Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lagos (Agenzia Fides) – There continues to be attacks on the Nigerian oil installations being carried out by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which on September 14 declared an authentic “oil war” with the goal of sabotaging the oil rigging activity in the area.
Recent MEND attacks on the oil ducts and rigs in the Delta region have already led to the deaths of at least 100 people and a daily setback of 115,000 barrels of oil. The movement has also expressed its intention to extend its attacks outside the Delta region, threatening areas that up until now had been left unharmed.
In addition, MEND and other groups, who use their name but only have criminal purposes, continue kidnapping personnel working in the international oil companies in the Delta area.
MEND began appearing in 2006, claiming that their activity was an effort to protect the interests of the local population, which receives a very small percentage of the oil profits, and suffer the consequences of oil extraction (contamination of the environment, damages in the fishing and agriculture, etc.). MEND is too well-organized to be a mere movement for local interests. In June, for example, an oil rig at 120 kilometers from the coast was attacked. The guerrillas also have a “press office” that issues statements via e-mail to Western news agencies. Between 2007-2008, Nigeria has lost almost one-fourth of its daily oil production from MEND attacks. It has also been one of the main reasons, experts say, that the fuel prices have risen in recent months. The “oil war” being declared by the guerrillas is a real economic war that goes beyond Nigerian borders and contributes to “maintaining” the cost of oil high, after the recent lowering in prices. And the question arises: Are there external forces financing guerrillas in the Delta? (LM) (Agenzia Fides 17/9/2008)
