Sunday, January 29, 2006

Armed men storm firm in Nigeria's delta

Around 20 armed men stormed the headquarters of a South Korean oil services company in Nigeria's lawless delta and stole more than $30,000 (17,000 pounds), police said on Sunday, in the latest attack on foreign firms. Full report Reuters 29 Jan 2006.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Nigeria rebels claim more attacks

Nigerian militants who say they have kidnapped four foreign oil workers and attacked on a Shell oil platform say they have carried out more attacks.
The group says it attacked platforms run by the Total and Agip oil firms. Both companies have denied the claims.

The increased tension in the Niger Delta region has pushed up oil prices to more than $67 (£38) a barrel.

The four foreign workers, who are said to be in good health, have been held hostage for close to a week.

In a statement, the previously unknown rebel group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, said its ultimate aim was "to prevent Nigeria from exporting oil".

"We will attack all oil companies, including Chevron facilities," it said. "Pipelines, loading points, export tankers, tank farms, refined petroleum depots, landing strips and residences of employees of these companies can expect to be attacked."

"We know where they live, shop and where the children go to school," it added.

The group want local Ijaw people to benefit more from the region's oil wealth and are demanding the release of separatist leader Mujahid Dokubu Asari, being held on treason charges, by Friday.

Full report (BBC) 18 January, 2006.

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Armed men attack Shell oil platform in Nigeria, military says

Associated Press reports that armed men opened fire Sunday on soldiers guarding an oil platform run by Royal Dutch Shell in the swamps of Nigeria's southern oil-rich delta, the third assault in less than a week on Shell facilities in the troubled region, a senior military official said:

Soldiers guarding the Benisede facility in the west of the Niger Delta returned automatic weapons fire, but it was unclear if they had lost control of the oil platform, said Brig. Gen. Elias Zamani, commander of a special task force charged with security in the volatile oil region.Zamani had no other details and said the military was investigating.

On Wednesday, gunmen attacked Shell's EA platform in shallow waters near the delta coast, seizing a Bulgarian, an American, a British and a Honduran. A major Shell pipeline leading to its Forcados export terminal was blown up the following day.

Though Shell resumed some production cut last week, the first two attacks initially forced a 10 percent drop in Nigeria's oil exports.

A previously unknown militant group, Movement for Niger Delta Emancipation, claimed responsibility for first two attacks, warning all Western oil companies to leave the Niger Delta for their safety and calling on the government to release militia leader Mujahid Dokubo-Asari.Dokubo-Asari campaigned for secession and greater local control of oil wealth before he was jailed in September and charged with treason.

Nigeria is Africa's leading oil exporter and the fifth-biggest source of U.S. oil imports. The country produces about 2.5 million barrels a day."

See AP report in full 15 January, 2006:

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Digimotion Digital Album - Powerful stuff, check it out.

See my latest entry at Sudan Watch: Digimotion Digital Album - Powerful stuff, check it out.