US Senate seeks end to military offensive

The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a statement by its chairman, Russ Feingold, deplored the killing of defenceless civilians in the area, asking President Barack Obama to intervene with a view to halting the military onslaught.

He spoke on a day the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Nigerian Delta continued with its “cordon and search operation” against militants in the creeks of Delta State, attacking the Benikrukru community.

Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark asked President Umaru Yar’Adua to ignore the House of Representatives over its hardline position on the matter.

Expressing deep concern over the humanitarian crisis resulting from the military offensive the US Senate chairman called for “genuine peacemaking” that “will require not only legitimate political negotiations but a convincing case for transforming the illicit war economy into one of peace.”

Full text of the statement:
“I am very concerned by reports that hundreds of civilians have been killed and potentially thousands displaced by the Nigerian military’s ongoing offensive in Nigeria’s oil_rich Delta region. Some military actions may be justified to stop the criminality, kidnappings and killings by militants in the Niger Delta, but such measures should be accompanied by a larger political strategy.

Genuine peacemaking will require not only legitimate political negotiations but a convincing case for transforming the illicit war economy into one of peace. The Nigerian government needs to undertake a serious and sustained initiative to address the underdevelopment of the region.

I urge the Obama administration to think creatively about how we can work multilaterally to help end this long_standing crisis in the Niger Delta.” Senator Feingold is an independent progressive reputed for the courage of his strong convictions. In 2005, he was the first senator to call for U.S. withdrawal from

Feingold boldly called for Congressional censure of President Bush. He was also the lone Senator who voted against the USA Patriot Act, despite pressure for a unanimous vote. He voted against the Iraq War in 2002, and was the first senator to call for a specific timetable for US exit from Iraq.

A number of houses were razed and one Chief Kuku Olobio killed in yesterday’s raid by the JTF. Sources at Benikrukru said the aerial attack on the community started yesterday afternoon but the coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre of the task force, Colonel Rabe Abubakar said there was no attack on the community when he was contacted by Sunday Vanguard. A resident who called Sunday Vanguard from the community said, “they are bombing Benikrukru. As I am speaking to you now, they have burnt down many houses and many people are dying”.

He said many people, including old men and women were still trapped in the forest in Oporoza, Kurutie and other Ijaw communities, yet the JTF was continuing with the bombardment. “They left for Kokodiagbene community after the attack on Benikrukru but I don’t know whether they are going to bomb the place too”, he said.

Commander of the JTF, Major-General Sarkin Bello told newsmen on Thursday in Warri that the Cordon and Search Operation was not targeted at Ijaw communities but at militants responsible for the disappearance of 12 Nigerian soldiers. The JTF had earlier attacked Gbaramatu and Oporoza, both of which are Ijaw communities.

Peace process on course – DWSC Delta Waterways Security Committee (DWSC) announced, yesterday, that the peace process in Delta State was still on course. “The face-off between the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Niger-Delta and the militants in the creeks of the state is only a hiccup. It is not a key threat to the existing peace in the state, rather it would strengthen it”, the committee said in a statement by its secretary, Mr. O.P Origho.

It also said everything was being done to ensure that normalcy returned to the creeks of the state, which was the scene of conflict in the last one week between a group of armed youths and JTF. “We are liaising with relevant authorities to make sure the waterways are opened up by the JTF for normal social and economic activities”, the stated said.

The committee, which was set up by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to maintain peace, among other things, on the waterways of the state appealed to the warring parties in the conflict with the JTF to drop their arms. The JTF at the weekend also said Warri was now peaceful and urged the people to go about their normal duties. Its spokesman, Col Abubakar said, “The Warri metropolis and the entire Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State are now peaceful and safe for lawful businesses after the rift between the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Restore Hope and the militants in the Chanomi Creek general area”.

Ignore Reps’ position – Clark counsels Yar’Adua
Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, at a press conference in Lagos, yesterday, asked President Yar’Adua to ignore the House of Representatives’ resolution on the crisis in the Niger Delta. He also dismissed calls for the resignation of Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, for his alleged apathy to the plight of the Niger Delta people, saying that he (Jonathan) was committed to the Niger Delta cause.

Chief Clark said: “ That resolution is reckless. That irresponsible resolution passed by the House of Representatives of Nigeria shows that what was going on in Gbaramatu does not mean anything to them as long as they get the petrol dollar from the area where the oil money comes from to pay them the salary which nobody else earns in Nigeria

“They were blinded to the whole fact. These people are not sympathetic to the situation and they made a resolution that a full scale war should be declared in the Delta and on the Gbaramatu people For it to be extended to Rivers and Bayelsa states, is callous. One would have expected them to say please, let us settle this thing politically especially now that this has happened in Gbaramatu. In any government you don’t expect the President and the Vice to take different decisions.

But he (VP) is appealing to his people to take it easy and for peace to reign. At the same time he is appealing to the president that enough is enough with the genocide. The calls for his resignation are not proper. Who is he resigning for?”

He said the Reps should have called for peace, rather than passing resolution for military action. “They should have sued for peace. Then we will appeal to the boys to lay down their arms because of the amnesty promised by the president.

This is what the legislature should have done, but they did not do it because they are blinded to the fact and they are receiving fat salaries above what other legislatures are receiving in other countries,” Clark fumed. Besides, he advised the federal government to gazette the amnesty for militants, even as he called on politicians to stop arming the boys at the expense of the needed peace in the region.

His Words: “I am appealing to politicians who are also contributing to the problem by arming the youths.

They do this for their own supremacy and success. I would want the government to investigate and prosecute those behind it. The amnesty offered to the youths is good, but I expect the government to have it gazetted.

“As the leader of the Ijaw people, I appealed to the boys through IYC (Ijaw Youth Council) and they accepted to drop their arms. But some of the boys are not comfortable that the President made the amnesty statement at a party meeting. They really want to know why.”

He expressed his condolence to the president and the families of those who have lost their lives so far. “Until recently when, the Attorney General made a statement that a lot of military officers were killed or missing, it was very painful indeed, these were soldiers that were employed to protect Nigerians and I also mourn the death of Ijaw people that died and I also mourn the death of the soldiers,” Chief Clark added.

While suggesting measures at solving the crisis, he called on the government to initiate a political dialogue. “The government must show sincerity in the development of the region, because if these boys have job, militancy would be a thing of the past. This sincerity should be extended to the proposed amnesty. I am not saying that they should grant amnesty to criminals,” he noted.

JTF approves distribution of relief materials to victims

* Restricts movement on Delta waterways to wooden boats

THE Rehabilitation committee set up by Delta State Government to ameliorate the plight of victims caught in the face-off between the military and militants in the creeks of Delta state has secured the approval of the JTF to give relief materials to the people. A source close to the committee, led by an Ijaw youth leader, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro said, “Discussions with the JTF to allow the flow of relief materials and limited movement of people in the Gbaramatu area and other parts of the creeks have yielded positive fruits as the military authorities have given blessing to the proposal.

There is, however, a proviso that only wooden boats would be allowed to move on the waterways”, he added. The committee has also expressed readiness to collaborate with relief agencies and other persons and organizations in bringing succour to all those displaced and in distress arising from the crisis in Gbaramatu, Warri South West Local Government Area. Receiving foodstuff, toiletries, beddings and other essential materials provided by the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA at Ogbe Ijoh, the chairman of the Rehabilitation Committee, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro pledged that the State Government would continue to stand by the displaced persons in this moment of need.

Accompanied by other members of the committee, Mr. Otuaro said one of the challenges before it was how to reach many of those who are stranded in neighbouring communities and creeks and are in dire need of the basic needs such as food, water and medication.

He expressed happiness that discussions with the Joint Task Force in this direction yielded positive fruits as the Military has agreed to allow supplies and a limited movement of people. According to him, “What we got from the military is a reprieve. At least now we can concretize our preparations to reach our brothers and sisters, our children and aged ones who are stranded and have gone days without food and the basic necessities”.

Continuing, Mr. Otuaro said “the situation in the area is in itself difficult”, adding, “ We are indeed glad that the military authorities have agreed to give us passage to reach our people with relief materials.” He however explained that the military would not tolerate the use of speed boats for now while all movements on the waterways in the affected area must have adequate clearance as there would be strict monitoring. Mr. Otuaro appealed to elders in the affected areas to come together and assist in the plans to bring succour to those in distress.

His words, “along with the elders we are asking the various community leaders to contact us and team up with the Rehabilitation committee in pursuance of the State Government’s vision of ensuring that those in distress due to this unfortunate incident get adequate relief materials while plans are underway to restore normalcy in the area”.

Addressing the refugees at Ogbe Ijoh, Mr. Otuaro said more materials would come to them while efforts have been stepped up to move relief materials to those stranded in the creeks, adding ‘”We are co-coordinating and collaborating with other bodies to make life a bit bearable for you all. We are also asking all those who want to assist to link up with the Rehabilitation Committee so that we can help our people”.

Director general of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Audu-Bida (rtd) while presenting items such as foodstuff, clothing, beddings and toiletries said the Federal Government is very concerned that Nigerians are displaced in their own country. He assured that more materials would be sent to the people to alleviate their plight and promised to take up the plea for immediate return to their homes in the creeks with the Military authorities.

JTF warns Tompolo to come out of hiding
Also yesterday, the JTF asked militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, who was declared, wanted on Thursday to come out of hiding and surrender himself, just as it rescued three more Filipinos, in Gbaramatu.

The JTF gave the fresh directive, yesterday, barely 48 hours after it declared the militant wanted. Its spokesman, Colonel Rabe Abubakar in a statement said, ‘Tompolo’, the militant leader who master minded the whole trouble in the Niger Delta in recent times should hand in himself to the JTF or any security agencies or he would be smoked out”. “You have to be a man by accepting responsibility for your actions, because as it is, you can only run, but you cannot hide”, he stated.

On the freed Filipinos, he said, the task force, early yesterday, “rescued three more Filipinos kidnapped by the militants in the eve of the ensuing hostilities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government of Delta State. “The three men were rescued during a Search and Rescue Operations conducted around the Chanomi Creeks general area to ensure it was safe again for legitimate activities”, he explained.

The JTF promised it would search, search and search again to ensure all hostages were rescued within the shortest possible time. “ People of substance should disregard MEND and its activities and claims, “as it is only an empty vessel that makes the highest sound, falsehood will fade away but truthfulness will endure forever”, he asserted Meanwhile, the task force has advised all the innocent citizens of the region to bear with it in this testing period, which cannot stand the taste of time in our present history as a nation.