Sun Jul, 05 2009

By Tobi Smith

Nigeria’s main militant group, Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) said on Sunday that it attacked and destroyed a Royal Dutch Shell Facility in Rivers State.

This attack is it’s third after the group’s rejection of an offer of Amnesty from the Nigerian government.

In a statement emailed to to Thetimesofnigeria.com, MEND said it has attacked “Shell Well Head 20, located at Cawthorn Channel 1 today, July 05, 2009 at about 0300 Hrs leaving total destruction in it's wake. The facility connects to the Bonny loading terminal in Rivers state.”

“For the JTF to deny that HRM Isaac Thikan, the traditional ruler they abducted is not in their custody should be a worrisome development and may be a confirmation that he has been actually killed. Time will tell.

“Hurricane Moses is unique. It will combine dialogue in tandem with phased attacks that increase in intensity until its goal has been achieved. 

“This strategy was approved by Jehovah when He commanded Moses and Aaron to verbally convince a stubborn Pharaoh  to free the people of Israel from years of bondage and at the same time taking actions to ensure compliance.

“Aaron represents the various groups and individuals that will be doing all the talking on our behalf because we speak with faltering lips.

“MEND wishes to disown the elders claiming to speak on our behalf at this time and that includes Chief E.K.Clark.

“At the appropriate time, we will be putting together a team of notable Nigerians drawn from every tribe in the Niger Delta and some others outside the region to represent the group.

“Let Northern Nigeria keep the political positions they desperately crave for, and retain Egypt built from the resources and detriment of the Niger Delta. But one thing they must let go this time is our freedom, which is fiscal federalism.

“The plague of attacks which first started in late 2005 can only intensify until the stubborn, greedy, arrogant and wicked Nigerian Pharaohs that have held the Niger Delta and its people captive for 50 years will have no other choice than to let my people go.” The statement concluded.

Shell said on Tuesday that the latest attacks -- which had largely focused on the western Niger Delta -- have slashed output from its onshore facilities to 140,000 barrels per day (bpd), around half of what it was producing earlier this year.