oil, making it disappear into another cargo, bound for sale on the world market.

[b]This, according to activists and former Nigerian government advisers, is the process by which Nigeria is losing billions of dollars every year to oil smuggling.

The illegal "bunkering", as it is known, makes a huge profit for Nigerian syndicates and rogue international traders.

It leaves in its wake chaos and misery for the people of the Niger Delta.

According to Nigeria's President Umaru Yar'Adua this is "blood oil", akin to the trade in "blood diamonds" that fuelled bloody civil wars in West African neighbours Liberia and Sierra Leone.

But a source close to the former government of President Olusegun Obasanjo says the problem is not about quashing militants in boats.

Some of the people who run the cartels are among Nigeria's top political "godfathers", who wield massive political influence.

"If the president goes after them, they could destabilise the country, cause a coup, a civil war. They are that powerful, they could bring the state down," said the source, who did not want to be identified.

He says that attempts in the past to bring the trade under control were stopped for that reason.

"This is an industry that makes £30m ($60m) a day, they'd kill you, me, anyone, in order to protect it," he said.

In order to get away with the theft, the bunkering syndicates operate under the cloak of the conflict between militants and oil companies in the Niger Delta.

They need "security" - gangs of armed heavies to protect their cargos - and threaten anyone who tries to interfere.
Barges like this one are filled with crude and then take it to larger ships

They don't have to look far to find large groups of unemployed youths willing to do what they are told for a little money.

State governments in the Delta armed militias to carry out widespread rigging during the 2003 elections.

But the militiamen say they were abandoned, so they turned to oil theft to fund their activities. [/b]

WillyWilly, abeg next time wey this guy reach PH in de name of oil exploration, make una kidnap am for me. 

Ibime:


WillyWilly, abeg next time wey this guy reach PH in de name of oil exploration, make una kidnap am for me. 

see, this is why people find the Niger Delta so fuzzy.

You're asking willywilly to kidnap someone, as if you yourself no be kidnapper.

Try to pull the wool over people's eyes, why don't you.


As the Yoruba say- whats the difference between Hausa and Fulani.

Ijaw resources, Ijaw oil, Ijaw militants, Ijaw this, Ijaw that

Does Niger Delta mean Ijaw? I need an answer asap!! I feel a group is trying to Ijawlise the Niger Delta

romeo:

Ijaw resources, Ijaw oil, Ijaw militants, Ijaw this, Ijaw that

Does Niger Delta mean Ijaw? I need an answer asap!! I feel a group is trying to Ijawlise the Niger Delta

of course, people seem to forget yoruba's, itsekiri's, igbo's,urhobo etc are part of the niger delta too. i don't understand how u want to emancipate the niger delta but only represent the ijaw people. these MEND guys obvious have a bad PR campaign

Tpia, you can't tell a joke when you hear one?

Ijaw this, Ijaw that - the whole niger-Delta process has been inclusive from day one. Ijaws took the lead as the largest tribe in Niger Delta and invited other tribes to join them. Infact, go and google the Kaiama declaration where the Ijaw called for other tribes to work with them. Haters will hate - frankly, I don't give a phock what known haters like Bawomolo and such think. This is the first time in Nigerian history that different tribes have collaborated toward a common goal since Biafra. You better believe that the Niger Delta process is all inclusive. Go and ask Debosky how many times MEND have operated in Akwa-Ibom state, including Bakassi. No problem there. Itsekiris are part of MEND - infact, it was MEND who called for end to fighting between Ijaws and Itsekiris in Bendel side, that is why that situation has died down somewhat. Ohanaeze Igbo have come out fully in support of Niger Delta. WTF are you talking about? Haters! How many Yorubas are part of Niger Delta? Are you talking about the Ijaw villages in Ondo State?

Ibime:

Tpia, you can't tell a joke when you hear one?

Ijaw this, Ijaw that - the whole niger-Delta process has been inclusive from day one. Ijaws took the lead as the largest tribe in Niger Delta and invited other tribes to join them. Infact, go and google the Kaiama declaration where the Ijaw called for other tribes to work with them. Haters will hate - frankly, I don't give a phock what known haters like Bawomolo and such think. This is the first time in Nigerian history that different tribes have collaborated toward a common goal since Biafra. You better believe that the Niger Delta process is all inclusive. Go and ask Debosky how many times MEND have operated in Akwa-Ibom state, including Bakassi. No problem there. Itsekiris are part of MEND - infact, it was MEND who called for end to fighting between Ijaws and Itsekiris in Bendel side, that is why that situation has died down somewhat. Ohanaeze Igbo have come out fully in support of Niger Delta. WTF are you talking about? Haters! How many Yorubas are part of Niger Delta? Are you talking about the Ijaw villages in Ondo State?

na joke me too dey joke nah.




But seriously, why are the Ijaws always fighting?

Ijaws vs Itsekiri in Delta state

Ijaws vs Yoruba(?)  Ondo State

Ijaws vs shell/Nigeria- Niger Delta.

It seems everywhere they are, its one fight or another. Na everybody dey offend them?

We dey fight well well, no doubt, but we have been very docile on this oil exploitation issue. Only after 50 years of exploitation are we beginning to raise our head. Naija never see pepper yet.

Ijaw fight with Yoruba for Ondo state? When?

Ibime:

We dey fight well well, no doubt, but we have been very docile on this oil exploitation issue. Only after 50 years of exploitation are we beginning to raise our head. Naija never see pepper yet.

Ijaw fight with Yoruba for Ondo state? When?

I think there was some localized war between the Ijaws of Ondo state. They were either fighting themselves or fighting their Yoruba neighbors. I'm not too clear on the tribes around that side, since some of the Yorubas there may actually be Ijaw. I have a Yoruba friend whose parents were Yoruba speaking Ijaws from Ondo state. Yoruba speaking as in you don't know they're Ijaw at first glance, because everything about them seems Yoruba. Seemingly assimilated.

So I know there was infighting in the area but I'm not too sure who was fighting who- Ijaw vs Ijaw or Ijaw vs Yoruba.

It was even in the papers at the time.

Note: I'm not mentioning all this so you can go and recruit foot soldiers for MEND in that area oh. Though I hear they're already trying to do so.

so we should applaud MEND for their gestapo act ehn, indeed, love covers a multitude of sins

i really wonder how ijaw became the 4th largest ethnic group in nigeria, when we do not even see much of them in our day to day life.they are just popular because of the "media inflated millitants", just like the ogoni people.the fourth largest ethnic group to my knowledge in nigeria is the Efik/Ibibio. you see the 'calabar' man or woman everywhere in nigeria. enough of these popularity campaign.We in the niger delta should fight the cause as a niger delta cause and NOT an ethnic cause. fighting for the federal charater should be another fight entirely and not under the disguise of niger delta cause.THE NIGER DELTA SHOULD BE DEVELOPED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE WEALTH IT IS PRODUCING FOR THE NATION. PERIOD!!!