Niger Delta Rebels Bomb Shell; Say ‘Considering’ Obama Cease-Fire Appeal
May 7th, 2008 by WILLIAM KERN
Is it possible that in the midst of the most grueling political ordeal of his life, Barack Obama took time out last week to negotiate with Nigerian Militants?
Just a day after an attack on an a huge Shell Oil pumping station on the Niger Delta, the Nigerian government reports receiving an e-mail that reads in part:
“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta command is seriously considering a temporary ceasefire appeal by Senator Barack Obama. Obama is someone we respect and hold in high esteem.”
No word yet from Senator Obama.
By Ahamefula Ogbu in Port Harcourt and Segun James in Yenagoa
May 4, 2008
Nigeria - This Day - Original Article (English)
The Diebu Creek Flow Station in Bayelsa State, which belongs to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), was blown up on Friday night [May 2] by militants operating along the Southern Ijaw creeks. The blast resulted in massive oil spillage along the waterway.
The attack on the 30,000 barrel-per-day installation is the first on any oil facility since former Governor Timipre Sylva brokered a peace deal with militant groups last year.
The assault on the heavily-guarded facility caught soldiers deployed to protect it by surprise. Reports are that they were easily overrun by the militants who arrived aboard five speed boats.
The rebels belong to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta [MEND], which has claimed responsibility for several attacks on Shell facilities. In this case, responsibility was assumed by someone named Commander Douglas, a hitherto unknown militant who promised that the war had only just began. He gave no reason for the onslaught, which affected Shell wells number 12, 13, 15 and 16.
[Editor’s Note: The day after the attack, on May 4, it was reported that Senator Barack Obama, the would-be Democratic nominee, had somehow communicated with the rebels, asking them to halt their guerrilla attacks.
According to the Nigerian government, it received an e-mail this week which said: “The MEND command is seriously considering a temporary ceasefire appeal by Senator Barack Obama. Obama is someone we respect and hold in high esteem. The period of halting attacks, we hope, when considered, will afford the Nigerian government the opportunity to address the issues with Henry Okah, including improving his living conditions and having access to a bible which he has requested for but was denied,” they said.”
Henry Okah is the group’s leader who is now in custody .]
At press time, information on the attack was still scanty, but Joint Task Force Spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, confirmed the incident.
Shell Spokesman Precious Okolobo said the company had moved containment booms into position to check the spill, but wouldn’t say how much oil has spilled.
“SPDC’s Diebu creek flow station was attacked last night (Friday night). A few oil delivery lines are affected and some oil has been spilled into the environment. We are mobilizing containment booms to stop the spread of oil and have shut in a certain volume of production,” he said.
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing foreign press coverage of America and the U.S. elections.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 7th, 2008 at 9:16 pm and is filed under Environmental Issues, Newspapers, Oil, Law Enforcement, Africa, Barack Obama, Environment. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
