Checking Militancy In Niger Delta

Militancy is the main problem of the Niger Delta Region. Militancy has not brought any benefit to Nigeria. Rather, it has helped to cripple the economy of the nation. This is because the activities of the militants are usually directed at destroying the oil facilities of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.

And it should be noted that Nigeria’s survival as a country economically totally depends on regular oil production in the Niger Delta Region. It is therefore, worrying that militant activities have resumed in the Niger Delta Region. And this is in spite of the amnesty granted all the militants in August, 2009, by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In the meantime, one of the oil giants in the Niger Delta Region, Exxon-Mobil has shut down its Oso platform off the coast of Akwa Ibom State. This followed the attack and abduction of some of its workers by militants on Sunday, November 14, 2010. The action has resulted in the loss of 45,000 barrels per day of oil production. This loss is expected to affect the country adversely. Apart from this, not less than eight of its workers have not been seen.

According to the company, unknown gunmen boarded the Oso platform on November 14, 2010, and attacked them. It said, the attack was the second within one week after the abduction of some workers of London oil group, Afren. It was gathered that there were seventy-four people at work when the militants raided the oil platform. The raid which lasted for ten minutes saw the militants firing at the platform from at least, six speed boats. The company the militants attacked belongs to the United States of America. But it is in joint venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Meanwhile, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)has claimed responsibility for the attack. It stressed that it would carry out further attacks on oil facilities.

In fact, the resumed attacks on oil facilities should be viewed seriously by the authorities. As already observed, oil production touches on the economic well-being of this country. We should not therefore, watch without doing anything when a product that touches on the future and progress of this country is being prevented from coming out. Those responsible for this ugly development should be confronted and dealt with adequately. If they use force, they should equally be matched with force and be defeated so that peace can reign in the Niger Delta Region. It is when there is peace that we can progress in this country. Those who believe in violence should be visited with violence.

Earlier, militants blew up two pipelines belonging to the Nigerian  Agip Oil Company in Bayelsa State, forcing a shut in of 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day. This happened on Friday, October 29, 2010. The bombed pipelines run from the Osiama oilfield in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area to Brass. The blast also caused oil spill in the area. It was further gathered that the militants fired at Agip officials who went to investigate the blast but the workers escaped inhurt.

According to information, the militants involved in the attack sent a message to Agip that the attack was the beginning of a full scale war with the company and its operations in the area. However, it was revealed that this attack was carried out because Agip turned down a request by the leader of the militants for patronage. According to reports, the militant leader, who was among the first to lay down weapons under the amnesty programme, returned to the creeks following dissatisfaction with the implementation of the amnesty programme.

In any case, when his request was not granted, he sent a text message to Agip Station Manager in charge of Osiama Flow Station, promising them hell which he carried out later. This attack was the first on oil and gas installations since the amnesty was granted to more than twenty thousand militants who laid down their arms in 2009 in return for cash payments, reintegration and training programmes. It should be underscored that the Osiama Flow Station is one of the fields feeding the Brass Oil Terminal.

From the foregoing, it is clear that the militants carried out this attack for selfish and greedy reasons. These were people granted amnesty by the Federal Government. And the amnesty programme is going on according to plan. But simply because some greedy militants would want more than they deserve and could not get them, they decided to destroy oil facilities that are very important in the economic well-being of this country.

This barbaric act should be roundly condemned because it is based on nothing but greed. A tendency that should not be allowed to flourish in this country is greed. Wherever it is found, it should be nipped in the bud.

We are aware that the amnesty programme is very much on course. For instance, in Rivers State, the government established the Social Development Institute at Okehi under the leadership of Chief A. K. Horsfall to rehabilitate, reintegrate and give useful skills to the militants so that on passing out from the institute, they will become useful citizens.

To achieve this, the state government employed those who are experienced in the relevant disciplines to teach; and introduced fourteen skills acquisition programmes. Apart from these, each trainee is paid twenty thousand naira. So far, three hundred militants have passed out from the institute. Twenty were promised employment while others were involved in cooperative ventures funded by the state government.

A similar centre exists in Cross River State being handled by the Federal Government. In fact, that is expected of the militants is to submit themselves to the amnesty progrmume and become better citizens later instead of being greedy. Because they are in a hurry to make money, they could not wait to pass through the amnesty programme. We advise them to be law abiding and stop blowing up oil pipelines that are important in the social and economic progress of Nigeria.

At this stage, we appeal to the authorities not to handle any unruly militants with kid gloves. Nigeria needs peace. We should, therefore, establish peace so that we can move forward.

Dr Tolofari, fellow,  Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, resides in Port Harcourt.

Mann Tolofari