MEND Vows Sustained Attacks on Nigerian Oil Industry
Weapons reportedly recovered through amnesty program
In a statement signed by Jomo Gbomo, MEND, which yesterday said it had attacked and destroyed one manifold and one wellhead on a trunk line operated by Agip Oil Company in Bayelsa State, said that on this new policy, there will be no pause in its assault.
The Movement also took the opportunity to dismiss the performance of the government. “President Goodluck Jonathan has mismanaged the goodwill demonstrated by M.E.N.D. by misrepresenting himself and his band of charlatans as the reason for the relative calm experienced in the Niger Delta,” the statement said. “We have never had any respect for Jonathan and today, most Nigerians understand why.”
Recalling the unconditional offer of amnesty by the late president Umaru Yar’ Adua, MEND said it was intended to create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue aimed at addressing the demands of the people of the Niger Delta.
“A Jonathan presidency and amnesty for militants were not a part of our demands and therefore will never be a solution to armed agitation for justice in the Niger Delta,” it said, noting that up till now, “not one of the demands put forward to the Yar Adua government has been met; neither has the Nigerian government initiated dialogue aimed at addressing any” of MEND’s demands.
With reference to its intended attacks on MTN-related infrastructure, MEND said it will shortly issue a set of guidelines to MTN employees, customers, and owners of properties accommodating MTN related communication equipment in order to minimise civilian casualties and forestall unnecessary destruction of privately owned properties.
Dismissing a “misinformed” editorial published by the Nation newspaper on February 12 concerning the Henry Okay trial in South Africa, MEND argued that the newspaper affirmed its confidence in the South African government and justice system, and wondered how the newspaper, in view of a previous story it had published, could turn around and declare the continued detention of a Nigerian citizen for almost 19 months without trial or proof to be a just action.
“The Nigerian media industry is at its lowest point with unscrupulous journalists, editors and publishers on the payroll of Goodluck Jonathan,” it asserted. “The Nation newspaper appears to lean towards this direction.”
According to MEND, what is happening in South Africa is a travesty of justice which must be condemned by all. “What country on earth besides Nigeria will so easily surrender its right to try someone it accuses of masterminding a bombing on its national day? Why does the South African government seek the extradition of Shrien Dewani from England for a murder committed in South Africa?
MEND further stated that the South African government is simply being used by the Nigerian government to hold Okah in prison for as long as it possibly can, and had also knowingly provided fabricated evidence to ensure Okah was denied bail in 2010.
In the Niger Delta, MEND said the Jonathan administration has used the dubious "amnesty programme" as a guise to line the pockets of Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Patience, Jonathan’s cronies and members of the amnesty committee whose sudden wealth remains unchallenged by the Nigerian media. “Fighters in the delta do not possess relevant high school qualifications,” the statement said. “Those being sent abroad are relatives and friends of Jonathan, amnesty committee members etc.”
Of its promised assault, it said MEND will once and for all “expose Goodluck Jonathan and his band of so called ex-militants and shameless Ijaw elders for the frauds they are.”
By SaharaReporters, New York
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