The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has denied carrying out Thursday�s attack on Saipem, an Italian oil service company during which a Colombian was killed and two other expatriates and a Nigerian kidnapped.
MEND said, �Some faceless bodies or group� might have latched on to the threat it issued to resume hostilities, to launch the attack during which militants wearing military fatigue stormed the Acker Base yard of the oil servicing company and sprayed it with bullets. �MEND was not involved in that attack. Our statement announcing the resumption of hostilities might have emboldened the attackers who fear us more than the Nigerian military,� it clarified.
MEND had threatened to resume attacks after it alleged that its Spokesman, Mr. Henry Okah alias Gbomo Jomo was set up in Angola and arrested when he went to negotiate for a fishing trawler he wanted to purchase.
After the attack on Saipem, MEND replied to inquiries by THISDAY saying it was yet to carry out the threat because the Federal Government had waded into the matter and had directed that Nigeria�s Ambassador to Angola take care of Okah and ensure he was well treated.
Unknown militants had Thursday stormed the Saipen complex through the waterfront and in their bid to break through the security cordon and gain access to the expatriates, shot and killed the Colombian, Henry Tonado, who died in the hospital shortly after the militants had disappeared with others into the creeks.
So far, all attempts to get the identities of those taken hostage by the militants have been frustrated by Saipem officials who insisted that it would cause more trauma to their families than any other purpose it might serve the media.
Meanwhile, the attack which took the security operatives under the aegis of Joint Task Force (JTF) by surprise and occasioned a heavy exchange of fire while the militants were retreating has led to the summoning of a high level security meetings by the JTF.
The security chiefs were said to be working on how to trace the attackers and free the hostages and then to plug the loop holes which the militants may have latched on to successfully penetrate their security to effect the attack.
Reacting to the incident, the Tonye Princewill Campaign Organisation headed by Chief Eze Chukwue-meka Eze appealed to youths of the Niger Delta to desist from actions that tarnish the image of the region.
Eze counseled that no matter how provoked they might be over the pillaging of the treasury of the Niger Delta by inept leadership, they should consider the general interest above any personal reaction.
He therefore asked whichever group that took the Saipem workers �who merely work there to earn their daily bread� to release them forthwith and without the demand of any ransom.
He appealed to them to live in the hope that leaders who have the interest of the people at heart would soon take the reins of power in the State and will work in the interest of the people who voted for them during the April polls.
Sep292007