The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, says it primary mission is not to secure the release of Alhaji Asari Dokubo who is being held by the authorities for acts inimical to the survival of the Nigerian nation.
MEND said in a statement, part of which was published Saturday, that its pursuit is rather anchored on a desire to secure the future and survival of the Niger Delta child born in the midst of plenty but who instead live in abject squalor and want.
The organization however said it was ready to work with groups and movements that share its aspiration to give the Niger Delta child a new lease of life and a life full of hope through resource control.
It noted that in achieving its mission to cripple oil exploration activities, there would no compromise.
Thus far, by its methods, MEND appears to favour the principle of armed struggle advocated right from the days of Major Isaac Adaka Boro and endorsed by the Kaiama Declaration.
Alhaji Asari Dokubo who is being held for alleged treasonable felony has been a strong advocate of armed struggle, saying that the best path for the Nigerian nation may be to negotiate a new relation anchored on justice, equality and fairness, with the federating unions reserving the right to go their separate ways.
But he had warned that if he is killed or put out of circulation, it would be difficult to control those who may be coming behind him.
Was Asari being prophetic?
No one can say for sure now, yet MEND’s up-beat war against oil targets and the devastating consequences has left many watchers, especially in the oil industry gasping for air as facilities built with billions of dollars become sitting ducks in the fluid Niger Delta rain forest.
There have been speculations in most quarters that MEND’s insistence on the release of “our leaders” may be the centrepiece of its relentless and devastating attacks.
Last week, MEND spoke for itself.
In taking that posture, analysts say MEND probably sent two clear messages.
First, they say that the MEND statement suggests that the struggle is not specifically about personalities and persons born in the Niger Delta, meaning there may yet be an unidentified ideological reason for acts that the authorities see as acts of terrorism.
Unlike what we have seen in the past, especially during the cult wars, analysts think a new set of Niger Delta militants driven by years of suffering, deprivation and unemployment may have joined the fray.
Analysts point to the quality of their releases and communication skills designed to propagate propaganda in favour of their struggle as evidence of this assertion.
Since MEND’s attack along the Forcados River in Delta State, the authorities having been dealing with the fallouts, even as the resolve of the Federal Government as we have learnt, to ensure security within the Niger Delta intensifies.
Thus far, not much is known about the brains behind MEND. At best Brutus Ebipade has been the most outspoken of the movement, meaning for now he might be the one given the task to speak on behalf of the faceless militants.
The administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo continues to maintain that no responsible government can tolerate the demands of some armed youngsters in the Niger Delta jungle.
To deal with the situation, the authorities have continued to send in more troops into the region to help protect oil pipelines and facilities and deal with the restiveness that is gradually attracting negative international attention.
MEND’s latest attack might either mean the authorities may be dealing with a more determined Niger Delta group, or suggest that for now the troops are yet to know the terrain as well as the armed militants who are operating within.
Oil companies are presently reviewing the options open to them, with some insiders increasingly favouring a pull-out of their men from the fields were they are becoming targets for hostage takers.
In Port Harcourt, most hotels have become fully booked, and some hotel sources confided in this publication that the hotels are struggling to cope with the influx of oil workers who are taking up shelter in them until they can get orders to return to work.
There is no evidence; at least in the open that the authorities have opened up a channel of dialogue with those who took nine oil workers as hostages last week.
In Western countries, there are growing concerns over their investments in the Niger Delta and the safety of their nationals working there.
Britain’s number one diplomat; Jack Straw was in Nigeria to talk with Nigerian leaders a couple of days ago.
Straw traveled to the Niger Delta to get a first hand assessment of the situation and expressed confidence in ongoing efforts to beef up security
Last week’s strike cast a blot on that confidence and sent shock waves round a world that is increasingly dependent on the black gold, and a world worried by the shortfall in oil supplies in the Gulf where the Americans and the British have been unable to put matters under control..