AFRICA/NIGERIA - Niger Delta: lethal mix of petroleum, arms and drugs, (en route for Europe)

Wednesday, 25 July 2007

Port Harcourt (Agenzia Fides)- Arms and drugs. This lethal combination, added to the problem of unequal distribution of local oil proceeds, is throwing into chaos and anarchy the Niger Delta region where most of Nigeria's oil reserves are found. Attacks on oil installations in the area are the order of the day, often with the abduction of foreign technicians working there. Less known is the violence against civilians in the region overrun by youth gangs, by now fully armed militia groups.
The problem has existed for some years and grows daily worse. In 2004 a report by Royal Dutch Shell, the principal oil multinational operating in Nigeria, estimated that a thousand, mostly young people, were killed every year in the region in clashes between rival militia groups. Since 2004 the situation has grown worse. The delinquent gangs have become bolder and even dare to attack police stations to free their members in custody there.
These gangs control all illegal activity: extortion, blackmail, oil stealing and hostage taking of oil workers for ransom. Petroleum is stolen and then sold to small oil dealers. The money gained serves to buy ever more sophisticated weapons. In recent years drug trafficking has entered the scene. According to local police investigation some of the most atrocious acts of violence are now connected with trafficking of drugs which arrive in the Delta in increasing quantities. The instability of the Delta region draws drug traffickers who see it as a safe haven from serious police activity, for the transit of cocaine from Latin America en route for Europe, its final destination. However part of the merchandise is sold on the local market and helps feed the violence. Cocaine, eliminating inhibitors, brings militia to commit unspeakable violence against civilians. The recent kidnapping of a young child by the bandits demanding ransom for the child's release is a demonstration of the barbarisation of the gangs.
Drug trafficking in Africa will be the subject of a Fides Dossier in August. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 25/7/2007 righe 32 parole 397)


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