Yesterday, only hours after MEND announced that they would be ending their ceasefire in the Delta because of lack of consuktation with the new government, the Rig 2 was attacked. The swamp rig is close to the Soku gas plant in the swamps west of Port Harcourt. The attack also coincided with Shell's announcement that it was resuming operations in the swamp areas. Up to 7 expatriates were taken hostage during the attack, one Nigerian worker was badly injured and one, sadly, killed.
This also came on shortly after new Nigerian Vice President Goodluck Jonathan tried to assure the diplomatic community that hostage-taking in the Niger Delta will soon become a thing of the past, especially with on-going peace initiatives by the Federal Government.
Jonathan said this when he received the Russian Federation Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Igor Melikhov, at the state House yesterday.
He added that government is also making efforts to ensure development of the region, because “we want to ensure that place is like a paradise in future."
Reiterating government's commitment to ending the lingering problems in the area, he said the crisis has economically and politically affected not only the region, but the country as a whole
"Nobody is happy about the situation. Even state governors are embarrassed by the situation, this is why I have embarked on series of peace missions to the region in the last few days, and I believe very soon, there will be a resolution," he said.
Don't hold yer breath
