One of the newspapers is reporting the following. We have an e-mail into the US Consulate to confirm or deny
United States Government has directed its nationals to immediately move out of the Niger Delta because of the tension in the area.
The State Department said the latest warning became necessary because of “the deteriorating security situation in the Niger Delta region.”
Top officials said the current fighting between Nigerian troops and militants pose considerable risks to travellers. “The security situation in the Delta region has deteriorated significantly. Travel to the region remains very dangerous and should be avoided,” the State Department said in a statement.
Justifying the warning, the Department said several Americans and other expatriate oil workers are now targets of armed militants, despite the presence of Nigerian troops.
“Over the last several months, the region has been subjected to a series of attacks on oil company facilities that may be coordinated and have resulted in the death of over 20 security personnel. A militant group claiming responsibility for the recent kidnapping has made public threats against oil company employees and their families, demanding they leave the region.”
The U.S. also painted a dismal picture of security nationwide: continuing ethnic strife and politically motivated killings. “In recent months, Lagos and Abuja have also witnessed spikes in crime. Some expatriates have been robbed in the outlying Lagos suburb of Lekki, and in Abuja, the Maitama area has seen a series of home invasions,” the Department said.
The government, it added, has not done enough to rein in militias and religious extremists who continue to cause destruction of lives and property.
“Religious tension between some Muslim and Christian communities results in occasional acts of isolated communal violence that could erupt quickly and without warning. The states of Kano and Kaduna are particularly volatile.
“Rival ethnic groups have clashed violently in the Niger Delta region around Warri city and in Plateau State. Senior al-Qaeda leadership has expressed interest publicly in overthrowing the government of Nigeria. Links also were uncovered connecting Nigerians to al-Qaeda in 2004,” it stated.
The State Department also mocked recent improvements in the aviation sector, warning that most airlines are still operating planes that are not fit to fly.
“Most Nigerian airlines have aging fleets, and maintenance and operational procedures may be inadequate to ensure passenger safety.
“Domestic passenger airliner crashes in October and December 2005 resulted in numerous deaths. Because international flights tend to meet higher safety standards than domestic Nigerian flights, travellers should attempt to get direct international flights to/from their Nigerian destination, rather than transiting another Nigerian city such as Lagos.
“For domestic travel between Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja, the U.S. Government encourages its employees to use Virgin Nigeria Airlines or Aero Contractors,” officials stated.
The Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC has, however, condemned the statement. An official said the statement does not reflect “the current situation of events in the country.”
He said there are more drug and crime related killings in the U.S. capital in one week than all the states in Nigeria combined.
“Nigeria is safer than most American cities and President Olusegun Obasanjo has done a lot to improve overall security. The little crime that occurs is always blown out of proportion by the government and the international media,” the official stated.
He disclosed that the embassy is also considering issuing a travel advisory for Nigerians visiting the U.S. on the dangers of living in the country.
Meanwhile, there are indications that the Sunday night clash between Ijaw youths and the Joint Military Task Force (JMTF) near Ekeremor might be a case of mistaken identity.
Investigations showed that the youths were on a mission for the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) when they ran into the soldiers who mistook them for hostage takers.
A staff of SPDC was kidnapped at Shell’s platform along Ekeremor two weeks ago by youths from a neighbouring community.
Some management staff of the oil company, it was learnt, mobilised some youths to facilitate the release of the hostage.
The group successfully negotiated his release.
But on their way from the mission, the armed youths in two speedboats were stopped for a routine check by soldiers guarding an oil facility along Ekeremor River. The youths resisted.
The soldiers suspected the armed youths were hostage takers and opened fire on them. They responded with gunshots.
This led to the death of nine of the youths, the Shell staff and a soldier.
An SPDC top official confirmed in a telephone interview on Tuesday that the youths had secured the release of the hostage before the encounter with the soldiers.
He, however, said negotiation for his release was spearheaded by Bayelsa State Government and not Shell.
But the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has asked Bayelsa State Government to produce the Shell staff who was one of its members.
PENGASSAN President, Peter Esele, made the call at a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday.
“We have been informed that Comrade Nelson Ujeya, a community Liaison Officer (CLO) with the Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC) while in company of Bayelsa State Government officials on a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to Letugbebe community was prevented from leaving the community after the visit since August 8, 2006.
“We are surprised that this dastardly act was carried out in the full glare of a team led by senior Bayelsa State Government officials….
“We are very upset because the government has not cushioned the relief of Nigerians as the same government secured the released of the foreign oil workers, without securing the release of the Nigerian among them. The government of Bayelsa needs to explain to Nigerians the whereabouts of our staff.
“On our part, considering the escalation of kidnapping and other violent acts in the Niger Delta region, we are under tremendous pressure to take action that will guarantee the safety of lives and property of our members,” he said.