Nigeria�s rebel group, Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) has claimed responsibility for the attack on a Nigerian Navy ship, NNS Obula that killed a naval officer with many others injured.
In an email to The Times of Nigeria, MEND said its �elite commando unit� carried out the attack to prove that the Nigerian military is ill-equipped to stop the rebels from operating in the area.
�On Tuesday, October 30, 2007 at about 2100Hrs, an elite commando unit of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) attacked the Nigerian Navy Ship Obula stationed to protect the EA oil fields in Bayelsa state of Nigeria.�
�The attack was to again proof to the oil majors and the Nigerian government that the presence of the Nigerian military in the Niger Delta can not deter an attack nor provide protection to oil facilities when we decide to attack them. It is only the presence of justice that can.� MEND said.
The rebels mocked the Nigerian Navy military preparedness stating that the attack was carried out partly to show that its presence cannot deter MEND from carrying out attack.
�The NNS Obula was a sitting duck and this attack again exposed the incompetence of the Navy; especially in night time warfare. During the last military exercise, the Chief of the Naval Staff admitted that �due to the presence of fog� the exercise had to be called off.�
�We found that statement laughable, ridiculous and pathetic considering our fighters can navigate in pitch darkness at speeds of up to 180 Km/Hr.�
�All commandos have since returned to camp without any casualties from our side.� The email signed by Jomo Gbomo said.