NIGERIA SECURITY REPORT WEEK 15 2006.
GENERAL
� Over One Hundred (100) people were reportedly killed in intra land dispute in QuanPan Local Government of Plateau State. Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in the affected areas of Shendam and Namu, in QuanPan Local Government area of Plateau State following escalation of fracas over ownership of Namu in the early hours of April 12 2006. The government had claimed to have brought the situation under control on Apriln11 2006 before a new wave of killings which made the Plateau State government impose dusk to dawn curfew arose. The cause of the fracas was traced to the leakage of the report of the Justice Constance Momoh Panel report on the real ownership of Namu where it was held that Gomais owned the land as against the claim of the land by Pan people. Plateau State government had set up a high powered delegation headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief John Gobak to ascertain the situation of the crisis and security has been adequately deployed to keep peace in the area.
� Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has threatened to unleash another round of mayhem in the Niger Delta region this month tagged �Operation Blue April� a replay of attack that saw nine oil workers taken hostage in February 18 2006 in apparent reaction to the outcome of the recent presidential parley in Abuja. Besides, the militants have accused Governors Peter Odili and Goodluck Jonathan of Rivers and Bayelsa states respectively of having compromised the Niger Delta struggle. They also accused Minister of State for Petroleum, Edmund Daukoru, of �hoodwinking� on behalf of the Federal Government, Niger Delta leaders to the Abuja parley. The Abuja parley, held at the instance of President Olusegun Obasanjo, agreed, among other things, to set up a presidential council on the socio-economic development of the Niger Delta region. But the militants vowed to strike on the April 25, seven days after the expected inauguration of the council on April 18. MEND�s position appears to have added a disturbing dimension to the crisis, as it warned would-be members of the presidential council to stay away. In a press release by Ebipadei Brutus, MEND expressed dissatisfaction with the Federal Government move, describing it as a �constipation� and �presidential felony�. The statement said in part: �The religion of the movement of the emancipation of the Niger delta region had examined the extremities of the constituencies of the conspiracies of political genocide orchestrated by the pallid poultry strategies of the Obasanjo Republic of Nigeria, as he, Mr President deems it timely to model a weapon of mass presidential madness in the Aso-Rock veto around the adoption of a committee of socio-economic development of coastal states, a precondition perfected to further castrate the abandoned Niger Delta people to live as celebrated pawns in delirious chess board of one paranoiac national emperor of the Nigerian people.�It would definitely call for a surprise party in the room of public opinion why MEND saw it timely to step into the socio-economic turbulence surrounding the political determination of Nigeria and the foreboding tale it portends for the Niger Delta child in relation to the hasty gimmicks and cheap political archery brandished by Mr President in his inexpensive rationale to re-evaluate, redefine, refocus and render restitution to the fifty-year-old institutions of calumny yoked on the silence of the Niger Delta people�.
� The American oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, on April 11 2006 signed a pact with its Itsekiri host communities in Delta State, as parts of the initiatives to guarantee its unhindered operation in the area. The pact, named, �Global Memorandum of Understanding,� will be administered by the Itsekiri Regional Development Council. The council is made up of representatives of all Itsekiri oil and gas-producing communities in CNL�s Western operation area in Delta State. The Chairman and Managing Director of CNL, Mr. Jay Pryor, in his remarks at the ceremony, described the signing of the GMoU, as a milestone, adding that it signalled the new beginning of a new dawn in the CNL�s concerted efforts aimed at improving the quality of life of members of its host communities. Pryor, who was represented by the General Manager, Government and Public Affairs, Mr. Femi Odumabo, said the GMoU was hinged on core values formulated to enhance accountability, transparency, peace, security and building of community capacity for sustainable development as well as conflict resolution through due process and the rule of law. He promised that the GMoU would be faithfully implemented. The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse 11, commended CNL for initiating the GMoU and urged its management to ensure thorough execution of the agreement. The monarch, who was represented by Odofin of Warri kingdom, Chief Joseph Popo, said the welfare of Itsekiri should be enhanced.
� Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has threatened to shut down all operations of Mobil Oil Nigeria across the country any moment from now over alleged unfair labour practices especially unresolved issues of collective agreement. The workers have a 16-point grievances with the management of Mobil Oil and the national secretariat of the PENGASSAN was said to has given the management of Mobil Oil a 21-day ultimatum that would expired on April 14 2006. Acting President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Peter Esele confirmed that the union had intimated the Federal Ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity over the matter and members fully mobilised for a show down with management once the ultimatum expires by April 14. According to Comrade Esele, all attempts made so far to progressively resolve all the breaches in line with Section 60 of the workers collective agreement which he said had elapsed over a year had been rebuffed by Management. Some of the grievances, he said include: Violation of House Ownership Scheme, management refusal to discuss with the Association on Pension and Gratuity, Merit Increase scope and limits distortions and violations, Refusal to allow a fair appraisal process and Violation of End of Service benefits, among others.
� A United States newspaper editorial has warned of the imminent overthrow of the Nigerian government as a consequence of sustained Islamic /Christ-ian conflict in the country. The newspaper, Beaver County Times, in its online edition described Nigeria’s government as kleptocracy warning Americans that they have only themselves to blame if they depended much on oil from the country. The paper stated: “Nigeria’s kleptocracy could be overthrown at any time by guerrillas, not to mention the instability created by the Islamic/Christian divide that boils over from time to time.” The newspaper went further and warned of political shakiness of major oil-exporters including Venezuela and other countries which could curtail their shipments of oil to the United States on the whim of its dictator.
“Sure, the oil companies are making tons of money, and the oil-rich nations of the world are rolling in dough. But the law of supply-and-demand and instability in many oil-rich countries are pushing up prices, not some oil executive/Arab cabal.” the editorial continued. Harping more on the likely overthrow of Nigerian government the paper stated: �None of this should come as any surprise to anyone who was paying attention.� It could be recalled that, a recent US report said that Nigeria could collapse into anarchy and drag the whole of the region into bloodshed and chaos. The report by US intelligence experts was sent to Nigerian legislators by President Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo had said he had taken the unusual step of passing out a report from the US National Intelligence Council on Africa’s medium-term prospects in order to encourage Nigerians to work together for stability. The US report, which was entitled “Mapping sub-Saharan Africa’s Future”, notes in a section on violent disorder that: “20,000 people have been killed in Nigeria while that country has maintained its democratic facade.” The document does not represent the US government’s official views, but was published on the website of the Central Intelligence Agency in March last year as the conclusions of a conference of experts on the continent.
East (Rivers & adjoining States)
2.1 On April 10 2006 a middle aged man was stabbed to death over a minor misunderstanding at Mile One Diobu, Port Harcourt. The suspect has been arrested by Rivers State Police Command. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.2 On April 10 2006 the tower of a two storey church building under construction (Church of Christ The Good Shepherd) at Port Harcourt collapsed injuring three (03) construction workers on the site. The incident occurred when an attempt was made by the workers to pull down a cracked segment which resulted to the collapse of the entire tower and the trapping of the three workers. The trapped workers were rescued by the neighbourhood residents.
2.3 On April 11 2006 three (03) armed robbery suspects were arrested after robbing a female victim and raping her in the process at Port Harcourt. The three robbers who attempted to escape from police patrol vehicle while going for investigation were fatally shot. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.4 On April 11 2006 a foreign national and two (02) Nigerian specialized in Advance Fee Fraud a.k.a ‘419’ activities have been arrested by police from the Rivers State Police Command. The suspects allegedly members of a notorious syndicates that have been duping people of various sum of money and operating under the pretext of having relationship and connection with Nigerian Agip Oil company (NAOC) and using AGIP Oil company’s vehicle were arrested while trying to hatch their notorious activities with one of their victims. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.5 On April 12 2006 five (05) persons lost their lives while over fifty (50) youths were arrested by the Imo state police Command for their alleged involvement in the burning and looting of a Divisional Police Station at Umuaka in Njaba Local Government of Imo State. The police men from the division were accused by the youths over an alleged illegal road block that resulted to the crushing of a motorcyclist and a passenger by a truck driver. The area has been fortified with armed police men to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
2.6 On April 12 2006 police at Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State has arrested two (02) suspected armed robbers terrorizing people in the area. The suspects were involved in a recent armed robbery operation at Omoku on a car belonging to an Elf staff which has been declared missing by the police. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.7 On April 12 2006 vehicular traffic came to a standstill at Rumuokoro roundabout in port-harcourt during a clash between the army and police when a pregnant female driver was allegedly assaulted by a police officer on stop and search operation for allegedly raining abuses on him. The pregnant woman married to an army officer reported the matter to her husband who mobilized colleagues from Bori camp to Rumuokoro Junction.
2.8 On April 13 2006 youths of Egi community in Rivers State have issued a 30 day ultimatum and threatened to disrupt oil and gas operations in the area if managers of the nations Liquidfied Natural Gas Project fail to go into dialogue with the community on how to tackle the problem of environmental degradation. The youths claimed that the community accounts for 15% of gas marketed through Bonny NLNG and warned further that if their call is not heeded, they would be forced to explore means to make NLNG’s activities suffer a standstill in the area.
2.9 On April 14 2006 the renewal of oil pipeline by Shell Gas Nigeria Limited has been stalled when indigenes of oil producing communities in Abia State objected to the development, questioning the approach adopted by the company and argued that an environmental impact assessment ought to have been carried out before the company could embark on another project in the area. They however enjoin Shell to come for a proper consultation and dialogue before the project will commenced.
2.10 On April 15 2006 a police man was seriously shot during an exchange of fire between suspected pirates and the marine police. The policemen who were alleged to be on a routine patrol in the waterways had sighted a suspected boat and gave it a hot chase, in the process the hoodlums opened fire on them and injuring one of the police man who was hit by a bullet while the hoodlums fled in their boat.
Car-Jacking a total of five (05) vehicles were hijacked in different locations in Port-Harcourt and its environs. Police investigation is ongoing to recover the vehicles.
West (Warri/Escravos and adjoining States)
2.11 On April 9 2006 at about 1830hrs, four (04) policemen were arrested along DSC-Aladja expressway by Otukutu junction by men of the Delta state Commissioner of Police Monitoring Unit over alleged extortion of money from motorists at road blocks. The sum of N20,340 squeezed were found on them. The Delta state Commissioner of Police, Mr Udom Ekpoudom had set up the monitoring unit in order to fish out corrupt police officers from the command. The victims are presently detained at the state police headquarters, Asaba.
2.12 On April 10 2006 a Soldier attached to the Joint Task Force overseeing the Kwale-Beneku water Fronts at Ase creek in Kwale shot dead a 29 year old man identified as Chukwuma Agbogidi over a girl friend. Trouble started, when the deceased refused to follow the soldier to their base after he was warned to steer clear from a certain girl that both of them were dragging. The soldier and the girl in question are being detained at the police headquarters, Asaba.
2.13 On April 10 2006 at about 0500hrs, seven (07) students of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma in Esan West local government area of Edo State lost their lives while about Ten others were injured following a clash involving three cult groups namely the Blak Axe, the Vickings and the Eiye confraternities. The Edo state police command deployed anti-riot policemen to the area to maintain law and other.
2.14 On April 11 2006 at about 2211hrs, a two man armed robbery gang robbed at gun-point occupants of No 4 New York Avenue Udu of valuable properties and unspecified amount of cash. The bandits abandoned one locally made double barrel gun with three live cartridges as they escaped on sighting a police patrol team. The police in Aladja is investigating the incident.
2.15 On April 12 2006 at about 1720hrs, two (02) oil pipeline vandals were apprehended by men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) at Oghara over alleged siphoning fuel from the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) lines at the PPMC depot in Warri. Two (02) boats loaded with fuel were impounded while investigation is ongoing.
2.16 On April 13 2006 at about 0700hrs, activities were disrupted at the $1.1billion Agbami Floating Production, Storage and Off-loading Project being handled by Daewoo Shipping and Marine Engineering Corporation, when placard carrying workers besieged the premises and chased away workers over the management’s insensitivity to the plight of the workers. Negotiation is ongoing between the management and the aggrieved workers.
2.17 On April 14 2006 at about 2110hrs, a team of policemen attached to the ‘A’ Division, Warri arrested a member of a notorious armed robbery gang operating around Igbudu market area of Warri following a tip-off. One English made pump action and four rounds of cartridges were recovered from the suspect. Police is investigating the incident.
2.18 0n April 15 2006 at about 2000hrs, one (01) armed robbery suspect in a gang of three terrorizing the residents of Gbolokposo town in Uvwie local government area of Delta state was shot dead by a police patrol team attached to the Effurun police division on a tip off, while others escaped. Items recovered from the robber included a locally made pistol with five cartridges. Police 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 (03) of the said vehicles have been recovered, while investigation to recover the rest is ongoing.
Lagos (and adjoining States)
2.19 On April 10 2006 at about 1030hrs, Area “B” Command, Apapa of the Nigerian Police Force quelled Maritime Dock workers protest who were disturbing public peace, damaging property and vandalizing vehicles within the port. The workers were allegedly affected by the recent port concession. Twenty (20) of the protesters were arrested. No causalities were recorded. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.20 On April 10 2006 at about 1000hrs, two groups of social miscreants (Area Boys) armed with machetes, axes, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons engaged themselves in a fight at the motor park along Medical Store Road, Ikeja over control of the park. Armoured personnel carrier and mobile police patrol vehicles were deployed to Ikeja to curtail the fight while the chairmen of the factions and ten (10) others were arrested. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.21 On April 11 2006 twelve (12) suspected criminals who deal in Indian hemp within the city of Abuja were arrested by men of the Nigerian Police Force. The arrest came on the heels of a directive from the Commissioner of Police, mandating the police to stop forthwith the illicit trade within the territory.
2.22 On April 12 2006 a man who allegedly disguised as pastor of Life and Faith Foundation Church to rob a lady of jewellery worth N5 million was arrested by the police. The suspect, who was identified as Charles Aghaghoma, is presently being detained in police cell at Area G Police Command, Ogba. Further investigation on the matter is ongoing.
2.23 On April 12 2006 at about 0200hrs, a gang of robbers invaded Otunba Gbenga Daniel Estate, Asero, Ogun State killing two (02) security guards on duty. The robbers, who were said to be heavily armed, also critically injured another security guard who is currently receiving treatment. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.24 On April 13 2006 at about 0330hrs, sixty (60) suspected armed robbers laid siege along Berger on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, raiding shops and snatching cars at gun point and scaring people with sporadic gunshots. The gang engaged police on intervention leading to police reinforcement from the State Command Headquarters, Apapa, Trinity and Kirikiri Divisions. Several expended shells of 7.62 and 9mm cartridges were recovered from the scene. No arrest was made by the police. SCID Panti is investigating the crime.
2.25 On April 14 2006 an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) was shot dead in a gun duel between the police and armed robbers at Yemetu Igosun in Ibadan metropolis, Oyo State. The ASP was shot dead while responding on distress call from members of the public with other policemen. Police investigation is ongoing.
2.26 On April 14 2006 at about 1330hrs, there was a reported fire outbreak at Halliburton, situated on Eunice Bashorun Street off Ajose Adeogun Street. The fire was immediately contained by security men and neighbours. The fire allegedly started from the generator house of the company. Damage caused by the inferno is yet to be determined, however no casualties were recorded. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the company.
Car-Jacking fifteen (15) vehicles were reportedly snatched at gunpoint at different locations in Lagos and its environs during the week. Eleven (11) of the said vehicles have been recovered, while police investigation is ongoing to recover the rest.