GENERAL
� Nigerian militants killed five (05) soldiers on March 08 2006 in a firefight during an attack by the army in the southern Niger Delta, and threatened reprisals against the military and oil company Royal Dutch Shell. It was the biggest military attack on militants from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta since mid-February, when a military bombardment of a militant stronghold prompted a string of devastating attacks on oil installations and the kidnapping of nine foreign oil workers. Militants alleged in an e-mail that their patrols on the Escravos River were attacked in the vicinity of Okerenkoko by four patrol boats belonging to the Nigerian Army that led to 45 minute firefight. The militants said 32 troops initially attacked in four boats, but were reinforced by three more boats containing 24 more soldiers. Militants said they suffered no casualties, but Navy spokesman Captain Obiora Medani confirmed that four army troops and one paramilitary policeman were shot dead in the firefight. The militants also said they had received reports of army patrols firing indiscriminately into Ijaw communities near the village of Odidi and are considering what further actions to take against the military and Shell installations in Forcados and Odidi. Shell has already evacuated its staff from the Forcados region, and shut all its production from the western side of the delta. The militants are still holding three foreign hostages — two Americans and one Briton – from last month�s raids, when their attacks on pipelines and a loading platform forced Shell to cut 455,000 barrels a day output.
� Two American and one British envoys arrived in Delta State on March 08 2006 to pressurize Delta State government for the release of Cody Oswalt (American), Raspel Spell (American) and John Hudspith (British security consultant), being held by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) in the kidnapped incident of February 18 2006.
� Militants in the Niger Delta have vowed to inflict serious damage on the operations of ExxonMobil if the company fails to compensate victims of the 1998 devastating oil spill after the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum issued during the week. The renewed threat followed what the militants termed the arrogant posture of the company over the payment of compensation to the victims of the Idoho oil spill they said ravaged the entire Niger Delta region. The expected attack, code named �Operation Black Mamba�, according to them, would ground the operations of the company this month. According to the militants, they had earlier written to the company to compensate the victims but ExxonMobil had asked them to initiate processes in line with due process rather than use force. Spokesperson for the militant Martyrs Brigade, Cynthia Whyte, in statement online urged the company not to regard the ultimatum as an empty threat, adding that youths in the region would no longer condone any acts of irresponsibility from oil multinationals. The group, allegedly, denounced any link with terrorist groups or a network such as Al-Qaeda, explaining that its current armed campaigns were genuine attempts by a neglected, oppressed and subjugated people to mete out justice to their oppressors, explaining that the operations were in line with the doctrine and belief of its detained leader, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari. It would be recalled that youths from the Eket community staged a protest at Mobil�s Qua Iboe Terminal (QIT), where the company produces more than 600,000 bpd of oil and condensates, although Mobil said there were no disruptions to exports. The Minster of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Edmund Daukoru said on March 08 2006 that Nigeria is currently experiencing a production shortfall of over 500,000 bpd, which translates to revenue losses of $30 million (N3.9 billion) for Nigeria and its joint venture partners.
� Nigerian lawyers under the aegis of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have scheduled March 13-14 2006 to boycott their appearance in courts nationwide. The action is aimed at protesting the unconstitutional removal of the former Oyo State governor, Chief Rashidi Ladoja as well as the perceived disobedience of court orders by the Federal Government. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) has initiated an action at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to stop members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) from embarking on the boycott of courts nationwide. Ojo’s pre-emptive action which was adjourned for hearing March 13 2006 followed the failure of his entreaty to sway the leadership of the NBA to shelve their plan.
� The discovery of five fresh corpses in a non-residential one-storey building located in the Sabon Gari area of Kano State inhabited predominantly by non-Muslims and non-natives sent jitters and panic across the commercial city. The attack has sent fresh fear in the Sabon Gari area, especially on Ilaro Road where the incident occurred, as panic-stricken residents were known to have begun gradual movement out of the place following police swoop on the area in search of possible suspects. The five victims of the attack were said to be Nigerians who engage in low profile business of water vendor and were sleeping on the veranda of the building when the suspected gun men struck. The police have beefed up security on Ilaro Road where the biggest Catholic Church in the state, Our Lady of Fatima, is situated cordoning off the entire area. Detectives have been deployed to carry out thorough investigations into the ugly development coming in the wake of the tensed atmosphere in the state generated by the riots in neighbouring Katsina, Bauchi and Maiduguri over the Prophet Mohammed cartoon.
East (Rivers & adjoining States)
2.1 On March 05 2006 tragedy struck when an upper deck crashed into an auditorium of Hope Waddel Presbyterian Church, Calabar, after a church service, killing a lady and wounding seven other persons in the process. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.2 On March 06 2006 an armed robbery gang attacked and burgled Imo State office of the National Population Commission (NPC) Owerri. The hoodlums who gained entry into the commission’s office and succeeded in destroying doors, fittings and office drawers while files documents littered the floors of the office. Police is investigating the incident.
2.3 On March 07 2006 the police in Abia State Command smashed a syndicate that specializes in diverting imported animal fats from Port-Harcourt to illegal dumps in remote areas of Ugwunagbo in Abia State. The arrested suspects are assisting the police in further investigations.
2.4 On March 08 2006 six (06) persons lost their lives in the Rivers State capital, Port- Harcourt after what was suspected to be a cult attack in Ojoto axis of Diobu, Mile One, Port Harcourt. A group of armed men followed people to a drinking parlour at Ojoto area and started shooting sporadically, killing four persons while a driver and his conductor that attempted to convey the armed hoodlums after the incident were shot dead by policemen who responded to a distress call.
2.5 On March 09 2006 an unconfirmed report said that oil companies with Bases along the waterways in Port Harcourt are on the militant target.
2.6 On March 10 2006 an armed robbery gang numbering eight (08) and armed with AK 47 riffles engaged policemen from the Rivers State Command in a shootout that lasted about two (02) hours at Azikiwe Street, Diobu. No casualties were recorded but some of the hoodlums were alleged to have sustained with gunshot wounds. Police hunt is ongoing.
2.7 On March 11 2006 at about 2111hrs, an armed robbery suspect was arrested along William Jumbo Street by police men from the State Command on a stop and search duty, a double barrel gun cut to size with four (04)cartridges were discovered from the hoodlum. Police investigation is ongoing.
Car-Jacking a total of eight (08) vehicles were reported snatched at gunpoint at different locations in Port – Harcourt and its environs. Police investigation for recovery is ongoing.
West (Warri/Escravos and adjoining States)
2.8 On March 04 2006 unidentified militants blew up a Shell manifold at Agge in the Ekeremor local government area of Bayelsa state which resulted in the spilling of over 250 barrels of crude in the area. The Agge manifold is a converging point for crude from Shell locations in Bayelsa state for conveyance to the Forcados Loading Terminal in Delta state.
2.9 On March 05 2006 at about1400hrs, a middle aged man suspected to be a ritualist was caught by a mob and set ablaze after attempting to kidnap a boy who had gone to swim at Ogele River in Ughelli Town, in Ughelli North local government area of Delta state for a fee of N2.5 million. Police is investigating the incident.
2.10 On March 06 2006 at about 0930hrs, a lady was killed and several others injured when some policemen posted to man a road block along Benin/Asaba high way by Okpannam Junction in Delta State allegedly opened fire on a passenger bus after the driver of the bus allegedly failed to stop for checking. Investigation is ongoing.
2.11 On March 06 2006 at about 1720hrs, six policemen attached to the Delta Storm on check points were arrested by the Delta State Commissioner of Police (CP) Monitoring team in Warri. The Commissioner of Police had earlier disbanded the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) following their corrupt practices on the highways. The erring Cops faced police departmental trial, found guilty and demoted in rank.
2.12 On March 7 2006 the Federal Government redeployed the Commander of Joint Task Force (JTF) Brigadier-General Elias Zamani and his deputy Brigadier-General Mike Okedokun. Zamani was replaced by Brigadier-General E.O.Ilowo as the new commander of the Task force. Their removal seems a partial fulfilment of the conditions set by (MEND) to release the three hostages held by the militants. General Zamani was appointed commander of the Task force in August, 2003, when the crisis in the Niger Delta came to the peak.
2.13 On March 07 2006 hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers hijacked a trailer load of Guinness Stout drinks valued at over N5m from a brewery based in Benin, Edo state and it diverted to a location in a bush in Kwale, Ndokwa west local government area of Delta state where the goods were emptied. One of the suspects was arrested while the leader escaped. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.14 On March 08 2006 at about 0000hrs, unidentified youths in two speed boats struck at Ikeresan and Idheze communities in the Sapele local government area of Delta state and killed the community youth leader, Mr Moses Isiorhoroja with machetes and other sharp objects for reasons not yet known. Several houses were also set ablaze. The incident is being investigated by the police.
2.15 On March 08 2006 One of the host communities to SPDC Ovorh field in Sapele local government area of Delta state, Adaka, an Itsekiri community gave SPDC a seven-day ultimatum to remove all its oil facilities and evacuate its staff from Ovorh field over the refusal of the company to abide and respect the directive of the state government to recognize them as a host community of Ovorh field.
2.16 On March 9 2006 at about 2100hrs, a seven-man armed robbery gang stormed the Oleh campus of the Delta state University and forced their way into the Hostel after overpowering the security on duty at the main entrance. Five students were seriously injured and a number of GSM handsets and other valuables carted away by the hoodlums. Investigation is ongoing.
2.17 On March 10 2006 at about 2200hrs, approximately eighty (80) speed boats loaded with villagers at Burutu in the Burutu local government area of Delta state attended a burial near SPDC Odidi field and later in the night shot several Cannons as a mark of respect to the dead during the burial ceremony. Four oil pipelines belonging to Shell were allegedly destroyed as a result of the shooting. It has not been confirmed if the destruction was masterminded by militants.
2.18 On March 11 2006 at about 1745hrs, a two man armed robbery gang specialized in snatching motorbikes (Okada) were apprehended by soldiers at a checkpoint at Ubeji town in Warri -South local government area of Delta state following a tip-off. The suspects who were beaten to a state of unconsciousness were later handed over to the police at Effurun division. One locally made gun and four cartridges were recovered from the suspects. Investigation is ongoing.
Car-Jacking Five (5) vehicles were reportedly snatched at gunpoint at different locations in Warri and its environs during the week. Three (3) of the said vehicles have been recovered, while investigation to recover the rest is ongoing.
Lagos (and adjoining States)
2.19 On March 05 2006 five (05) persons, including two policemen, died in Ojo area of Ibadan in a bloody clash between some policemen and persons suspected to be criminals. Trouble reportedly broke out when a team of policemen attempted to raid a criminal hideout. The matter had been referred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), for further investigations.
2.20 On March 05 2006 a gang of about twenty-nine (29) youths alleged to be students of the University of Ado-Ekiti were nabbed for an alleged robbery attempt on an area in Ikoro-Ekiti, Ijero Local Government of Ekiti-State. The bandits, who were all very young and said to be 400-Level students of the University, were found with series of dangerous weapons including cutlasses, cudgels, knives and charms. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.21 On March 05 2006 at about 12:30hrs, four (04) armed men entered No.1 Ibadan Close, Opebi Ikeja and robbed the resident of three (03) gold wrist watches, one (01) Motorola Razor and one (01) flip cell phones, assorted jewellery, a cash sum of =N=200,000,00, $165.00, and one (01) Nigerian passport with an American resident permit. SCID Panti is investigating.
2.22 On March 06 2006 at about 14:00hrs, the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation in the company of armed policemen demolished a mosque at Allen Junction. The uncompleted building, with roof suspended with the aid of iron rods, and had hitherto served as a makeshift mosque for Moslems at Alade market and its environs that frequented the area daily for prayer sessions. The building was specifically situated a few meters from the swampy canal which may have contravened the Lagos State Physical Planning and Urban Development Laws. It was not clear if the building was demolished as a result of its illegality or due to closeness to the canal.
2.23 On March 06 2006 at about 1840hrs, there was a fire outbreak at Block 4, No.7A Sable Court Cameroun Road Ikoyi a residence of a Canadian National. A team of policemen and fire fighters put out the fire, which emanated from the Air-conditioning unit, from Campos Square Lagos. The value of property destroyed is yet to be estimated. No life was lost in the inferno. Ikoyi Police Division is investigating.
2.24 On March 07 2006 at about 0900hrs, the Federal Housing Authority in Lagos alongside with forty (40) anti-riot policemen evicted about 3,000 people living at a federal estate located between Isheri and Igando, in Alimosho Local Government area of Lagos State. The policemen were drafted from MOPOL 20; who allegedly beat and assaulted the residents and forcibly removed doors and windows of most of the flats in the 600-unit housing estate. It was gathered that the residents had been evicted twice by the FHA but had returned to the estate after each exercise.
2.25 On February 08 2006 at 0130hrs, a part of the 13-storey Stallion House on Ajose Adegun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos was razed by fire, consuming property worth millions of Naira and vital oil industry data. The building houses Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Pension Fund and the NNPC, Oando PLC, National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO) and Stallion Property Development Company (SPDC). The inferno that lasted for about six hours was said to have occurred in the process of starting the 1000KVA generating plant that powers the building following an outage. It took the combined efforts of the UNION BANK fire service, EKO HOTEL fire service, FEDERAL FIRE SERVICE, LAGOS STATE FIRE SERVICE and JULIUS BERGER fire service units to bring the fire under control at 07:00hrs. No life was lost in the incident.
2.26 On March 10 2006 at about 0202hrs, unidentified gunmen numbering about fifteen (15), armed with dangerous weapons, broke into Fagbemi filling station, Festac Extension, and destroyed one of the safes and removed a yet to be estimated amount of money. Police intervention did not deter the robbers who succeeded in carting away their loot even after sustaining bullet wounds under heavy exchange of gunfire. The robbers abandoned one revolver with six (06) rounds of live ammunition, two (02) gas cylinders, two (02) iron cutters, one (01) big sledge hammer, two (02) broken padlocks, one torch light and several empty shells of assorted ammunition at the scene. SCID Panti is investigating the crime.
2.27 On March 11 2006 five (05) people died, while four (04) others were placed on danger list at the Ogun State hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta in a bloody clash among members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Owode town in Obafemi-Owode Local Governement Area of Ogun State. The party factions were fighting for supremacy in the control of party affairs in the area. Police investigation is ongoing.
CAR JACKING: Twenty-three (23) vehicles were reportedly snatched at gunpoint at different locations in Lagos and its environs during the week. Seven (07) of the said vehicles have been recovered, while police investigation is ongoing to recover the rest.