The Niger Delta Avengers by Reuben Abati

Niger Delta Avengers is the name of a new group of militants in the Niger Delta who claim to be different from the former agitators and militants who operated between 2006 and 2009, largely under the umbrella of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). The title of this group may well serve as the thematic and definitive umbrella for the resurgence of low-level insurgency in the Niger Delta, for in the last month alone, more groups have joined the NDA to wage war against oil installations, the Buhari government, and the Nigerian state. These include the Isoko Liberation Movement and the Red Egbesu Water Lions. The groups are working in concert with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by detained Nnamdi Kanu.

Delta police parade kidnappers’ of Clark’s son

kidnappers-of-clark's-son

ASABA—DELTA State Commissioner of Police Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, yesterday, paraded the suspected kidnappers of Chief E. K. Clark’s son, Mr. Ebikeme Clark at the state police headquarters, Asaba.
He said the command was seriously worried over the whereabouts of some members of the kidnap gang that carried out the operation, which he described as “extremely dangerous.”
According to him, “other gang members still at large include Timi, Abel, Ndamaw, and Jacob.

FG TO LAUNCH COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME TO DRASTICALLY CURB CRUDE OIL THEFT

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan said Sunday at The Hague that the Federal Government has earmarked one billion U.S Dollars for the implementation of a comprehensive programme to check crude oil theft, the vandalism of oil and gas infrastructure, and the apprehension and prosecution of crude oil thieves.

 Speaking at separate meetings with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr. Mark Rutte and the Chief Executive Officer of Shell International, Mr. Ben van Beurden, President Jonathan said that a technical committee has already been set up to look into all aspects of the implementation of the programme.
 This, the President said, will include further action to enhance the security of pipelines and other oil industry infrastructure, resolve community-related issues, boost youth empowerment in oil-producing areas and enhance the commitment of oil companies to the discharge of their corporate social responsibilities.

Police kills two NSCDC officials, shoot five

Gabriel Adaji

Policemen in Ikorodu area of Lagos State have been accused of killing two officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
It was learnt that five other NSCDC officials sustained gun shot wounds during the incident which occurred around midnight.
Reliable sources at the NSCDC told our correspondent that the slain officials, Gabriel Adaji and Innocent Akegbe, were on duty with their colleagues when they had an altercation with the police.
A senior NSCDC official, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said, "Around midnight, a team of NSCDC officials had just arrested some suspected vandals during a raid.
Punch
 

Nigeria gunmen storm oil ship - two dead, four kidnapped

Gunmen in Nigeria have stormed a Dutch oil barge off the coast, killing two Nigerian navy sailors and kidnapping four foreigners, a naval officer says.

The navy has joined the search for the gunmen off the Niger Delta. Two navy sailors, among a group providing security, were wounded in the raid.
The foreigners are from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Iran.
Attacks in the Niger Delta have declined since a 2009 amnesty for militants ended years of conflict.
The ship that was attacked belongs to Sea Trucks Group.