(Franks.)
With a name that sounds like it has come from the pages of a superhero
comic book, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is the latest militant group
to emerge in Nigeria – attacking oil installations in a campaign which
threatens the economy of Africa’s most populous state.
“We are a group of educated and well-travelled individuals that are
poised to take the Niger Delta struggle to new heights that has never
been seen in this nation before,” the NDA proclaimed in one of their
first statement’s on their website in April.
“We have well-equipped human resources to meet this goal.”
It was not an idle threat. The NDA has carried out a barrage of attacks
on oil installations in the Niger Delta region, causing a huge decline
in oil production, which is the mainstay of the West African state’s
economy.
“The renewed activities of the militants in the Niger Delta are
seriously affecting our oil production,” Minister of Finance Kemi
Adeosun admitted on state-owned NTA television.
Who is their leader?
This is the first armed group to emerge in the region – where most
people are poor despite the fact that it is rich in oil – since late
Nigerian President Umar Musa Yar’Adua granted amnesty to militants there
seven years ago.
At the time, militants in the region said they wanted a better deal for
their people who have suffered environmental degradation and economic
dislocation because of oil production by some of the world’s leading
firms.
Many of the militants were encouraged to drop their arms and agitation
in exchange for some cash incentives and training. Former President
Goodluck Jonathan, who comes from the Niger Delta, continued the scheme.
The amnesty programme, which provides tens of thousands of former oil
militants with a monthly stipend from the government, stemmed the level
of violence.
But in the latest budget, President Muhammadu Buhari reduced funding for
it by 70%, and has spoken of phasing it out entirely by 2018.
READ ALSO: Buhari is afraid to face Niger Delta militants? Read who will
launch Ogoni clean up
It is difficult to identify or determine who the members of the NDA are –
their Twitter handle currently has an AFP photo of a Movement for the
Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) militant taken in September 2008
as its profile picture.
Local people in the region believe members of the group are largely
elements of previous militant groups like Mend – led by Henry Okah, who
has been incarcerated in South Africa – or the Niger Delta People’s
Salvation Front led by the vocal Mujahideen Asari Dokubo. They were left
out of the government’s amnesty programme.
Many say the NDA militants are followers of former Niger Delta warlords
like Government Ekpemupolo, who has the alias Tompolo.
He signed up to the amnesty programme but has been on the run since
February, refusing to be questioned by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency
in connection with $231m (£163m) in missing government funds.
But others believe the new militants are criminal elements that want to
draw attention to themselves now that their kinsman, ex-president
Jonathan, is out of power.
Currently, it is not known who officially leads the group, although a
Col Mudoch Agbinibo has been signing press releases on behalf of the
NDA.
There are suggestions that “Mudoch” is a pseudonym, like the one-time
“Jomo Gbomo” of Mend.
Whatever perceptions people might have of the group, its activities in
the Niger Delta appear well co-ordinated with a high level of technical
expertise.
Oil production down
The NDA has stated unambiguously what it is setting out to achieve: “Our
goal is to cripple Nigeria’s economy.”
After declaring what it called “Operation Red Economy” in February, it
blew up an underwater pipeline forcing Royal Dutch Shell to shut down a
terminal which normally produces 250,000 barrels of oil a day
Last month, Shell declared a force majeure, which excuses a company from
contractual agreements because events beyond its control, on exports of
high grade crude oil after an attack on one of its trunk lines.
A few days later, US firm Chevron shut its Valve Platform following
another attack, also claimed by the Avengers.
And ahead of President Buhari’s visit to the region on Thursday, the NDA
said it had blown up two Chevron export terminals.
READ ALSO: Tompolo advised militants to cease warfare and embrace
dialogue
These attacks have dealt a huge blow to the revenue of the Nigerian
government, which says the renewed activities of the militants are
seriously affecting oil production.
In fact the country’s production has dropped to 1.65 million bpd, as
against the projected 2.2 million bpd.
The military has issued a stern warning that it will deal decisively
with any group fermenting trouble in the country, including those it has
described as “criminal elements in the Niger Delta”.
But this appears to have emboldened the Avengers into more attacks that
have had a knock-on affect on the supply of electricity that depends on
gas from the oil-producing companies.
For President Buhari, who just marked one year in office, the NDA
presents another fresh security challenge to the government which has
been grappling with Islamist insurgency in the north-east of the
country.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/847820-nigerias-newest-militants-niger-delta-avengers.html
Read more: https://www.naij.com/847820-nigerias-newest-militants-niger-delta-avengers.html
With a name that sounds like it has
come from the pages of a superhero comic book, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA)
is the latest militant group to emerge in Nigeria – attacking oil installations
in a campaign which threatens the economy of Africa’s most populous state. “We
are a group of educated and well-travelled individuals that are poised to take
the Niger Delta struggle to new heights that has never been seen in this nation
before,” the NDA proclaimed in one of their first statement’s on their website
in April. “We have well-equipped human resources to meet this goal.” It was not
an idle threat. The NDA has carried out a barrage of attacks on oil
installations in the Niger Delta region, causing a huge decline in oil
production, which is the mainstay of the West African state’s economy. “The
renewed activities of the militants in the Niger Delta are seriously affecting
our oil production,” Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun admitted on state-owned
NTA television. Who is their leader? This is the first armed group to emerge in
the region – where most people are poor despite the fact that it is rich in oil
– since late Nigerian President Umar Musa Yar’Adua granted amnesty to militants
there seven years ago. At the time, militants in the region said they wanted a
better deal for their people who have suffered environmental degradation and
economic dislocation because of oil production by some of the world’s leading
firms. Many of the militants were encouraged to drop their arms and agitation
in exchange for some cash incentives and training. Former President Goodluck
Jonathan, who comes from the Niger Delta, continued the scheme. The amnesty
programme, which provides tens of thousands of former oil militants with a
monthly stipend from the government, stemmed the level of violence. But in the
latest budget, President Muhammadu Buhari reduced funding for it by 70%, and
has spoken of phasing it out entirely by 2018. READ ALSO: Buhari is afraid to
face Niger Delta militants? Read who will launch Ogoni clean up It is difficult
to identify or determine who the members of the NDA are – their Twitter handle
currently has an AFP photo of a Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger
Delta (Mend) militant taken in September 2008 as its profile picture. Local
people in the region believe members of the group are largely elements of
previous militant groups like Mend – led by Henry Okah, who has been
incarcerated in South Africa – or the Niger Delta People’s Salvation Front led
by the vocal Mujahideen Asari Dokubo. They were left out of the government’s
amnesty programme. Many say the NDA militants are followers of former Niger
Delta warlords like Government Ekpemupolo, who has the alias Tompolo. He signed
up to the amnesty programme but has been on the run since February, refusing to
be questioned by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency in connection with $231m
(£163m) in missing government funds. But others believe the new militants are
criminal elements that want to draw attention to themselves now that their
kinsman, ex-president Jonathan, is out of power. Currently, it is not known who
officially leads the group, although a Col Mudoch Agbinibo has been signing
press releases on behalf of the NDA. There are suggestions that “Mudoch” is a
pseudonym, like the one-time “Jomo Gbomo” of Mend. Whatever perceptions people
might have of the group, its activities in the Niger Delta appear well
co-ordinated with a high level of technical expertise. Oil production down The
NDA has stated unambiguously what it is setting out to achieve: “Our goal is to
cripple Nigeria’s economy.” After declaring what it called “Operation Red
Economy” in February, it blew up an underwater pipeline forcing Royal Dutch
Shell to shut down a terminal which normally produces 250,000 barrels of oil a
day Last month, Shell declared a force majeure, which excuses a company from
contractual agreements because events beyond its control, on exports of high
grade crude oil after an attack on one of its trunk lines. A few days later, US
firm Chevron shut its Valve Platform following another attack, also claimed by
the Avengers. And ahead of President Buhari’s visit to the region on Thursday,
the NDA said it had blown up two Chevron export terminals. These attacks have
dealt a huge blow to the revenue of the Nigerian government, which says the
renewed activities of the militants are seriously affecting oil production. In
fact the country’s production has dropped to 1.65 million bpd, as against the
projected 2.2 million bpd. The military has issued a stern warning that it will
deal decisively with any group fermenting trouble in the country, including
those it has described as “criminal elements in the Niger Delta”. But this
appears to have emboldened the Avengers into more attacks that have had a
knock-on affect on the supply of electricity that depends on gas from the
oil-producing companies. For President Buhari, who just marked one year in
office, the NDA presents another fresh security challenge to the government
which has been grappling with Islamist insurgency in the north-east of the
country.
With a name that sounds like it has come from the pages of a superhero
comic book, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is the latest militant group
to emerge in Nigeria – attacking oil installations in a campaign which
threatens the economy of Africa’s most populous state.
“We are a group of educated and well-travelled individuals that are
poised to take the Niger Delta struggle to new heights that has never
been seen in this nation before,” the NDA proclaimed in one of their
first statement’s on their website in April.
“We have well-equipped human resources to meet this goal.”
It was not an idle threat. The NDA has carried out a barrage of attacks
on oil installations in the Niger Delta region, causing a huge decline
in oil production, which is the mainstay of the West African state’s
economy.
“The renewed activities of the militants in the Niger Delta are
seriously affecting our oil production,” Minister of Finance Kemi
Adeosun admitted on state-owned NTA television.
Who is their leader?
This is the first armed group to emerge in the region – where most
people are poor despite the fact that it is rich in oil – since late
Nigerian President Umar Musa Yar’Adua granted amnesty to militants there
seven years ago.
At the time, militants in the region said they wanted a better deal for
their people who have suffered environmental degradation and economic
dislocation because of oil production by some of the world’s leading
firms.
Many of the militants were encouraged to drop their arms and agitation
in exchange for some cash incentives and training. Former President
Goodluck Jonathan, who comes from the Niger Delta, continued the scheme.
The amnesty programme, which provides tens of thousands of former oil
militants with a monthly stipend from the government, stemmed the level
of violence.
But in the latest budget, President Muhammadu Buhari reduced funding for
it by 70%, and has spoken of phasing it out entirely by 2018.
READ ALSO: Buhari is afraid to face Niger Delta militants? Read who will
launch Ogoni clean up
It is difficult to identify or determine who the members of the NDA are –
their Twitter handle currently has an AFP photo of a Movement for the
Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) militant taken in September 2008
as its profile picture.
Local people in the region believe members of the group are largely
elements of previous militant groups like Mend – led by Henry Okah, who
has been incarcerated in South Africa – or the Niger Delta People’s
Salvation Front led by the vocal Mujahideen Asari Dokubo. They were left
out of the government’s amnesty programme.
Many say the NDA militants are followers of former Niger Delta warlords
like Government Ekpemupolo, who has the alias Tompolo.
He signed up to the amnesty programme but has been on the run since
February, refusing to be questioned by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency
in connection with $231m (£163m) in missing government funds.
But others believe the new militants are criminal elements that want to
draw attention to themselves now that their kinsman, ex-president
Jonathan, is out of power.
Currently, it is not known who officially leads the group, although a
Col Mudoch Agbinibo has been signing press releases on behalf of the
NDA.
There are suggestions that “Mudoch” is a pseudonym, like the one-time
“Jomo Gbomo” of Mend.
Whatever perceptions people might have of the group, its activities in
the Niger Delta appear well co-ordinated with a high level of technical
expertise.
Oil production down
The NDA has stated unambiguously what it is setting out to achieve: “Our
goal is to cripple Nigeria’s economy.”
After declaring what it called “Operation Red Economy” in February, it
blew up an underwater pipeline forcing Royal Dutch Shell to shut down a
terminal which normally produces 250,000 barrels of oil a day
Last month, Shell declared a force majeure, which excuses a company from
contractual agreements because events beyond its control, on exports of
high grade crude oil after an attack on one of its trunk lines.
A few days later, US firm Chevron shut its Valve Platform following
another attack, also claimed by the Avengers.
And ahead of President Buhari’s visit to the region on Thursday, the NDA
said it had blown up two Chevron export terminals.
READ ALSO: Tompolo advised militants to cease warfare and embrace
dialogue
These attacks have dealt a huge blow to the revenue of the Nigerian
government, which says the renewed activities of the militants are
seriously affecting oil production.
In fact the country’s production has dropped to 1.65 million bpd, as
against the projected 2.2 million bpd.
The military has issued a stern warning that it will deal decisively
with any group fermenting trouble in the country, including those it has
described as “criminal elements in the Niger Delta”.
But this appears to have emboldened the Avengers into more attacks that
have had a knock-on affect on the supply of electricity that depends on
gas from the oil-producing companies.
For President Buhari, who just marked one year in office, the NDA
presents another fresh security challenge to the government which has
been grappling with Islamist insurgency in the north-east of the
country.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/847820-nigerias-newest-militants-niger-delta-avengers.html
Read more: https://www.naij.com/847820-nigerias-newest-militants-niger-delta-avengers.html