Gunmen stormed the local offices of a major Chinese oil company in southern Nigeria on Thursday, abducting seven Chinese employees and stealing a large amount of cash, police said.
One of the assailants died in the raid on the finance offices of the government-owned Chinese National Petroleum Co. in the Nigerian state of Bayelsa, state police Commissioner Hafiz Ringim said. Two Chinese employees escaped the attack, Ringim said.
In Beijing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it is looking into the attack. Company officials could not be reached for comment.
Some 100 hostages have been seized in a year of increased violence in Nigeria, the largest producer of oil in Africa and a major exporter to the U.S. Hostages are generally released unharmed after a ransom is paid, although casualties have occurred during gunbattles between the attackers and security forces.
Despite the vast energy stores lying beneath southern Nigeria's soil, the region's people remain desperately poor. Many blame their plight on corruption and mismanagement by the federal government.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, which seeks greater control of oil revenues and the release of two regional leaders imprisoned on corruption or treason charges, have launched many of the raids and abductions. The violence has cut Nigeria's usual 2.5 million barrel per day crude production by nearly a quarter.
But most of the kidnappings in recent weeks haven't been claimed by the group, which said it was not behind Thursday's attack. Along with the Chinese, about two dozen Filipinos, two Italians, one Briton, one American and a Lebanese are being held.
China is boosting ties in Nigeria and across Africa, seeking to secure energy and other resources for its booming economy.
I was feeling a bit low this morning. Harmattan has been curtailing flying, Port Harcourt ATC behaving like petulant children (okay, they always do - but even more than usual ), fuel queues everywhere because the world's 8th largest oil producer has not a single working refinery and imports all its fuel now, curfew means living in prison, pay just not enough to make it worth working here any more. Then, when I got home my whole day brightened up . I saw a report of a speech given by the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Peter Shola Adeniyi. Speaking in Calabar he said that despite continuous reports of abduction of foreign oil workers by militants, the Nigerian Navy has curtailed illegal activities of the militants. He said “we’ve been doing our best to check the excesses of Niger Delta youths. We have been able to curtail the excesses of the militants.” “We’ll be able to do much more to check the incursions of the militant youths from entering where we don’t want them to enter, when on-going plans by the Navy are fully implemented. “ Rear Admiral Adeniyi who said the country had assets as far as 100 nautical miles of the West Coast of Africa explained that part of the aims of the annual inspection is to deploy the fleet in the protection of deep sea oil and gas installation especially against terrorist attack.” Speaking on the five-day series of Naval exercises around the Bight of Bonny, Adeniyi said the Nigerian Navy was capable of checking any form of terrorist attack on Nigerian territorial waters. . Oh dear, my sides are still aching from laughing . This is the same Navy which arrested 8 of its officers last year when an oil tanker impounded for suspected illegal oil bunkering operations, somehow disappeared from its custody in Lagos. I feel so safe now. Last year 72 expatriates were kidnapped in the Niger Delta, so far this month 52 expats have been kidnapped here, 36 are currently being held and Admiral Adeniyi is proud of the record of his men. It's a symptom of how cock-eyed everything has become here during this wondrous transition from the corrupt military dictatorships to true democracy . It gives me a lovely warm feeling - or maybe it's just because I just p**d myself from laughing so much again .
Rear Admiral Adeniyi has obviously just been quoting from the same "book of Great Military Speeches' as the Nigerian Minister of Defence, Ambassador Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, and the Minister of State, Chief Michael Onolememem who say that Nigerian forces are capable of keeping peace in the region. They, told newsmen in Abuja that a publication in one of the national dailies alleging that Chinese soldiers have been hired by the Federal Government to police the Niger Delta is not only false but also baseless and a disservice to the nation.
The Ministers said there is no need for the engagement of foreign soldiers as Nigerian military were capable of containing the situation.
“No one should be in doubt at the capacity and capability of our forces in dealing with the Niger Delta problem”, they said pointing out that the country is not at war with anybody.
On the trouble in the Niger Delta, the Ministers noted that “we are dealing with our brothers and sisters’ and would not just react to it the same way as if they were enemies.”
“We have chosen the path of peace and dialogue because we can’t crush our own brothers”, the ministers stressed. According to the Ministers, the initiatives carried out by the present PDP government in the Niger Delta region surpass all other initiatives taken by any other government in the last 46 years.
They've not chosen any path of peace. They're all involved in this escalation of violence up to their necks as part of the jockeying for power in the run-up to the Presidential elections. They'd probably be incapable of crushing what they've now set in motion any more anyway . I think they'll find out before too long that they've opened a Pandora's Box.
Anjou, what have you been drinking tonight? Whatever it is I think I'd like a few bottles/glasses/calabashes myself
I hear that Caverton Helicopters' latest AS350B2 is stuck somewhere in Mauritania with a mechanical problem. It left Portugal at the end of December. Mauritania is not the easiest of countries to get technical support, except perhaps if they're in Nouakchott. I wonder if Strange Steve and Uncle Terry are still with it or have abandoned it there. Has anyone else heard any more about it?
'Uncle Terry' is very resourceful and can usually do something like a Blue Peter presenter with locking wire, epoxy resin a used toilet roll holder and duct tape, so it must be a rather more serious problem with the helicopter. If they're stuck in Nouadibhou, getting spares there could be a bit tricky, but I'm sure he'll manage and will also have managed to make himself comfortable and made new friends to help him already. I certainly do hope he's okay as I haven't heard from him lately and I know how much he was looking forward to the flight just before he left. The way things go, with lack of communication sometimes on African ferry flights, he may already be enjoying a large Julbrew in Banjul or some zouk music in Ougadougou. I hope to enjoy a large bottle of 'cold filtered' or a glass of my mother's milk with him soon
I just put in my first six days near Hassi Messaoud, Algeria. What a contrast to Ikeja and Isolo!
I was nowhere near town, just based next to the airport so I cannot say much about local civilisation but where I was I could walk back and forth without worrying about my safety. There were no beggars or shoe-shiners anywhere to be seen and the locals seemed to be polite, friendly and correctly distant.
The food was quite good in the camp, Italian-style rather than, yecch, Briddish. Plenty of fresh veg and fruit and chicken you could cut with a fork rather than having to use a diamond blade.
The pilots were mostly young and amiable instead of old and grouchy, like me.
The aircraft I flew was the nicest Twin Otter I have ever seen, just like new.
Best of all, the ramp was full of airplanes. There was one lonely-looking B206L out there but that was it for helicopters. I guess the distances are too much, so that they just take a D8 and make an instant air strip wherever they need to operate out there in the Sahara. The Pilatus Porter and the Cessna Caravan take the place of the B212, so to speak.
The temperature was surprisingly cold, colder than Germany was when I left. It was down to 5° or so in the mornings and it never got above about 15° even at mid-day. On the other hand I have been reliably informed that it can go up to 54° in the summer. Not to worry, they are sending me off to Saudi next, or so I have been told. Algeria is too nice, perhaps!
Finally Uncle 'T' and 'Uncle Bob look alike' arrived the shore of Nigeria by mid day yesterday in the Blue 'A Star' that was stuck somewhere in the western Sahara for Weeks! It will be better to 'crate-in' the next inbound 'A star' to Ghana as ACN/CHC does in avoiding the payment of high import tax to Nigeria. 'Brown envelope' as usual to the designated surveyor will save you all the head ache. Welcome back Steve. Sunny will brief you on the Aba incident! The boys have been settled! The 'Let 410' could not make it to Bonny too. The runway is too narrow and the crew will not cooperate with Sola to land there and prove a point to your client in Bonny . She has since returned to Europe. The Company lost so much money in accomodation for the crew in a private 'court' in GRA since the Ikeja guest house is sub-standard to them and parking space for the 'Let 410' . The 'Let crew Bus' is now available for the helicopter crew after their departure . Ozunba Helipad really missed you, Steve.
Are you serious ? We never know with a wily old fox like you. Are you honestly saying that a camp in the desert with no crime, community wahalla, robberies, kidnappings, official corruption, police escorts and so on is better than the BRC and the antiques you used to fly before the Dorniers came ? Where's the challenge in that ?
Surely you miss the cut and thrust of life in Ajao Estate with haute cuisine lovingly prepared by the best chefs Bristow can muster ? Is the banter the same ? Aren't evenings with no gunfire outside the razor wire boring ?
I'm saving a fortune now we're curfewed. The weight is just dropping off now all that beer is undrunk, so to speak. What other employer would take such radical steps to ensure the Health and Safety of it's valued people ? Wasn't it an American who said that people are a companies most valuable asset ?
Come on, be honest !! Your secret is safe with us............
Is a lie, all this stories of bad things with our Jumbolino, envelop in Aba and every other thing. Daddy and me was always fully aware of every-thing happening as you would expect from the toppest leaders in the world centre of aviation excellence. As already explain, there was great need for Uncle Terry to have proper crew rest and for Steve to have his suit trouser always dry clean and looking very shinny - after all he is an ambassador for this our company which is talked about in every toppest aviation circle, for setting new standard of excellence, training, maintenance, forward thinking and heavy investment in new techernological industry-leading product such as the Jumbolino. All the technical detail will be there on our website once daddy have paid for update.
Nothing have happen in Aba. Our helicopter is welcome in every part of the Federation. Now with 2 helicopter again we shall have plenty spare part and be visiting so many places. It's because daddy and I have been well educated with even degree and papers from University overseas and have so well allied this with sharp Nigerian busuness practices.
We have had some very bad people to work for us, who think being pilot or enguneer is important because this an aviation adventure. Is not important - what is important is to have been to proper university with electronic marvels such as computer, text book and NEPA. It is things like this such of these aviation pigmies such as CHC and Bristow will soon find out as we sweep them from the field of aviation in Nigeria. After all, CHC is just anagram of Hantshire Cunty Council and Bristow is best known for hair shampoo (and anyway daddy says he prefer Head and Shoulders becasue with such you can never get dandruff which make the collar of your Armani suit jacket look so very bad).
Daddy will be presenting brown envelope to all concerned with this our latest success, as soon as he have decided on deductions for out-of-pocket expenses for the short delays on-route, which must not have been any-thing to do with Jumbolino because the NCAA issued papers to say what a very fine machine it was just before it was leaving Portugal.
I saw the RSG AW139, 5N-BJB finally flying the other day. It visited lagos and Abuja before returning to Port Harcourt. Does this mean that it has finally got its CofA?
Does this also mean that Governor Odili has now put his problems with the EFCC behind him? EFCC interim findings indict Odili
I spoke to 'Uncle Terry' today and can confirm his safe arrival in Lagos, having had a few adventures along the way, visited some new places and done a few interesting things with locking wire, old toilet rolls and epoxy resin - just as forecast
For those flying for Shell tomorrow, extra care is required as there was fighting between militants and security forces in Nembe today and the Nigerian Navy had to despatch 2 extra gunboats to the area in support of joint task force personnel.
There was a long and violent gun battle in Port Harcourt today, in the old part of the city around Aggrey road. Fifty militants on fought a gunbattle with Nigerian security forces and torched police headquarters in Port Harcourt in the oil-producing Niger Delta to free one of their leaders.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said fighters armed with machine guns, grenades and assault rifles attacked troops and police who fought back with helicopter gunships and an armoured personnel carrier.
"We lost none of our fighters in the encounter which saw the destruction of the State Investigation and Intelligence Bureau and the Rivers state police headquarters," MEND said in a statement e-mailed to journalists.
The group said 50 of its fighters were involved.
The gunfight took place in the densely populated old part of Port Harcourt, near the waterfront, where residents said they saw the militants torch the central police station and at least 10 police vehicles. Police said at least one person was killed.
"Our fighters have since retreated to the creeks with our prize," MEND said, referring to Sobomabo George, one of its leaders who had been captured earlier in the day.
The MEND, which says it is fighting for the impoverished people of the delta to gain control of the region's oil wealth, was responsible for a wave of attacks last February that forced the closure of a fifth of Nigeria's oil production capacity. (source - Reuters)
Musket,
I ran my hands around the Crystal Ball.....flipped a few Tarot Cards....and looked to see which way the cows were facing....then flipped some chicken bones and feathers about a bit....and everything suggests "Yes indeedy!"
Unless and until some of that oil money gets spent in the Delta area and the Nigerian trickle down method of economic investment puts some Kobo's into the villager's pockets....the violence will continue.
Well I just fininshed reading 81 pages of posts!!! Well most of it. I get the general idea. Still no one has posted any pictures??? Another question is how many of you who have worked in Nigeria or Africa have got Malaria or any other nasty sickness? What were the out comes?
I have about 6 friends who have just left CHL EMS for CHC and am waiting to hear what their opinion is of Africa. Sounds like it was lots of fun at one time but this seems to be the worst of the worst times to get involved in Nigeria.
Anyways thanks for all the great info and God bless all there and hoping they can avoid the violence.
Well we've launched another aggressive new development in a nice marshmallow, gentle, nuke-a-gay-whale-for-peace kinda way. After the announcement that we'd be launching a super new money-saving shuttle bus for crews to Owerri using the ole Harmattan precludes any other form of transport excuse, we discovered that you guys really liked it, so we're sure going to keep it. Lots of you made a lotta noise about the move to the super new camp, which is gonna save us a whole pile of $$$$$. We're also glad to see that most of you haven't left and are opting for the single room philosophy which we've sold - wouldn't do to have guys congregating in a sitting room and gr in the most iping together - see what we've done for morale. The new camp will be far nicer than the original Intels option [suckers]. Our acceptance of the genuine 42 days on site deal sure kept you guys quiet while we were able to recruit enough new people to not have to put up with your whinging any more. What do you think we're running here - a holiday camp? We didn't get where we are today without learning how to tell lies in the most sincere, (maple) syrupy fashion until we get what we want. Just remember, if you don't eat the marshmallows we'll send in K2 with the dog biscuits.
Nigeria - Laugh a Minute!
), fuel queues everywhere because the world's 8th largest oil producer has not a single working refinery and imports all its fuel now, curfew means living in prison, pay just not enough to make it worth working here any more. Then, when I got home my whole day brightened up 
. I saw a report of a speech given by the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Peter Shola Adeniyi. Speaking in Calabar he said that despite continuous reports of abduction of foreign oil workers by militants, the Nigerian Navy has curtailed illegal activities of the militants. He said “we’ve been doing our best to check the excesses of Niger Delta youths. We have been able to curtail the excesses of the militants.” “We’ll be able to do much more to check the incursions of the militant youths from entering where we don’t want them to enter, when on-going plans by the Navy are fully implemented. “ Rear Admiral Adeniyi who said the country had assets as far as 100 nautical miles of the West Coast of Africa explained that part of the aims of the annual inspection is to deploy the fleet in the protection of deep sea oil and gas installation especially against terrorist attack.” Speaking on the five-day series of Naval exercises around the Bight of Bonny, Adeniyi said the Nigerian Navy was capable of checking any form of terrorist attack on Nigerian territorial waters. . Oh dear, my sides are still aching from laughing 
. It gives me a lovely warm feeling - or maybe it's just because I just p**d myself from laughing so much again 
.
The Nigerian Book of Great Military Sayings
and prove a point to your client in Bonny
. She has since returned to Europe. The Company lost so much money in accomodation for the crew in a private 'court' in GRA since the Ikeja guest house is sub-standard to them and parking space for the 'Let 410'
. Ozunba Helipad really missed you, Steve.
We Welcome The Jumbolino
RSGs 139
Take Care in Port Harcourt and the Creeks
Linear Mode
