Firstly, we want to dissociate ourselves from the statement purported to have been issued from MEND and signed by one Don Pedro regarding the current attack on the Shell EA fields.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) hereby confirm that the raid on the EA oil fields operated by Shell and the capture of seven (7) oil workers was indeed carried out by its gallant fighters on Saturday, October 20, 2007 in Bayelsa state of Nigeria.
This attack was not about any single individual, but in furtherance of our pledge to resume attacks and abductions in pursuance of our objective which is the complete control of our natural resources as outlined in our statement of September 23, 2007.
Rather than negotiate along these lines, the government and oil majors have chosen to employ the services of thugs and corrupt politicians who want to line their personal pockets, to cause confusion and sabotage the aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta.
The hostages have been released due to the personal intervention of Henry Okah, but the attacks will continue so that the government will realise that for real peace to prevail, justice must be addressed. We have just shown that the presence of the military in oil facilities does not deter an attack.
Jomo Gbomo