Fresh attacks by the Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta and the continued onslaught by the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, may be difficult for the Federal Government to contain, CHUKWUDI AKASIKE writes
BEYOND the political scheming in Bayelsa State, which has presented to the people of the state, a new governor, there is the persistent problem of national insecurity. While President Goodluck Jonathan could be said to have succeeded in installing a new governor in his state, one thing that will be at the back of his mind is how to quell the upsurge of terrorism in the country he leads. To the Jonathan administration, the Boko Haram onslaught that has killed hundreds of innocent Nigerians is enough trouble that could distract him from achieving his transformation agenda.
Members of the violent Islamic sect have since last year been bombing some parts of the North, leaving Nigerians scared of the increasing level of insecurity in the country. At a point, bombs were exploding on a daily basis, leaving hundreds of people dead and property worth billions of naira destroyed. On Sunday, another bomb exploded at Christ Embassy Church, Suleja, Niger State.
While all these happened, security operatives were in the dark over what to do. Like ordinary Nigerians, the police watched in disbelief as Boko Haram members shattered hopes of many families, killing without mercy. To them, life was meaningless as they bombed churches, police stations and an army barrack.
The most daring and audacious of the gap’s attacks were the bombing of the Police Force Headquarters, the United Nations building in Abuja and the Christmas Day bombing of Saint Theresa’s Church in Madalla in Suleja, Niger State. In the Madalla blast alone, 44 members of the congregation perished as explosions rocked the Church. Also, no fewer than 10 persons were killed in bomb blasts that hit churches in Jos, the Plateau State capital and Gadaka in Gombe State.
The killings by Boko Haram continued unabated, even as security forces intensified efforts to put an end to the bestial acts. As bombs continued to go off in the northern part of the country, the sect gave a three-day ultimatum to Southerners in the North to leave the area. Shortly after, a group known as the Biafra Liberation Council retaliated by issuing a threat to those from the North residing in the southern part of the country to leave or be ready to face reprisal attacks.
The group had felt that the Boko Haram sect had singled out a particular group for slaughtering and that the only way out was to embark on a revenge mission. Not done with that, the BLC called on the Igbo in the North to start coming back home, so as to prevent them from continuing to fall prey to the antics of the Boko Haram sect.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the group, Amaechi Nwaofia, it expressed sadness over the killing of Igbo in some parts of the North by the Muslim fundamentalists despite the assurance by the Federal Government to protect non-Muslims and southerners in the region. It noted that rather than encourage the southerners to leave the northern part of the country, the government, which had been protecting the Muslims from reprisals, deceived the southerners to continue to stay in the North.
The group recalled that the National Security Adviser to the President-General, Owoye Azazi, had urged southerners residing in the North to disregard the warning by members of the Boko Haram sect to leave the North. According to BLC, between January 4 and January 7, 2012, over 50 southerners had been killed in different parts of the North by Muslim fundamentalists.
While the FG was working round the clock to unmask those behind the Boko Haram onslaught and bring them to book, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta hit a trunk line belonging to AGIP. The militant group did not stop at that, as it went ahead to issue fresh threats of bombing major oil installations and South African investments, including SACOIL and MTN. The threat against such investments, according to the group, was targeted at paying President Jacob Zuma back for “his interference in the legitimate fight against injustice in the Niger Delta.
“On Saturday the 4th of February at 1930hrs, fighters of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta attacked and destroyed the Agip trunk line at brass in Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This relatively insignificant attack is a reminder of our presence in the creeks of the Niger Delta and a sign of things to come. In this new phase of our struggle for justice, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta will pay considerable attention to dealing with security forces and traitorous indigenes of the Niger Delta.
“In this regard, MEND wishes to confirm that our fighters were responsible for the attack at Ogbobagbene in Burutu local government area of Delta State, on the compound of Minister for Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe. Our silence thus far, has been strategic and at the right time, we will reduce Nigerian oil production to zero and drive off our land, thieving oil companies.
“British Petroleum is prepared to pay $25bn compensation for the Gulf of Mexico oil spillage, yet for worse spillages in the Niger Delta; our people are paid with death at the hands of the Nigerian military. In the dark days to come, MTN, SACOIL, and other South African investments will pay a heavy price for the interference of Jacob Zuma in the legitimate fight for justice in the Niger Delta, by its people. The South African President has reduced himself to the position of a hired thug for Goodluck Jonathan,” the MEND’s statement read.
But in a swift reaction, MTN Nigeria Limited, called on the Federal Government to protect its facilities nationwide. The General Manager, Corporate Communications of MTN Nigeria, Funmi Omogbenigun, had said that matters relating to security were the responsibility of government, even as she expressed optimism that the threat from MEND would be given the necessary attention by government.
There is no doubt that MEND’s readiness for fresh hostilities is a source of worry to the Presidency. But the FG had repeatedly said it was open to dialogue if the radical groups, including Boko Haram, would come out and state their grievances. But the militant groups (MEND and Boko Haram) appeared not to be ready for an amicable resolution of whatever their agitations were with the FG.
The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, insisted that government was ready for dialogue, but not with faceless persons or groups. “Anyone or group that is disenchanted with the situation in the Niger Delta is free to come forward. The government has not at anytime shut the door for dialogue. Indeed, this government under President Goodluck Jonathan has clearly shown that it has the capacity to listen and act in the greater good of the citizenry,” Kuku, who spoke through his Media Assistant, Mr. Henry Ugbolue, was quoted as saying.
Worried by the recent attack on an oil installation belonging to AGIP, youths in Niger Delta appealed to MEND to have a rethink and embrace peace. The youths explained that MEND’s resumption of bombings was not in the interest of the people of the oil-producing region, adding that the fresh attack on a trunk line belonging to AGIP was condemnable.
Speaking under the aegis of the Niger Delta Youth Parliament, they urged MEND to support President Goodluck Jonathan in achieving his promise of transforming the country. The group’s National Coordinator, Mr. Imoh Okoko, who spoke with THE PUNCH, urged the Niger Delta militant group not to join members of the Boko Haram sect to distract the President
Okoko, however, called on the FG to show more commitment to the development of the Niger Delta region. He urged the government to begin a process of organising a dialogue with the militant group with a view to addressing the issues they (MEND) had raised in their statement.
On the solution to the spate of insecurity in the country, Okoko reiterated the need for the FG to convene a Sovereign National Conference. According to him, the SNC will also address the issues raised by the Niger Delta militant group and members of the Boko Haram sect. Apart from the NDYP, other well-meaning groups in the region have also called on MEND to embrace peace.
The groups are of the view that the government needs total concentration to be able to achieve its goals for the country. The twin threat from Boko Haram and MEND could pose a big distraction to the current administration. A Port Harcourt-based public analyst, Mr. Joe Ikhide, alluded to that fact when he said that it would be difficult for a government to attain any development height in a crisis situation. Ikhide noted that the current threat from MEND could worsen the security situation in the country.
Ikhide said, “Both Boko Haram and MEND are two deadly groups that should not be allowed to continue to strike.” He urged the FG to begin negotiations with them to ensure peace.
