Following the Julius Berger kidnapping near Choba last week, Reuters are now also reporting that a number of expatriates were kidnapped from an oilfield service vessel en route to the Total Akpo field yesterday. The boat has now returned to Port Harcourt, but it's believed that up to 5 crew members have been taken from the vessel and held hostage. They're also reporting that a Filipino man was kidnapped in Port Harcourt yesterday afternoon. Whatever the reasons for these may be, it doesn't alter the fact that expatriates are once again becoming the focus of attention of the criminals and bandits.
There have been a number of warnings from the various militant factions that attacks in the Niger Delta are going to be stepped up and there have also been reports that the military JTF has been attacking militants camps between Nembe and Soku. This has led to some fairly violent responses from the militants in the past so it would be prudent to increase our vigilance and keep our heads down in the next few weeks (if it's possible to do those two together!).
I'm hearing that all the banks on Bonny Island are still closed. Most of the bank staff are not Bonny indigenes and after the threats that they would be killed and beheaded most have left the island or are staying in their homes in fear. Many residents who left the island have been robbed on the waterways and several have drowned as small boats carrying them have overturned due to being overloaded. The markets are short of goods and local inflation is soaring. There is a large military presence on the island but, as usual, when the military is given any free reign in this country they oppress those who they are meant to protect, adding to the air of menace, not reducing it.
I have some friends on the island and they say that NLNG has taken away internet privileges from many staff as they don't want them talking about the situation . They can't stop them talking on the telephone or sending text messages though - as long as phone cards are still available.
What qualifications do you need to fly in Nigeria? (JAA/FAA) I have never seen a job advertised there so are there really that many people leaving.
CPL or ATPL
Do you need an IR?
Do you need a type rating?
Who should an interested person Email. I've just got to see this for myself!
Thanks for any info
Last edited by Heliringer : 26th July 2008 at 14:42.
In the early hours of this morning armed men boarded an LPG tanker just off the mouth of the Bonny River and kidnapped another 8 expatriates. Despite the presence of 4 naval personnel (who warned the crew to take cover), 6 armed gunmen managed to take over the vessel, shot 2 of the civilian crew (extent of injuries unknown as yet) and took 8 expatriates hostage. That brings to 16 the number of expatriates taken hostage by various militant and criminal gangs in the last 2 weeks and none have so far been released .
There has also been an upsurge in attacks on the Bakassi Peninsula with a little-known group, the Niger Delta Defence and Security Council (NDDSC) carrying out attacks on Cameroon in protest at territory being handed back to Cameroon on 14th August as part of the realignment of the Cameroon-Nigeria border in line with the ruling of the International Court of Justice. In the last attack last Thursday, 2 Cameroonian soldiers and 10 Nigerian gunmen were killed and 8 of the Nigerian attackers were taken prisoner. Most of the population of the penisula, who are Nigerians, have been given the option of staying under Cameroon authority or being resettled in Nigeria. So far the treaty has not been ratified by the Nigerian legislature. Even if the handover goes ahead, there will undoubtedly be further unrest and violence in the area as Nigerians are not exactly known for their peaceable nature President Yar'Adua (Baba Go-Slow) has re-affirmed Nigeria's commitment to the terms of the Green Tree treaty in a meeting with Cameroon's new ambassador to Nigeria, but that won't necessarily stop the activities of groups like the NDDSC who are opposed to the handover
Location: Still on some west coast...but a bit further south
Age: 38
Posts: 512
that is it for me
I had enough...I go elsewhere. These atrocities will never come to an end as long as the "black soda" is bubbling in the Delta. Unfortunately or fortunately in this case I developed a conscience.
NEO is due back next week, he's got another 10 days or so. Is he coming back to a business unit that he's still got generators to sell in ? If things keep on like this nobody will be here to operate the changeover switch !
Or NEO is telling porkies and claiming his CLA whilst sunning himself on the beaches of Essex or further South now he's become posh!
Alouette - have you tried Heli Malongo?
Loaded question - they always ask for references! - Don't panic - it was very good - I'll claim gulders later.
GMIA - we all seem to becoming a tad paranoid - was it any better in the 80's when we either communicated by letter or if it was really urgent via Portishead Radio pretending we were in a King Air?
Location: Still on some west coast...but a bit further south
Age: 38
Posts: 512
Marge, beer me!!!
Ahh...yes, the Gulder. what a wonderfully legal drug. In particular the formaldehyde which preserves this holy crowd in the humid depths of the Niger Delta
Gulder or its' predecessors Skol. 33, Harp etc. etc. have protected many a "Good Man in Africa" (GMIA - generic only - no slur or personal criticism or comment intended!) from the ravages of the Dark Continent.
The 8 expatriate Russian, Latvian etc., who were abducted from the LPG tanker in the Bonny River have now been released unharmed.
Trog,
Haven't seen Tree, tree, for many years now - do they still sell it in your area? Many happy memories of NEO and others checking out the flying properties of empty 33 containers when subject to the iron will of fans in Bristow number 17's in Warri. Who still remembers the visit of the Invisible Man in a blood-soaked bandage to Auntie's Kitchen?
Trog, maybe we are thinking of different people for NEO ? Maybe we are both wrong !!
Paranoia is the order of the day. The way the former CP was disposed of and the witch hunting tactics used to get him have got everyone wondering who will be the next victim of an upset emailer.
Welcome back NEO
. They can't stop them talking on the telephone or sending text messages though - as long as phone cards are still available.
Ringer
Another 8 Kidnapped from tanker off Bonny
.
President Yar'Adua (Baba Go-Slow) has re-affirmed Nigeria's commitment to the terms of the Green Tree treaty in a meeting with Cameroon's new ambassador to Nigeria, but that won't necessarily stop the activities of groups like the NDDSC who are opposed to the handover 
that is it for me
If things keep on like this nobody will be here to operate the changeover switch !
Gulder and other preservatives
Linear Mode
