LANCEGUARDS- UPDATE

Soldiers Raid Communities in Search of Militants

The Joint Task Force on the Niger Delta yesterday raided villages bordering the Tora Manifold along the Nembe Creek in search of militants who killed three naval officers in a recent attack.
The raid on the villages followed the expiration of the 72- hour ultimatum given the people to produce the killers or face the wrath of the military.
Also yesterday daredevil militants operating along the creeks of the Niger Delta once again attacked the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) facility, where three naval men were killed last week, blowing up a pipeline and causing heavy oil spillage.
THISDAY gathered that the militants, even before the commencement of the military operation, in a daring move, invaded the same facility despite heavy military presence and blow up the pipelines through which all oil evacuated from oil wells are taken to the Bonny Terminal.
It would be recalled that the Military High Command ordered the immediate invasion of the area where the naval ratings on guard duties at the Tora flow station were killed and fish out the killers. All effort to confirm the attack on the manifold from relevant authorities proved abortive as at 8.00 pm yesterday.
but a steady stream of people who claimed their communities have been invaded by soldiers continued to enter Yenagoa as at yesterday evening. Others claimed that the heavy presence of the soldiers along the creeks and rivers leading to their communities force them to flee to safety. Contacted, the Commander of the Joint Task Force in Yenagoa, Lt. Col. Chris Musa denied both the attack and the invasion. According to him, the military only went to the area to replace the house boat that was destroyed in the attack that killed the three naval ratings. Musa in a reply to a text message sent to him wrote, “I just spoke to my source. The destroyed house boat was removed today and replaced with a new one. No explosive around the area reported.” The Commander was however silent on the reported sacking of communities by soldiers.

Gunmen in speedboats kidnapped three foreign workers from an offshore oilfield in Nigeria which was preparing to restart after being closed for 20 months due to an earlier attack, security sources said on Sunday.

The three men, thought to be a Croat, a Russian and an English speaker from the United States or Britain, were taken after a three-hour gunfight with troops from a support vessel at the EA field, operated by Royal Dutch Shell.

A Shell spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

“There was a long drawn out battle and three were taken from a support vessel,” a security source at an oil company said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The abduction is a major setback to Shell’s plans to resume production from the western Niger Delta after a series of militant attacks in February 2006 forced the company to reduce output by 477,000 barrels per day.

Before this attack the EA field, which pumped 115,000 barrels per day before it was shut, had been expected to resume operations by the middle of 2008.

A leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State and chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) of the Kokori community, Mr. Benjamin Ojijevwe, has been killed under questionable circumstances in Warri by policemen attached to the Eagle Eye Squad, a special anti-robbery squad of the Delta State Police Command.

The suspicious killing of Ojijevwe who was also the head of the community vigilance corps generated tension, weekend, in the community. He was arrested in Kokori town, last month, by the police on allegation of robbery and was whisked away to Warri along with four others after three guns belonging to the vigilance group and other items were found in his house.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Banawi Ishaku, confirmed the death of Ojijevwe when contacted by Vanguard, weekend, but said the politician made useful confessions to the police in the course of investigations into his robbery escapades, escaped from the vehicle in which he was being taken to the hideout of his gang by the police, and was shot in the process. He added that the corpse had been deposited in the mortuary.

Vanguard called the Commissioner of Police severally and sent text messages to his cell phone at the weekend but he did not respond. The head of the anti-robbery squad who picked his call said he was not authorized to speak to the press.
Independent investigation by Vanguard, however, showed that there was more to it than meet the eyes in the killing of the politician. Already, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hezekiah Dimka, said to be incensed by the development, had, purportedly, summoned the members of the squad to Asaba to explain their role in the matter.

“A discreet investigation is going on over the killing of the CDC chairman. The Commissioner is not happy with the development, which is the only thing I can tell you now”, a police officer confided to Vanguard, yesterday.
We gathered that there was a delicate power play between the late CDC chairman and an influential leader, a chief in the town, who is the boss of a construction company over the leadership of the community and money accruing from oil royalties to the town.

The late Ojijevwe who took over from a loyalist of the said de facto leader discovered an unconfirmed fraud of about N36 million involving the oil money paid to the community, and insisted he should account for the money. The matter generated a heated row in the community, as the deceased refused all entreaties to forget the matter.

Vanguard learnt that the leader of the opposing faction threatened to deal with him, and few days after, the anti-robbery squad was told that he was an armed robber. The squad stormed the community, last month, and met Ojijevwe while he was holding a meeting with members of his executive. He was told the purpose of the visit and that they would want to search his house. He reportedly told them that he had three licensed guns in his house, belonging to the community’s vigilance corps, which he was the chairman and where they were kept in his house.

The police recovered the three guns, allegedly, with the inscription, ““Kokori Vigilance Group”” on them but knowing that it was a frame up and the source it was coming from, Ojijevwe told the police that he was not an armed robber, and told the policemen that one of his accusers was actually sponsoring armed robbers, and that if they go immediately to his house before information filter to him, they would find his guns.

Our source said the policemen reluctantly went to the said house, recovered two pump action guns and arrested the owner, who is a member of the other faction. The de facto leader arranged some community leaders who signed papers to say that the guns were owned by the community, and he was released.

The deceased and four others in his group were left to languish in detention until four of them were released following overwhelming pressures on the squad, leaving Ojijevwe behind. The squad rebuffed the moves to release him even when a higher authority was contacted.

Last Tuesday, 2 October, loyalists of the chief were celebrating that the Ojijevwe had been summarily executed by the police. The stunned family raised the alarm, and the squad, initially, denied that it was not true but the police owned up later, saying that he was shot dead when he jumped down from a pick up van in which he was being taken to a supposed robbers’’ hideout.

Part of the puzzles the people want Commissioner Dimka to unravel are: How Ojijevwe who was handcuffed and surrounded by policemen was able to jump down from a police pick up van and escape, while the policemen, instead of pursuing him, opted to shoot him dead; why the member of the rival faction in the leadership tussle in Kokori community who was arrested with two pump action guns was released; the whereabouts of the two pump action guns that were recovered from him; were the guns found in the house of the deceased actually licensed as he claimed; who is the leader involved in the alleged N36 million oil money scam; and what did the police do concerning the allegation by the late Ojijevwe that he was framed up by the said chief, who, in the past few days, has been making frenzied efforts through some persons to compensate the family and foot the burial expenses of the deceased?

How gunmen opened fire on Tuface
•Blow-by-blow account of attack
•He is hale and hearty, says kid brother Hyacinth
By Sun News Publishing
Sunday, October 7, 2007

•Tuface
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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In the face of adversity and threat to his own life, Tuface Ididia, the award winning pop star, reportedly displayed rare courage last Thursday as he stood between vicious gunmen, yet he acted to save his pal.

The gunmen had attacked him Thursday night along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, precisely at Cele Bus stop.
Even as bullets smashed into his left thigh, the Nigerian pop star, who just returned from the UK after clinching the award for the ‘Best African Act of The Year,’ displayed raw bravery and courage in the face of adversity.

Ifeanyi Orji, elder brother to Faze, who also doubles as his manager, recounted to Sunday Sun, last night in Lagos, how split second timing and raw courage, on the part of the singer galvanised him into action when the assailants opened fire on them.
“It was at Cele Bus stop. We were in light traffic, ‘ free styling’, a song he was writing, when I saw a couple of guys get down from the car next to us.

‘Open the door!’ I heard the command from one of the assailants, and the blood froze in my veins! What was happening? I was rooted to my seat like a statue. The next thing I heard was boom! boom! The glass shattered. I thought I was dead! Then I heard Tuface’s voice calling “Odogwu, move! Get out of the car!” I don’t know how I did it. I just saw myself running and stumbling and running.

“Suddenly I discovered that he was behind me, panting, asking, ‘’are you okay!’ Despite his wounds, he was still asking about my state. I reached out to support him as we staggered on. It was like watching a James Bond movie but in this case, we were the actors! “
They would later be rescued by a van carrying pure water and taken to Cedar Hospital in Festac Town, where they were all admitted.

It was in the bus that they discovered that they were wounded and bleeding: “I discovered that he was bleeding. When he noticed my blood soaked T-shirt, he cried out, ‘Odogwu, are you okay! He thought I was shot in the stomach. He forgets all his pain and was asking after me. I was touched. I was scared like a fool. Tuface was bold and confident! He was the reason why I fled the car. It was his voice that made me run for dear life.”

Hycent Idibia, younger brother of the singer and a member of the music duo, Da Natives, whose current single, ‘Love You Better’ is making waves on TV, reassured Nigerians of his brothers state of health: “he is hail and hearty and in very high spirits. I want to use this opportunity to debunk reports in certain sections of the media that he was in critical condition. I spoke to him five minutes ago and I can authoritatively tell you that he is in excellent health condition. He should be back with us in a couple of days.

“I was waiting for the arrival of my brother, chilling when I heard the news. I was like, ‘what kind of news is that? Less than an hour earlier, they had called and told me that they were on the way. I was dazed. I couldn’t believe it. He was shot! I drove like a madman to Cedar Hospital, almost knocking down people. People were screaming, madman! I just did not care.”

However, he said that when he met him at the hospital, Tuface was calm.
He laughed and said, ‘Na wa-o HI, bad boys shoot me.’ Despite his pain, he still could make a joke about his situation. He kept smiling and reassuring me.”

Contrary to speculations, HI insisted that his elder brother was not in any danger or critical condition: He is as fit as a fiddle. He was never in danger of losing his life. The darkest moment is over, I was relieved.”
On speculations that hired assassins attacked him, he said: “It could be a robbery attack or set up, I don’t know. All I know is that I am happy that he is alive and God would always protect him.”
Decrying the state of security in the country he said: “The security situation is terrible. This is the second time it is happening. The police should concentrate more on protecting lives and property rather than harassing people in the name of stop and search.”

JTF, Mend Trade Accusation over Saipem’s Raid

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), has alleged that the attack on Saipem, an Italian oil servicing firm where a Columbian was killed was carried out by some soldiers, in collaboration with some militants, to get ransom. Reacting to the allegation yesterday, Spokesman of the Joint Military Task Force in Rivers State, Major Musa Sagir, denied the allegation, describing it as unthinkable and said “those benefiting from the poor security situation in the state have embarked on a smear campaign.
“A statement online by MEND said the position arose from an investigation which revealed that the soldiers with their collaborators, latched on to their threat last week to resume hostilities to launch the attack.
The militants had denied any involvement in the attack, pointing out that any time they launch an attack anywhere, they will be bold enough to own up.
The statement further alleged that there was summary execution of some soldiers from the Southern part of the country, for allegedly having sympathy for the Niger Delta cause and therefore, were tagged spies. “Information reaching MEND indicates that the Saipem attack of Thursday, September 27, 2007 was carried out by some renegade soldiers, in collaboration with some criminal gangs who wanted to exploit our statement declaring anend to the cease-fire.
“MEND sympathises with family of the Colombian whowas killed during the attack. Two weeks ago, in an unrelated incident, some soldiers attached to the joint task force weresecretly executed in Port Harcourt by the NigerianArmy. The men, from southern Nigeria, were accused of being spies sympathetic to militants in the vanguard of the emancipation struggle. This extra-judicial killing by the military is another indication of its frustration in the fight against justice in the Niger Delta and the absence of the rule of law. Foreigners are now labeled and arrested as spies, just because they want to expose thetruth to the outside world.
“Recently, two Germans and an American were arrested for spying,” they said.On the allegation of the summary execution, Musa saidit was out of military tradition, as there were processes to be followed when a soldier goes against his expectations in the line of duty and dismissed it as the position of one not familiar with the military tradition.He reminded MEND that they were in a civilian regime where due process and rule of law cannot be compromised, talk less of executing people for the purpose they alleged, insisting that no such thing happened.

SSS Frees Detained German Journalists

The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Joachim Schmillen, has disclosed that the two German journalists arrested by the State Security Service (SSS) last week have been released to the embassy.
The two were arrested along with another Briton on the suspicion of espionage and terrorism.
But in a chat with some journalists over the weekend at his residence, the Ambassador said the arrested journalists were handed over to him by officials of the SSS and thanked the government for its understanding over the case.
“I must have to thank the security service for their understanding. The two German in question are journalist doing legitimate jobs in the region before they were picked up by the men of the SSS. I am happy that they have been handed over to us,” he said.
Schmillen who touched other sundry issues said the German government would continue to convince German multinational companies, especially those in the areas of renewable energy, gas, agriculture and manufacturing, to come and invest in Nigeria as there are business opportunities in the country.
He put the trade relations between both countries at 1.3 billion Euros in favour of Germany and over 800 million Euros on the side of Nigeria.
He promised to work with his home government to ensure that there is remarkable increase in the existing trade relations, especially in the areas where greater business opportunities exist.
The envoy disclosed further that a delegation of top German businessmen would be visiting g Nigeria in October with a view to exploring possible areas of investments in the country. The delegation he said would be led by top German government officials.

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Police uncover illegal armoury in Rivers

AN illegal armory in Beere community, Khana Local Government Area has been uncovered by the Rivers State Police Command.
In an online statement to the Vanguard, the state Police PRO, Mrs. Baresua Ireju, said the following items were recovered when they raided the place.
“75 rounds of 5.56mm Beretta ammunition; 8 rounds of 7.62mm Lar ammunition; 47 rounds of 7.0mm Brownie ammunition; one empty magazine of AK47 rifle; one locally-made revolver pistol; 7 rounds with 3 rounds of ammunition; one detached single barrel shot gun; five cartridges; one dark blue unregistered Mazda 323 Wagon car; one rocaffela bar and super store identity card as well as a driver’s licence both bearing the name of one Emmanuel Barinua; one green Mobile Police trousers; one original/photocopy of particulars of a Nissan car belonging to one one Army Captain of Ibereco Barracks, Badagry, Lagos.
The statement continued that the police was making efforts to arrest those behind the crime.

Kidnapped pastor buried alive!

N-Delta militant leader beheaded
EMMA AMAIZE Warri

THE leader of a Niger Delta militant group, “the lord of the land”, operating at Ughelli, Delta State, which kidnapped a pastor of the Faith Assembly Prophetic Ministry from the pulpit, August 26, has been beheaded and two of his boys put to death by an irate youth faction that took the gauntlet and invaded the den of the militants over the reign of horror the group had visited on their fellow citizens.

Cold spasm, however, ran through the residents, weekend, following a shocking disclosure that the pastor, whose aged mother suffered stroke as a result of his abduction, was allegedly buried alive, few days after his abduction in a grave dug by the cold-blooded gunmen.

The pastor was believed to have been killed by the militant group to cover its tracks when it was discovered that they kidnapped the wrong person and releasing him alive would lead to the exposure of the members and their hideout.

Delta State commissioner of police, Mr. Hezekiah Dimka, told Sunday Vanguard when contacted, yesterday, on whether the police had located the remains of the pastor, that he had not received the update on the matter and promised to make information available later. It was, on the other hand, gathered that homicide detectives from the Police Headquarters, Asaba brought two of the militants, already in police net in connection with the alleged death of the pastor to Ughelli, last Friday, to show them where the victim’s remains were buried.

The family of the pastor had, last week, sent a save our soul (SOS) message to the governor of Delta state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Oliseh Imeagwu, to assist them in securing the release of their son, who had not been seen since he was seized in the church while preaching on the said day.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the militant leader who “ruled” Ughelli with an iron fist was hired by a chief in the area to kidnap the spiritual leader of the said church for purportedly foretelling that he (chief) was not capable of putting his wife in the family way, a development that made the wife to desert him but when the gunmen who did not know the spiritual leader face-to-face got to the Lord’s sanctuary, they kidnapped the pastor who they saw delivering a sermon, believing that he was their target.

The cup of the militant leader, whose group killed a soldier attached to the Joint Task Force in the Niger-Delta, last year, a situation that enraged the Task Force, which wanted to deploy soldiers in the area but for the intervention of the state government, got filled when in the wake of a festival in the community, last week, he imposed a levy on the residents and ordered them to pay homage to him. His group threatened to deal with any citizen who flouted the directive and hundreds of panic-stricken residents fled the town.

A faction of youths in the town, some of them believed to be former members of the group, which could no longer stomach the horrific escapades of the militant leader, stormed his base and, for two days, it was a running battle, following which he was overpowered and beheaded. Two of his men were killed and others fled.

Nevertheless, the police arrested at Ekiugbo, last Wednesday, two members of the gang who, on interrogation, squealed that they were responsible for the kidnap of the pastor and that he was dead. They confessed that their actual target was the bishop of the church and that their boss was hired by a chief to kidnap the man of God that prophesied that the chief was incapable of impregnating his wife. Sources said that the militant leader and the chief were related.

Sunday Vanguard could not reach the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Ughelli “B” Division, Mr. Adamu Dandujah, yesterday, but a police source hinted that the two suspects had since been transferred to the Police Headquarters, Asaba and that it was from Asaba that they were brought to Ughelli to show the police where the pastor’s remains were buried.

Kidnapped pastor buried alive!

N-Delta militant leader beheaded
EMMA AMAIZE Warri

THE leader of a Niger Delta militant group, “the lord of the land”, operating at Ughelli, Delta State, which kidnapped a pastor of the Faith Assembly Prophetic Ministry from the pulpit, August 26, has been beheaded and two of his boys put to death by an irate youth faction that took the gauntlet and invaded the den of the militants over the reign of horror the group had visited on their fellow citizens.

Cold spasm, however, ran through the residents, weekend, following a shocking disclosure that the pastor, whose aged mother suffered stroke as a result of his abduction, was allegedly buried alive, few days after his abduction in a grave dug by the cold-blooded gunmen.

The pastor was believed to have been killed by the militant group to cover its tracks when it was discovered that they kidnapped the wrong person and releasing him alive would lead to the exposure of the members and their hideout.

Delta State commissioner of police, Mr. Hezekiah Dimka, told Sunday Vanguard when contacted, yesterday, on whether the police had located the remains of the pastor, that he had not received the update on the matter and promised to make information available later. It was, on the other hand, gathered that homicide detectives from the Police Headquarters, Asaba brought two of the militants, already in police net in connection with the alleged death of the pastor to Ughelli, last Friday, to show them where the victim’s remains were buried.

The family of the pastor had, last week, sent a save our soul (SOS) message to the governor of Delta state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Oliseh Imeagwu, to assist them in securing the release of their son, who had not been seen since he was seized in the church while preaching on the said day.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the militant leader who “ruled” Ughelli with an iron fist was hired by a chief in the area to kidnap the spiritual leader of the said church for purportedly foretelling that he (chief) was not capable of putting his wife in the family way, a development that made the wife to desert him but when the gunmen who did not know the spiritual leader face-to-face got to the Lord’s sanctuary, they kidnapped the pastor who they saw delivering a sermon, believing that he was their target.

The cup of the militant leader, whose group killed a soldier attached to the Joint Task Force in the Niger-Delta, last year, a situation that enraged the Task Force, which wanted to deploy soldiers in the area but for the intervention of the state government, got filled when in the wake of a festival in the community, last week, he imposed a levy on the residents and ordered them to pay homage to him. His group threatened to deal with any citizen who flouted the directive and hundreds of panic-stricken residents fled the town.

A faction of youths in the town, some of them believed to be former members of the group, which could no longer stomach the horrific escapades of the militant leader, stormed his base and, for two days, it was a running battle, following which he was overpowered and beheaded. Two of his men were killed and others fled.

Nevertheless, the police arrested at Ekiugbo, last Wednesday, two members of the gang who, on interrogation, squealed that they were responsible for the kidnap of the pastor and that he was dead. They confessed that their actual target was the bishop of the church and that their boss was hired by a chief to kidnap the man of God that prophesied that the chief was incapable of impregnating his wife. Sources said that the militant leader and the chief were related.

Sunday Vanguard could not reach the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Ughelli “B” Division, Mr. Adamu Dandujah, yesterday, but a police source hinted that the two suspects had since been transferred to the Police Headquarters, Asaba and that it was from Asaba that they were brought to Ughelli to show the police where the pastor’s remains were buried.

Dokubo dismisses threat by MEND

The leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujahadin Asari-Dokubo, on Tuesday dismissed recent threats by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta to resume attacks on oil installations and abduction of foreign oil workers in the region.

Speaking on the security situation in the volatile region, Asari-Dokubo denied that Henry Okah, alias Jomo Gbomo, was the leader of MEND.
He described Okah as a criminal, who had exploited the Niger Delta struggle for his selfish goals.
The NDPVF boss said that Okah was never among those who initiated the Niger Delta struggle.
Asari-Dokubo added that MEND did not have the men to carry out any significant attack in the region.
He said, ”Henry Okah does not know anything about the formation of the movement. He was only approached by somebody who is close to us and somebody who was supplying us arms to fight for my release and that of Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
“Because some people were afraid that their emails could be traced, we had to make releases from South Africa so that it would be safer for them to get to the international media.
”Henry Okah is an arms’ dealer. The government of South Africa is aware, the government of Nigeria is aware. He has been carrying several passports. This issue has been in the public domain since.”

News & Security Updates

Monarch’s Son Kidnapped, N50m Ransom Demanded

Kidnappers struck again in Port Harcourt, taking 13- year-old Echemadu Eke, son of Eze Gbakagbaka of Evo Kingdom, His Majesty, Frank Eke, while on his way to school, demanding N50 million ransom.

The boy, who attends Bereton Secondary School, Mgbueshilari, was accosted by the kidnappers and taken away.

When THISDAY called the monarch, he sounded distraught and insisted that he can talk on any other subject apart from the kidnap.

The kidnap of Echemadu is the third case of kidnap in two weeks in the city, where the Joint Task Force have since taken over security since the inter-cult clashes paralysed social and economic activities.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Felix Ogbaudu, while confirming the story said that they have mobilised their men, while the SSS has also thrown its dragnet to ensure that the boy was released.

Ogbaudu said the boy lived in the village and was not staying with his father in the palace. He went to school in public transport in the morning and in the evening when he was supposed to come back home, he was not seen and the search for him started,” he said

Sources said the State Security Services (SSS) hastaken over investigation and is making progress.

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Militants threaten to attack oil installations

The Nigerian oil industry stands the risk of militant attacks very soon if the Federal Government fails to repeal the Land Use Decree and some other laws that entirely withhold ownership of natural resources from the people of the Niger Delta.

A militant group, the Grand Alliance of the Niger Delta, which issued this threat on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, also said it would target the Rivers State Government House and the homes of selected people of Rivers State for destruction if the state government went on with its plan “to displace people that live on the waterfronts in Port Harcourt.”

Addressing journalists on behalf of the organisation, its President-General, Abiye Toru, and the Secretary-General, Samuel Ebiye, said the Niger Delta issue had gone beyond the era of negotiations as several negotiations had been held without progress.

They said they had no confidence in the upcoming presidential Niger Delta stakeholders’ forum which they said would be attended by the wrong people, whom they accused of being responsible for the current predicament of the region.

“Mr. President knows what to do to repeal these laws that have enslaved us. We cannot be going for stakeholders meetings when we still have all these obnoxious laws. We don’t want to negotiate,” they said.