IN a rare attempt at ending frequent hostilities in the Niger Delta, the Army, weekend, began dialogue with the militants. However, speaking in Port Harcourt, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Owoye Andrew Azazi, said the meeting was not borne out of cowardice.
According to the Chief of Army Staff, the initiative became necessary following the increasing level of crimes in the region committed under the guise of fighting for the Niger Delta
He said it was true that the region had suffered gross neglect under past political leadership in the nation but hostage-taking, attack on flow stations, killing of soldiers, etc, were not the appropriate ways to seek redress.
General Azazi said he had heard of calls by youths in the area for de-militarisation of the region, adding that it would not be possible because the army had a constitutional responsibility in the area. He, however, pledged that the army under his command would be friendly while discharging its responsibilities.
Some of the youths who spoke sought the release of Asari-Dokubo as a major step towards peace in the region. They said his continued incarceration had given room for all kinds of crimes to be committed in the region under the guise of seeking his release. They expressed hope that the release would bring an end to hostilities in the region.
They also called for the involvement of youths in providing security for barges just as they maintained that some of the violence so far witnessed in the area were provoked by military men deployed in the region. According to them, these soldiers rather than being friendly attempted to maltreat them.
They also enjoined the Federal Government to prevail on multinational oil firms in the area to respect MoU signed with host communities.
Militants in fresh attack
Meanwhile, Niger Delta militants launched a fresh attack yesterday, this time on the Klough Creek Flow Station in the Ekeremor local government area of Bayelsa State belonging to the Italian oil giant, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), holding hostage an unspecified number of workers. Three speedboats were also seized by the invaders.
Although it could not be ascertained which group launched the attack, it was gathered that about 70 heavily armed youths invaded the facility located in the deep swamp of Ekeremor on the Atlantic fringe of Bayelsa State in the early hours of yesterday with little resistance from the military operatives on guard.
Rampaging armed gunmen had penultimate week invaded and shut down the same facility after overpowering the security men on guard only to withdraw after a four-day siege following the intervention of the state government through the deputy governor, Mr Peremobowei Ebebi who led a delegation to the creek.
However, another group launched a surprise attack on the highly fortified Tebidaba flow station in the Southern Ijaw flank of the state last Monday and is still occupying the facility.
Tension had heightened in the troubled creeks of the state over alleged plan by militants to step up attack on oil installations especially those belonging to the Italian Eni group on account of what sources described as the �accumulated grievances� against the company.
A number of the company employees including local and expatriates as well as security personnel were said to be on duty when the militants struck and are currently being held hostage at the flowstation.
The invaders were also said to have seized no fewer than three speedboats belonging to the embattled company, which has come under massive attack in recent times.
The coordinator of the state vigilance outfit, the �Bayelsa Volunteers�, Chief Joshua Benamiesia who spoke to Vanguard in Yenagoa decried the action of the militants, stressing that it came as surprise to all peace-loving Bayelsans.
Chief Benamiesia who said no group or community had claimed responsibility for the attack, however, noted that everything humanly possible would be done to stem the tide in the creek which, according to him, is causing Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation image problem.
Lamenting the action of the youths, he warned that government might be compelled to resort to the use of force as against the current approach of dialogue.
The state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Hafiz Ringim could not be reached but an official of the company who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the incident.
Militants in fresh strategy
Meanwhile, Niger Delta militants under the auspices of Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) have said their anger would no longer be restricted to oil and gas companies following the refusal of the Federal Government to release Asari Dokubo.
The militants said in a statement issued weekend that they would continue to adopt grim measures to press for the release of Dokubo, but failed to state what the grim measures were.
They said: �We have refused to be driven to adopt very grim measures to press on our point for the release of Dokubo Asari from the gallows of the Nigerian state.
�We have refused to fire rockets at government convoys. We have allowed the ruling general enjoy his stay in Rivers and Bayelsa states. We have thus far allowed those who conspired to keep Dokubo Asari in jail roam around our states and region peacefully. We have allowed them dream up high political challenges. It shall come to pass that our anger will no longer be directed at the oil and gas companies.
�Desperate situations demand desperate measures. At this point, we lack the ability to maintain restrain,� they said.