It's now confirmed that Aero laid off 46 staff who were deemed by them to have participated in an illegal strike. I'm told that 18 pilots are amongst them. I suppose Bristow will have a large number of pilots applying now, but with their present hiring freeze they'd need another contract before they could take more than a couple. From Bristow's past history on the North Sea they don't like employing pilots who've participated in industrial action. Hard times ahead
Some of the Aero national staff who were sacked have now been offered employment again but as contractors and subject to not being in a union. This story sure as anything hasn't played out yet and I expect a lot more troubles before anything is resolved - almost certainly to the detriment of both parties
There was a fairly major clash between members of the Nigerian Joint Task Force and militants from the MEND group in Delta state yesterday as a result of which MEND have advised all oil companies operating in the region to evacuate all their staff before the arrival of an "imminent hurricane". In another statement they stated, "oil companies operating in the region would be advised to remove all personnel to avoid the impact of an emerging civil war" .
In a rather more sinister statement, MEND spokesman Jomo Gbomo stated:
"Effective 0000 Hrs on Saturday, May 16, 2009, the entire Niger Delta region will be declared a no-fly zone to helicopters and float planes operating on behalf of oil companies.”
This may be the usual hot air from these people, but I hope all those who are continuing to operate in the area will be especially vigilant over the next few days.
In related attacks, up to 20 expatriates have been taken hostage during the seizing of 2 vessels in the Warri area
Nigeria militants hijack vessels, warn oil workers | Top News | Reuters
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (Reuters) - Nigerian militants have hijacked two cargo ships in the Niger Delta and given oil companies until Saturday to evacuate staff, warning they would attack helicopters and planes after the deadline.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) issued a 24-hour ultimatum on Wednesday for oil workers to leave the region after heavy clashes with the military, but said on Thursday some firms had asked they be given more time.
Security sources working in Africa's largest oil and gas industry said they were taking the militant threats seriously, but there were no plans to evacuate staff.
"They've said it all before. Nobody ever evacuates, but some companies will increase their alert level," a private security contractor said.
Global oil markets have largely ignored the news, with prices falling $1.25 on Thursday to $56.77 a barrel. The military has also shrugged off the militant threats, saying it would continue its operations in the Niger Delta as usual.
Military spokesman Colonel Rabe Abubakar said suspected militants hijacked the MV Spirit, a condensate tanker chartered by state oil firm NNPC, while it was sailing to Warri in Delta state on Wednesday, and kidnapped the captain and crew.
He said a second vessel was also seized in the same area.
MEND said one of its affiliate groups seized 15 foreigners from the MV Spirit, but there was no independent confirmation.
"Effective 0000 Hrs on Saturday, May 16, 2009, the entire Niger Delta region will be declared a no-fly zone to helicopters and float planes operating on behalf of oil companies," it said.
Gunmen shot at a helicopter flying between facilities operated by Italy's Agip in February, wounding one passenger, but the aircraft landed safely. MEND did not directly claim responsibility for that attack.
MILITANTS WEAKENED
The army and militants routinely give conflicting reports of clashes in the Niger Delta, one of the world's largest wetlands. Independent confirmation of skirmishes, often centred around militant camps deep in the creeks, is virtually impossible.
MEND said it had destroyed five military gunboats and support vessels in southern Delta state early on Thursday in what it called "Operation Pearl Harbour", a claim the military dismissed as propaganda.
MEND has issued such threats several times in the past, most recently in late January when it warned of a "sweeping assault" on the oil and gas industry which never materialised.
Attacks by the group have cut Nigeria's output by about a fifth since early 2006, forced foreign firms to remove all but essential staff and eaten into the OPEC member's foreign earnings, exacerbating the impact of the global downturn.
But security experts say MEND is smarting from a more muscular military stance in the Niger Delta, while oil bunkering -- the theft of industrial quantities of crude oil and a major income stream for militant groups and criminal gangs -- has become less profitable with lower global energy prices.
MEND launched a series of attacks, which it dubbed a six-day "oil war", in September and carried out a daring raid on Shell's
Bonga platform, 120 km (75 miles) offshore, last June, forcing the firm to temporarily stop the $3.6 billion site.
But it has failed to carry out any attacks as spectacular as those of early 2006 when it first burst onto the scene, knocking out almost a quarter of Nigerian output in a matter of weeks.
The detention of Henry Okah, accused of being MEND's main arms supplier and the brains behind its early campaigns, has also weakened the group. Okah's closed-door trial for treason and gun-running resumes in the central city of Jos on Friday.
Nigerian Air Force carrying out heavy aerial bombardment of alleged militant camps all day today. MEND has put out a statement:
Quote:
The Nigerian armed forces today launched indiscriminate aerial bombardment on the defenseless civilians in the Gbaramatu area of Delta state to serve as a punishment for the humiliating defeat they suffered when they tried to raid two militant camps on Wednesday, May 13.
Casualties are mostly women, children and the elderly who could not get away quickly into the bush or high sea.
Considering that the target of the government happens to be the same state supposed to champion its false peace and amnesty drive, our skepticism has proven to be correct.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is declaring an all out war in the region and call upon all men of fighting age to enlist for our freedom.
We reiterate once again our directive to ALL oil companies to evacuate by the deadline of midnight today and cease oil production until further notice. This will be the last time such a warning will be released.
Jomo Gbomo
Quote:
Six army gunboats have been sunk and three destroyed. We also captured three intact. Many soldiers have been killed and the military has made a hasty retreat.
Journalists wishing to confirm our claim should please contact the undersigned so that a tour can be arranged where they can take pictures and video.
Jomo Gbomo
Quote:
In what seems to be a new statement, MEND claims the following:
"A Nigerian Naval warship deployed from Liberia to assist the military has been captured along with its entire crew of officers and ratings. We are in the process of setting it ablaze,"
It seems the Nigerian military is putting up its usual show of failing to achieve anything
Rumor has it that Aero and Bristow have grounded all their helicopters in the Niger Delta.
Friends in WT say that a PanAf 412 was hit but, as reported, no casualties.
This is some serious $hit right now, but tis being Nigeria, everything will be back to normal tomorrow with policemen robbing motorists and the government robbing everyone !
Last edited by Phone Wind : 15th May 2009 at 20:23.
Fighting is continuing in the Niger Delta with the militants describing it as all-out war. The military finally seem to be trying to curb the power of one of the militant leaders known as Tompolo and claim that they have taken over and destroyed his Camp 5, rescued 6 of the Filipino hostages.
All the operators have suspended helicopter flying today and the NAF are still flying fully-loaded Hinds on bombing missions into the Delta
The fighting in the Niger Delta is winding down now according to Reuters reporting:
Quote:
By Austin Ekeinde
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (Reuters) - Nigerian security forces said on Saturday they rescued 10 hostages kidnapped this week, including six foreigners, and destroyed a key militant camp in the heart of Africa's biggest oil industry region.
Nigeria's main militant group has declared an "all-out war" and warned oil companies to evacuate their staff in the Niger Delta following three days of heavy clashes with the military.
The army said its forces, using navy gunboats and helicopters, would continue its offensive to flush militants out of the creeks after the hijacking of two oil vessels and attacks on their troops in southern Delta state.
"We will carry on with our operations until we stabilize the situation," said Colonel Rabe Abubakar, spokesman for the military taskforce in the Niger Delta, adding that two soldiers have been wounded in this week's fighting.
Global crude oil markets have largely ignored the clashes in the OPEC member country, closing lower in two of the last three sessions.
Royal Dutch Shell, U.S. oil major Chevron and other energy companies working in the area were given until Saturday to remove their workers.
Security sources have said they are taking the militant threats seriously but there are no plans to evacuate more staff.
The military on Friday freed six Filipinos and four Nigerians that were kidnapped two days earlier when their oil vessel MV Spirit was hijacked by militants near Warri in Delta state, Abubakar said.
A total of 22 people were believed to have been on board the ship chartered by state oil firm NNPC. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said one of the hostages had been killed by a stray bullet on Friday.
CAMP 5
The heavy fighting has centred around a camp belonging to militant leader Government Tompolo who had been involved in negotiations over a possible amnesty with the authorities.
Abubakar said the camp, located along Chanomi Creek in Delta state near Chevron's Escravos export terminal and Nigeria's 125,000 barrels per day Warri refinery, was largely destroyed on Friday in the heaviest fighting in the area in eight months.
"I'm glad to inform you that our search-and-rescue operation conducted in the Chanomi Creek yesterday led to the total destruction of the notorious Camp 5," he said.
Attacks by MEND have cut Nigeria's oil output by about a fifth since early 2006, forced foreign firms to remove all but essential staff and eaten into the country's foreign earnings, exacerbating the impact of the global downturn.
But security experts say the group is smarting from a more muscular military stance in the Niger Delta, while oil bunkering -- the theft of industrial quantities of crude oil and a major income stream for militant groups and criminal gangs -- has become less profitable with lower global energy prices.
I can however understand the anger and frustration of people who have nothing and are ruled by a corrupt government who are aided by foreign governments and oil companies.
Help me with this please......
The Oil companies in Nigeria are minor shareholders in the industry (40% if I recall, with the exception of Shell) with the government being the major shareholder, yet it is the expats who are mostly targetted in actions against a corrupt government?
How does an expat driller/mud tech/pilot/whatever have any bearing whatsoever on formulating or applying this corruption? Surely the militants should start to attack the NIGERIAN people who work in the oilfileds and the offices and staff of the same corrupt government if their gripe is truly with the government and not with turning a quick profit for ransom money.
Maybe I'm a bit off course here, but I am truly puzzled. Please also understand that I am not actually advocating these attacks, merely questioning the logic or indeed lack thereof.
Niger Delta region a No-Fly Area?
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Nigeria Update from Reuters
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