All Out War In Port Harcourt

[BALEWA]

JUST TAKEN OFF FROM PHC NAFBASE IN A HURRY THIS MORNING...

ITS ALL OUT WAR, I CULD NOT BELIEVE IT:eek::eek::eek: ARMY ASSAULT HELICOPTERS FIRING FROM THE AIR.

THIS IS CRAZY PORT HARCOURT IS AT WAR GUYS.

HEAR THE MILITANTS AND THE SOLDIERS ARE IN A SERIOUS GUNFIGHT IN THE CITY.

GOD HELP THE CIVILIANS :sad::sad:

[Phone Wind]

Balewa,
Where have you been? It's been like this in Port Harcourt for ages; don't you read the papers? There's been a gang war going on in the city and in the last 10 days it's escalated as the forces of Soboma George and Tom Ateke battle each other for ascendancy in the control of the oil bunkering trade. In the last 2 weeks the Teme hospital (run by the international organisation Médecins Sans Frontières - Doctors Without Borders) in Port Harcourt has treated 71 victims of gunshot wounds, the highest number since it opened in 2005. There has been a great deal of speculation in the media that the majority of the arms being used by the gangs have been supplied by Nigerian politicians. The violence increased into a big shooting match on 6 August and those of us living here, have been trying to cope with it since then. It's not just shooting: the gangsters have been using dynamite a lot for things such as destroying the NNPC mega-station and the radio station here. All the oil majors are on some kind of lockdown and try to use helicopters for moving their personnel around - but of course we helicopter pilots who are still flying have to get into work somehow.
Some of the shooting you heard has come from the war between the JTF and the militants, but the army in true Nigerian military fashion is driving along Aba Road firing indiscriminately into the air just to clear a way through the go-slows :yuk: There's also been an all-out assault on the Moscow Road police HQ as the gangsters have tried to take it over this morning. So far, the JTF has managed to stop it being taken, but given the firepower available to the gangs and the record of the GSF against them to date, I wouldn't be willing to bet money on who will win this battle.
The Nigerian army has no assault helicopters. What you have seen is the Mil 35 Hind gunship helicopters of the Nigerian Air Force which are based at the NAF Base.
But, hey, it's all okay because the Nigerian government says that there is no problem, they have everything under control and they see no reason to declare a state of emergency in Port Harcourt - I feel safer already :}.
You are welcome to Port Harcourt - enjoy the experience as we residents have to every day :{

[BALEWA]

Hi I know about the situation in PHC BROS.

I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING IT SINCE LAST SATURDAY, JUST THAT TODAYS BATTLE IS NOT LIKE ANYTHING I HAVE SEEN BEFORE.

IT IS SO SHAMEFUL:sad:

IMAGINE SIGHTING THE GUVNOR AND HIS HOODLUMS IN ABUJA TUESDAY ALIGHTING FROM THEIR PRIVATE JET RVSG BEAMING WITH SMILES LIKE ALL IS WELL BACK HOME, WHILE HIS PEOPLE ARE KILLED EVERDAY.

IN MY HEART I KNOW THEY WILL ALL PAY FOR THIS SOMEDAY SOON.

TAKE CARE MAN AND STAY INDOORS TODAY, PLEASE. I DID NOT LIKE WHAT I SAW THERE THIS MORNING ON OUR WAY OUT.

BAL

[Phone Wind]

Hi Balewa,
It's okay, he's just carrying on where his predecessor left off :yuk:. It's pretty widely reported that Dokubo Asari, Tom Ateke and Soboma George were all started on their way to their present status as warlords by Rivers State politicians employing them and arming them and their gangs to put the frighteners on any opposition and rig polls for them.
It's a real pleasure going in to work on those days - when we're able, wondering where these guys are going to be today and having the absolute certainty that our so-called security escorts will probably run away and leave us at the first sign of any trouble. Luckily, so far, the biggest threat to aircraft is the superbly disciplined army, as previously mentioned, shooting into the air to clear a path :eek:. Just imagine if the NAF were to do that with rockets on their Hinds!! :\.
Still, on present form, it's comforting to know that things can only get worse :}. Thanks for the best wishes for personal safety - the journey home may be interesting if we go by road.

[Flying Touareg]

Here is what the guardian is reporting this evening,wish u well guys


Army makes arrests, clashes with armed gangs in PH
Heavy fighting between armed gangs and the military has been reported in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Residents say the military has deployed armoured personnel carriers and has been shooting indiscriminately in the air in parts of the town. The exercise follows clashes that raged last week between rival armed gangs which left no fewer than 15 people dead. Violence around Port Harcourt has increased since militants launched a campaign last year for a greater share of oil resources in the Niger Delta region. The fighting follows an operation by the military on the base of one of the major gang leaders in the city, whose name is given as Soboma George. The military said it arrested a number of militants during the raid, though George was not among them

[ZAZOO]

Very sad situation in Port Harcourt really.

Wonder why the Federal Government is shying away from declaring a state of emergency. Me thinks its about time :ugh:

Friends and family in PHC say the situation has gone out of control this last few days.

Zaz

[Phone Wind]

Thanks for thinking of us Zaz.
A couple of hours ago I was looking at photographs of many people trying to escape Port Harcourt old town on foot. They are all approaching the JTF checkpoints with their hands in the air in case anyone mistakes them for gangsters and kills them :{.
Reuters is reporting that the JTF have imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on Port Harcourt starting today:
Police imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Port Harcourt, Nigeria's main oil city, on Friday after dozens of people were killed in gun battles.
Up to 40 people died in street fighting between troops and heavily armed gangsters on Thursday, local newspapers reported, and the gunmen are widely expected to return to the city, which serves as the base for Africa's largest oil industry.
"I am afraid to go out far from my house," said Nse Jim, a motorcycle taxi driver.
"Soldiers are everywhere, but if you know these bad boys, they will start trouble again in two or three days."
Police said movement would be restricted from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. until further notice. Shops were reopening and people were on the streets, but in smaller numbers than normal, and traffic was lighter than usual.
Oil companies told workers in the city to stay at home, but staffing at oilfields and export terminals in the world's eighth largest exporter was unaffected.
After six days of gun battles between rival gangs last week, troops launched dawn raids on Thursday using machineguns and rockets on suspected gang hideouts in the city.
Young men armed with assault rifles, dynamite and knives invaded five districts of the city, including the area around the state government headquarters, and troops fought them off with helicopter gunships.
I believe the government will not declare a state of emergency because it keeps saying that it has the situation under control and it's not necessary

[soggyboxers]

PW,
These are some photos taken today of people leaving (courtesy of Oyibosonline):
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c361/evansniger/PeoplefleeingPH.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c361/evansniger/PeoplefleeingPH.2.jpg
At present the JTF claim to have killed Soboma George and this has been broadcast as a fact by the local media, but the militants deny this. He was inside a hotel which was burnt down by JTF troops, but one militant leader claims to have spoken to him on the telephone. Time will tell.

[ZAZOO]

No movement has been declared in Rivers State between the hours of 7pm till 6pm in the morning.

The situation seems to be very very bad at the moment.

News from friends state that the militants are preparing to storm the city:sad:

Friends and relatives in the city are leaving town.

What a shame that this whole saga has now escalated to this level, and how the Nigerian Government has let down the innocent people of Port Harcourt.

The state shall never be the same again.

To the chopper lads in the oil city, please be careful and Godbless.

Zaz

[ZAZOO]

Its 07:15pm and the city is like a ghost town. :ooh:

Now we wait and listen :uhoh::ooh:

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Hang tough, folks. Good luck and stay safe....:ok:

Thoughts with you and hope it all goes back to normal soon.

[BALEWA]

Supreme court has ordered the removal of Celestine Omehia as governor of Rivers State and ruled that Rotimi Amaechi take over immediately.

Hope this does not start another round of violence in the city, its been quite calm for a few weeks now!

good riddance to bad rubbish

[ZAZOO]

Just heard also.

Friends and family in PHC claim he has already been sworn in!

This is not going to go down well with the former Guvnor (Odili), hope the city stays peaceful, they have been doing very well so far.

[Phone Wind]

There's a lot happening at the moment both in Nigeria and Rivers. The speaker of the House of Representatives has agreed to step aside while allegations against her are investigated. President Yar'Adua seems a genuinely good and honest man and unlike some of his predecessors would have done, has not stepped in to reverse the decision of another court to nullify the election of Saidu Usman Dakingari, who is his son-in-law, as governor of the northwestern state of Kebbi.

The EFCC also announced this week that 6 former governors will be indicted by them before the end of the year, although they have not announced the names as yet. Omehia's predecessor is one who seems a likely candidate to many of the inhabitants of Port Harcourt :mad:

I entirely concur with Balewa, good riddance to bad rubbish and hope that the police and military can maintain calm in the city.

[Flying Touareg]

President Yar'Adua seems a genuinely good and honest man and unlike some of his predecessors would have done, has not stepped in to reverse the decision of another court to nullify the election of Saidu Usman Dakingari, who is his son-in-law, as governor of the northwestern state of Kebbi.



Yaradua has more headache at the election tribunal with more damning evidence being provided by the opposition against his election also.It does not look good.

Thats by the way,Anybody Knows who the Aviation/Transport Minister is in Nigeria?Do we have any? Kinda missing Fani and Boris:}

[Phone Wind]

FT,

Deziani Alison Madueke is now the Minister of Transport (CIA World Leaders (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-n/nigeria.html)). The NCAA is now an independent body and the Director General is Dr Harold Demuren, who's trying to do a good job with limited resources