or access to unbiased media in order to make informed decisions on who is to blame for their predicament.
Epiphany - you are obviously not a regular reader of "PUNCH" or "THIS DAY" or any of a host of Nigerian dailies who operate totally unfettered by Government interference and openly criticise and question political views and decisions. Western newspapers suffer much more editorial censorship than anything you will find in Nigeria.
Lack of education is also not a great problem in this Country of some 130 plus million people - most everyday Nigerians are substantially more Worldly Wise and informed than their counterparts in the USA - they still do geography at school unlike our Travel Agents in Houston TX
Everyone in Nigeria down to the Tea Boy understands the problem - they just don't know how to or have the power to implement the solution.
Let's get a few things straight here. I may have been retired for a few years now, but I do know that little or nothing has changed in the Niger Delta. It is the major contributor to Nigeria's wealth but despite receiving an additional share of the oil revenue, sees little benefit because it is stolen by corrupt politicians at all levels of government, from ministerial to the very lowest levels.
However, inflammatory posts from the likes of the barely literate, childish olualu who makes contradictory statements in succeeding posts, or Epihany who obviously knows nothing of Nigeria but seems to be of the opinion that it's okay to shoot at unarmed civil helicopters flown by civilians with civilian passengers (the majority of whom are actually also Nigerians) are not what should be tolerated on here - open forum or no. As a matter of FACT, the helicopter which was hit on Friday was crewed by two national pilots. I have many pictures sent to me by friends in the Delta of the damage caused in the last few days, including many photographs of the dead bodies of terrorists (because that's what they are). Do you think just because this is an open forum it's a good idea to post them here? I most certainly don't. Most of the thugs in the training camps in the delta creeks are just thugs using terror as a weapon to protect their criminal activities of stealing oil, often themselves causing the pollution they emotively try to blame the oil companies for. The oil companies do cause pollution and Shell will be held to account for this very soon in the courts of the USA where they can most effectively be punished - in their pockets.
The present destruction going on in the Delta will be exploited by both sides twisting the facts whichever way they wish to support their case. The militants will try to find bodies of innocent civilians caught up in the fighting and declare that the government has only killed innocent women and children, but leaving the triumphant militants to fight another day. The government will display photos of dead thugs and captured caches of weapons and say that they did their very best to avoid any collateral damage to civilians, but that the evil of the militants finally needed to be brought to an end. As always, the truth will lie somewhere in between and the victor will write the enduring pages of history. The reality is that the problems that successive governments, both civil and military have had with unrest in the Niger Delta will not disappear until they do what they should have done many, many, many years ago. Look at the facilities provided for the people on the Shetland Isles by money provided by their local councils, courtesy of levies made on the oil companies. This problem will only be solved when the basics are provided for the people: free healthcare for all, free education, potable water and a stable power supply to allow industries to be set up to give employment to the masses.
Remember also that with the exception of NLNG, all foreign oil companies in Nigeria are minority stake-holders in joint ventures with the monolithic, corrupt and inefficient NNPC or its arms. Through NNPC the government owns 60% of everything, but NNPC rarely meets its financial obligations as a partner in terms of investment and the oil companies effectively make 100% of the investment with 100% of the risk, but only get a proportion of the revenues.
As the one who started this thread I'd like to ask olualu and Epiphany to remove the more offensive or ridiculous parts of their posts within the next 24 hours before I ask the moderators to do so. Failing that, as the one who started the thread, I will terminate it. I think it would be sad if I have to do that as the number of posts on it and the number of views it has had over the years are possibly a testament to how useful or interesting people may have found it.
Here are a few of the reports around at the moment from 'Jomo Gbomo', a MEND spokesman, to newspaper reports, JTF official spokesman an texts from friends in Delta state. The truth is out there somewhere
Jomo Gbomo this morning:
Quote:
Considering that ours is a war of detachment and our camps are not meant to serve as permanent barracks, fighters from Camp 5 simply relocated to another camp with all their weapons and ammunition's intact. This is normal in guerrilla warfare.
We are embarrassed at the dismal performance of the Nigerian armed forces who performed like poorly trained amateurs by bombing indiscriminately into civilian communities using helicopter gunships and fighter jet planes. Civilians should have been allowed to leave the area before the attack. This simply has shown that the government is insensitive to the Niger Delta people.
If the army's mission was to also rescue the hostages, then that again was a botched and ridiculous attempt because the hostages were not at any immediate risk to their lives except for their temporary freedom.
We regret to announce that two hostages have been killed by the indiscriminate shelling and two more are still in our custody. We are happy that all of them were not killed by the army. The bodies of the dead men will be handed over to the Red Cross. MEND deeply regrets the avoidable deaths.
It is not true that the army captured a plane from Camp 5. If my memory serves me right, the plane in question is a toy remote controlled plane which can be purchased from any toy shop. It is rather shameful that they can not distinguish the difference between a toy plane and a drone.
As promised, we have begun nibbling again at the oil infrastructure. Already, two major trunk pipe and gas lines which were recently repaired have been blown up. This is just the tip of the series of attacks we plan to carry out.
For the Nigerian government to declare victory, troops must be able to secure every inch of pipelines and eliminate the over 500 camps stretching from Ondo to Akwa Ibom.
What the government has been successful in doing is committing genocide against the Ijaw communities whose offense it seems is discovering oil in their backyards.
Our message to the Northern Sultans and Emirs is this: The period of exploiting the Niger Delta is coming to an end. It is not the birth right of your people to rule the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The war is just beginning and by the time it ends, Nigeria will practice true federalism such as fiscal federalism which will benefit the entire populace. Let your people brace themselves to develop their resources and such a bold change will be remembered.
Our fighters in Delta state have not requested for reinforcement from other states. They are conducting the battle very well and every night the military is depleted by about an average of ten soldiers.
General Tompolo is alive and well. He was in unilateral discussions with the government on a peaceful way forward but that did not mean he would close his eyes and watch soldiers disrupt a local festival by harassing innocent visitors to the event.
Since they did not disrupt the Argungu festival in the North, it was not acceptable to disrupt ours in the South. The skirmish which saw the loss of over twenty soldiers and an officer as well as the sinking of two gunboats on Wednesday the 13th of May which the army has found it hard to admit resulted in the punitive expedition of the Gbaramatu kingdom.
The British hostage, Mr Mathew Maguire has been relocated to Delta state and will be a guest of one the camps there.
Nigerians should now brace up for the worst from the decisions from an incompetent leadership.
The Niger Delta people who have endured injustice and genocide for over 50 years must be ready to fight for change as our destiny should not be in the hands of others but ourselves.
Since the destruction of pipelines, manifolds and flow stations will be numerous, we may not announce everyone of them as it happens.
Jomo Gbomo
Local newspaper (including quote from the JTF Commander, Major General Sarki Yakin Bello - despite statements by the JTF earlier in the week that they knew where the militants were but as Nigeria is not at war it was not necessary to attack them):
Quote:
The waterways in Delta State have been blocked as the troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) continue with military operations to flush out militants in the hideouts.
This comes as governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on Saturday met behind closed door with top echelons of the task force, Ijaw leaders and other stakeholders in Warri.
The JTF on Friday announced the rescue of six Filipinos and four Nigerians in its offensive against militants. They were held hostage by the militants in their Camp Five in Delta State.
It also said it had recaptured the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) chartered tanker, MV SPIRIT and the cargo ship hijacked by militants at the Chanomi Creek in Delta State.
The JTF also said its troops have routed and captured the Camp Five militant camp.
Militants from the Camp had JTF troops along the Chanomi Creek. Also the hijackers of the vessel and ship came from there. The camp is led by one Tompolo.
Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, Col Rabe Abubakar said "the whole area around the Camp Five is under our JTF control. Everywhere is under control. The camp has been obliterated. Also, we have secured the NNPC chartered tanker, MV SPIRIT and the cargo ship hijacked by the militants. And the ship and vessel are intact. The militants now have got what they have been wishing for, a confrontation from JTF. And they are on the run."
The NNPC chartered tanker was to deliver condensate but was hijacked by militants on Wednesday and diverted to Warri Port.
The cargo Ship, also hijacked by the same militants from Camp Five at Chanomi Creek, was also sailing to Warri.
The JTF, in announcing the offensive, said it was conducting a "Cordon and Search" operations, aimed at liberating the people of the Niger Delta from further intimidation, harassment and extortion.
It accused the militants of using freedom fighting to perpetrate criminalities in the region.
Colonel Abubakar had earlier alerted that in the search for the militants, "there could be serious gun battle which may cause the militants to flee to their main camps. And this may lead to our torching such camps." And this the JTF did.
But the whereabouts of the Captain of the tanker, MV Spirit, Napoloen Empasis, which brought condensate to Warri before it was hijacked by militants at Chanomi creek and six other Filipinos were on Saturday yet to be ascertained.
The nine Filipinos and four Nigerians who were rescued during the military ''Operation Search and Rescue'', in Camp Five near Oporoza were brought to the shore with two of them sustaining bullet wounds and being treated.
They included, Kenneth Ekpo, Joel Villanneva, Akin Olayenju, Babalola Akeem, Cecilio Echivare, Ronaldo Charezma, Marciano Grantola, Lagura Nicholas, Nosa Okoro, Marcelo Epe, Francis Solvera, Ulysis Akut and Ernesto Flores.
One of the Nigerian crew, Akin Olayenju, described the experience as horrendous, but expressed gratitude to God for saving their lives, saying "I thank God. What we saw was too much because we carried PMS and if any bullet had hit it, it would have exploded."
A Filipinos who gave his name as Ernestos Flores while recounting his ordeal expressed shock at the scope of the operation, saying that "it was very terrible."
Commander, JTF, Major General Sarkin Yaki Bello, said categorically that his men would not rest on their oars as the time had come to put militancy out of the region.
Government, he stressed would no longer condone any group seizing a portion of the country and call it their own, saying that "we will kill as many of them that come."
He said that the action of the military should be commended for dislodging the notorious Camp Five, adding that, "no responsible authority will allow such camp to exist."
He confirmed the death of one soldier while putting the casualty rates of the militants on the high side.
Bello refuted allegations that some riverside communities were leveled by the troops of the JTF, saying that offensive was aimed at Camp Five where militant activities had been going for years now.
"No community has been sacked. But I will advise that people should not venture into the waterways because of the insecurity. Military operation is still going in that area," he added.
He added that the task force has sacked the camp and has stationed military personnel there to check any reprisal by the militants.
Notorious leader of Camp Five, Government Ekpemepulo (a.k.a Tompolo) was feared killed during operations which lasted for hours.
Meanwhile, as part of measures to restore stability in the coastal communities between the JTF and some armed youths, Governor Uduaghan held a stakeholder consultative meeting in Warri with key personalities from the communities and some security operatives in the state.
The meeting sources said had in attendance the Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuamah, the Secretary to the State Government, Ifeanyi Okowa, the State Director of the SSS, Senator James Manager, (House of Representatives member for Warri Federal), Daniel Reyenieju, Honourable Solomon Funkekeme, erstwhile Deputy Govermer of the State, Chief Benjamin Elue, Chief Tunde Smooth, Chairman Warri South West George Ekpomupolo as well as some commissioners.
The meeting, it was learnt, reviewed the present situation and adopted a strategy to restore peace in the area.
Part of the decision arrived at was the need to prevail on the Military authorities and the Presidency to stop further action in the creeks.
Text:
Quote:
Kokodiagbene & remainder of Okeronkoko (iroko camp) near Chanomi Creek are being destroyed by 2 plane bombers and about 15 gunboats
Quote from another website:
Quote:
Bristow Grounds all Flights: It has been confirmed that a Bristow helicopter was hit at Abiteye in Bayelsa State on its way to Escravos. The pilot noticed the bullet hole on the plane when he landed. No casualty was recorded. Consequently, Bristow management has decided to ground all flights in the Niger Delta. All pilots have been directed to stay put in their accommodation.
Militant Camp Taken Out: Report from Chanomi Creek of yesterday's military operation indicate that Camp 5 has been leveled. Okerenkoko town was also leveled. The battle started with military helicopters bombing about 40 speedboats with armed militants into the river. The battle lasted for about 4 hours and about 400 corpses were gathered and carried away by the Army. MEND in a separate statement announced that one of the foreign hostages, they took on Tuesday, has been killed by stray bullet. About 20 hostages, including foreigners were initially taken by MEND, suspectedly to be used as human shield. The MV Spirit and 6 Filipinos and 4 Africans were set free by the military.
Pipeline Vandalisation: NNPC pipeline from Escravos to Warri was blown up by suspected militants last night. However, the flare in the Escravos terminal is off. Another information has it that Chevron pipeline at Abiteye has been strapped with dynamite by militants in preparation to blowing them up. In a similar incident, there are reports that NAOC (AGIP) manifold at Bombokiri in Brass axis was blown up by suspected militants, yesterday.
Militants Plan Big Retaliation: Information has it that due to the confrontation between the JTF and militants of Camp 5 in Delta State, MEND has ordered the blockade of all the waterway channel from Onne, Eket and Bonny. No oil industry supply vessel should be allowed to go through. Two major militant leaders, Ateke and Farah, in a meeting last night mobilised about 30 speedboats to go out from tonight for attacks. Likely targets are JTF locations and offshore oil industry infrastructures. The JTF on its part has put all locations on RED Alert.
Note: An unidentified source has spoken to the Directors of SSS in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States on the development. They also informed the source that they have been directed by higher authorities in Abuja to work with the JTF. All formations are on high alert. The Navy has deployed two vessels to patrol the Bonny to Calabar axis. The JTF is like going to strike other known militant camps.
Shell has already ordered their vessels to go 50 nautical miles south at dusk. Please advise all security vessels in Addax fields of the current threat and put them on alert.
The next couple of days will see serious escalation of the crisis in the Niger Delta, with heavy casualties. Situation is being closely monitored.
As I say, the truth is out there somewhere. To all friends in the Niger Delta - keep a low profile and take great care. Nobody is really sure where this is going
I was hoping my post no. 3576 would bring this discussion into the open, but it probably made a few guy's feel slightly uncomfortable....
Good luck to all you brave souls who continue to operate in terrible circumstances..
HOWEVER..... I still think the jungle bunny factor ( how could anyone resist them) is a major incentive for people to work in such shit conditions. As you all know the sandpit pays very similar wages, and living conditions are in most cases better! Even the chicken ranch in Abu Dhabi is due to close this year?
As the one who started this thread I'd like to ask olualu and Epiphany to remove the more offensive or ridiculous parts of their posts within the next 24 hours before I ask the moderators to do so. Failing that, as the one who started the thread, I will terminate it. I think it would be sad if I have to do that as the number of posts on it and the number of views it has had over the years are possibly a testament to how useful or interesting people may have found it.
Mama: I felt compelled to post a word of reason... Although I totally agree with your sentiments, I think deleting an excess of 3,600 posts only to take out one guys post you don't agree with and another ones post that is simply unacceptable, might be a little exaggerated. Justifying olualu comments with a response like killing the whole thread, would give any knucklehead the means to destroy any discussion by simply disagreeing with the thread-starter?!
I'm far away from Nigeria (who knows for how long?), but I follow this thread with great interest - keep up the good work!
Location: Still on some west coast...but a bit further south
Age: 38
Posts: 512
On another note; recently one nigerian at lunch in the messhall told me that there is no hostage taking in the Niger Delta, no bombings, etc etc... He also mentioned that all these stories are a fabrication of the media to make Nigeria look bad. I wish I would have had the power to push his face into his plate of pasta. MALANDRO!!!
Mamma. I have had a look at my posts and do not see anything offensive or ridiculous written there. Which bits do you actually want me to remove? This is an open forum for discussion and that means that there are differing opinions.
My opinion is that there are frustrated and angry people there who have resorted to violence to try to change things. I did not say that I agree with that however. Happens everywhere. BTW I have worked there and decided it was not for me. Glad I did now.
I worked in NIgeria in the '70s, based at Warri and Port Harcourt and other than newer aircraft, it really doesn't look like much has changed. We had the same corruption in businesss and politics, crime, lack of electrical power, etc., etc.
If anybody is threatening to remove this thread so they can control the opinions, THE GO AHEAD AND DO IT, don't threaten.
If you worked in Nigeria then you, the same as myself, presumably still have friends who work there at a time when the situation appears to have escalated to the worst it's been since the Biafran war (and yes, I was there when all the helicopters were being hijacked in 1999). This is the fifth time to my certain knowledge now that a helicopter has been hit by small arms fire in the last 12 months, luckily with nobody having been killed so far. 2 Bristow national pilots were shot and wounded (one of them seriously) in an ambush less than 3 months ago, and you don't feel that any of the people still trying to do their job out there might be just a teensy bit offended by:
Quote:
if I were a poor Nigerian with a gun and a grudge then I'd probably have a pop at one too.
carholme,
The situation in Nigeria now is nothing like it was in the 70s, it's far more dangerous on a daily basis for both expatriates and Nigerians. I'm not trying to control opinions just objecting most strongly to what are inappropriate views being expressed at a time when friends of mine are still working there and inflammatory remarks being made which seem to be expressing encouragement to those who feel it's okay to shoot at unarmed civilian helicopters. I condemn in the strongest possible terms the killing of unarmed civilians, including my friends who are still trying to do their job there. All I'm asking for is the posters or the moderators to remove a couple of inappropriate posts at a time when there's enough inflammation already in the Niger Delta. If you can't live with that - tough.
Times are tough everywhere but unless you are a moderator, I am certainly not interested in your control of opinions. As the mod did suggest, I too am not supporting racism or racist comments but if you cannot handle the heat, get out of the kitchen!
As far as times being tougher today, tell that to the AGIP staff who were there when I was, those that met their demise there.
I had no wish to offend anyone and so have edited the part of my post that you found offensive. I hope that this might change your decision to cease contributing here as I value your experience and opinions as a working pilot in Nigeria.
I do feel, however, that you were unfair in taking those few words in my post in isolation and not as a whole as I was certainly not condoning the targeting of civilian helicopters.
In a previous life I discovered a 7.62mm sized hole in the tailboom of my machine and remember feeling shocked, scared, then angry to think that someone had tried to kill me. Wise words from my OC put things in persepective -"Don't think of it as personal - you are simply a symbol of something that they disagree with".
The Redhill Travel Department post Vivian must have been relocated to Houston from your complaint!
The Black Sardine could never understand why I objected to being routed to Dallas when traveling to North Carolina.....a short three hour flight beyond my destination with routing via Atlanta to get to the International Airport served by direct flights from London and Frankfurt.
What was even more amazing was I could buy "Y" tickets cheaper than Bristow was paying for their no change...no refund...non exchangeable tickets....and they would not agree to a reimbursement agreement where I bought the tickets and they could save money.
Must have interfered with the old "Bristow Management Fiddle" so well known in those times.
At the risk of being accused of reminiscing while Rome (or more accurately Chanomi Creek) burns, you are right about Travel.
At least Viv and "The Black Sardine" didnt send you from Redhill to Kuala Trengganu via Reykyavik (unless the ticket was REALLY cheap and even then it was still usually Business Class! - - - I know the Oil Companies were charged for First!!)
Even greasing the wheels by leaving a carton of Duty Free Bensons next to the ashtray in Viv's office (those were the days!) would be a breach of modern day COBI.
A greater crisis has come to light in Warri in the last few days - the Prodeco Supermarket is fresh out of tonic water!!
When the brave chaps come back from dusting off their flak jackets and practicing NOE techniques, they can't even enjoy a decent Sundowner (at least 12 hours prior to their next scheduled flight of course!)
Do you have any reliable contacts in the ICRC who could arrange a Food (or Drink) parcel for the boys? I am hand carrying limited supplies back today.
Wait for things to get much worse....Dien Bien Phu worse....and I can have a wee chat with some of my fellow "Tarheels" who might be dropping in for a visit. Perhaps they might have room for a pallet of humanitarian supplies for geriatric helicopter pilots. They can be identified by their baggy pants and penchant for screaming "All The Way!".... 'cept for dem quiet types that just show up in the dark.
As Sherman said while taking a stroll through Georgia by torch light one time...."War is Hell!"....him being a dedicated drinker should know.
Funny thing....I always took you for a Gin and Gin guy!
With the vents unfolding in the Delta area with the rebel action.........it would be interesting to get some insight from the people who have seen this before. Any ideas or opinions on how this will all play out?
On another note; recently one nigerian at lunch in the messhall told me that there is no hostage taking in the Niger Delta, no bombings, etc etc... He also mentioned that all these stories are a fabrication of the media to make Nigeria look bad. I wish I would have had the power to push his face into his plate of pasta. MALANDRO!!!
Then why do ALL the oil company compounds have thick walls, razor wire and armed guards? Plus armed escorts and mandatory helicopter transport. Even the Nigerian media reports hostage taking.
However some of the events are most likely done by criminals rather than the MEND terrorists.
It's to keep all the rampant corruption in the oil industry away from the innocent Nigerians, allowing them to go on with their daily lives without being tainted by us rotten Oyibo's.
Nigerian Media
The truth is out there somewhere
Plus ca change plus c'est la meme chose
) 
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