More warships head for N’Delta

More warships head for N’Delta
By ONYEDI OJIABOR and SOLA ADEBAYO
Published: Sunday, 29 Jun 2008
TO further tighten the noose on Niger Delta militants, more sophisticated weapons ordered by the authorities are soon to arrive the country to complement existing security network in the oil-rich area.

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Photo file
Warship, insets, Gen. Andrew Owoeye-Azazi & Vice-Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye

Specifically, the Navy has ordered more warships from abroad in its renewed bid to fortify the area against the activities of militants.

Already, two warships, NNS Ologbo and NNS Nwamba, are on surveillance in the area following the recent acts of sabotage by the militants, leading to a loss of huge oil revenues by the country.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta claimed responsibility for the attack on Bonga, an offshore oil facility, with the attendant loss of about 200,000 bpd.

The importation of the warships is among the fresh security measures of the Navy to complement the entire military operations under the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta.

The Navy is articulating new security measures aimed at flushing out militants from the region, especially on the high seas.

A competent source told our correspondent on Friday that part of the measures included the immediate acquisition of a 31-metre seaward defence boat and 17 metre Mantra class patrol boat.

Apart from other unique features, a seaward boat has the complements of anti-aircraft guns.

The source told our correspondent that the warships would be deployed in improving security in the Niger Delta region as soon as they arrived.

The Director of Naval Information, Capt. Henry Babalola, confirmed the order for the importation of the military hardware.

He said the 31 metre defence boat would be acquired from Australia, while the 17 metre mantra class boat would be imported from Malaysia.

He said that the navy had also sealed arrangements to procure some weapons from Singapore.

Babalola said the defence boats would arrive in the country before the end of August and immediately be in the inventory of the Nigerian Navy.

He said that a navy delegation was currently in Malaysia as a follow up to the visit of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye, earlier in the year.

The naval spokesman also said that talks had reached an advanced stage for the acquisition of off-shore tatrol vessels (OPVs).

Babalola, however, noted that despite the weapon acquisition, “no sane government will let loose its military on the citizens.”

He said, “We have rules of engagement. We are not fighting a full-scale war in the Niger Delta region. So it has always been a no-win situation for us because no sane government would let loose its military on the citizens.”

Babalola, who insisted that militants’ activities in the high sea were on the decrease, said the high profile attack on Shell Petroleum Development Company Bonga oilfield, gave a wrong impression about the true situation.

He, however, said that it was not the responsibility of the Navy to provide security for Bonga oilfield.

He noted that SPDC whose duty it was to secure Bonga contracted the function to a private body.

The navy, he said, maintains presence around the Bonga just like at other oil installations in the high sea as a pre-emptive action.

On the day of the attack, he said a naval ship was at another location.

He said that more attention should be paid to the protection of the sea since the life of the nation depended on it.

He asked, “If we say we are a maritime nation, what kind of attention are we paying to the sea? Nigerian Government and stakeholders should pay more attention to the sea in the interest of the country.”

Residents, who fear that they might be entangled in the crossfire between the federal troops and the militias, have opted for a safe haven in the cities.

The panic-gripped people of the coastal communities in Bayelsa, Delta and Ondo States trooped into Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, the oil community of Warri and Akure, the capital of Ondo State, in speed boats on a daily basis.

A nervous resident of a riverine community, Mr. Patrick Temewei, who arrived McIver Jetty, Warri on Friday morning, gave a brief account of the general fear in the coastal areas of the region shortly after President Umaru Yar’Adua, ordered a military operation to deal with militancy and criminality in the area.

He said, ”Gunboats are everywhere in the river and nobody is sure about the plans of the military. The people in the riverside communities are living in fear and a lot of them have fled the area. The few of them remaining there are eager to come to the cities.

“The people are afraid that the military may launch attacks on the militants anytime from now and there is apprehension that innocent persons may suffer from such attacks.”

Meanwhile, tension has heightened in the region following the sudden increased presence of security operatives under Operation Restore Hope, along the waterways and creeks.

The anxiety stems from the saturation of the coastal communities, hosting strategic oil platforms in the region with the federal troops and military equipment.

Especially anxious are the camps of the militants, who perceive the incursion as a prelude to the planned offensive against them by the JTF.

Sources in JTF told one of our correspondents that heads of the various militant camps, especially those identified and scheduled for destruction in the security report prepared by a former Commander of JTF, Major Gen. Lawrence Ngubane, were strategising on the way forward.

Ngubane, in a report to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Owoye Azazi, in July 2007, had identified all the militant camps in the region, which he categorised as minor and major militant camps.

He had identified the manpower and weaponry strength of each of the militant camps and suggested military operation to dislodge them as part of the strategies to restore a lasting peace in the region.

He suggested that the federal troops could take on the minor militant camps first in order to boost the morale and strengthen the confidence of the Federal troops to clamp down on the major ones.

But the report could not be implemented because it leaked to the militants.

Already, NNS Ologbo and NNS Nwamba, as well as many gunboats and patrol craft deployed in the waterways, sea and oil locations in the region have stepped up their operations in the area.

While the latest deployment had compounded tension in the region, JTF sources, however, told Sunday Punch that the militants had resorted to propaganda to pre-empt the action.

One of the sources cited the alarm raised by the militants that the federal troops launched a premeditated attack on Boyloaf camp in Bayelsa State last

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2008062823315939

instead of constructing roads,he is sending warships to kill and have access to oil, FG should be ashamed because there is no good road in the whole of niger delta.

Come, that man in the picture looks like he is standing in front of a poster, abeg tell me that is a real boat. The topic gave the implication that a fleet was headed for the Niger Delta, a fleet of one or a fleet of one boat and plenty canoes??

How can they construct roads, when it's not safe for contractors to be in the Niger Delta.

The first and foremost thing that needs to guaranteed is peace.

Sky Blue:

Come, that man in the picture looks like he is standing in front of a poster, abeg tell me that is a real boat. The topic gave the implication that a fleet was headed for the Niger Delta, a fleet of one or a fleet of one boat and plenty canoes??

How dare you cast aspersions on the pride of the Nigerian Navy, those life-sized inflatable replicas of WW II naval memorabilia which have now been towed out to the delta to be moored offshore where they will loom menacingly on the horizon, inspiring panic in the hearts of all Ijaw fishermen who behold them.

http://members.msn.com/dklickstudio@hotmail.com

More warships for Niger delta, more probes in Niger delta state govt treasury's, massive development of infrastructures by FG from excess crude account in line with Niger delta master plan (Niger delta master plan must have been implemented to 40% scale before any military action or JTF presence can be justified byFG. Only recently JTF APC fell into a ditch - I am sure the driver was only reckless even though that road is likely to be as deplorable as Lagos to Benin road) with equity contribution from state and local governments oil companies should be more transparent in recruiting in Niger delta (Shell just did mess with SITP - I bet tat process could have enlisted 100 more militants from aggrived applicants that were enied level playing field in the recruitment process) with specified quota for indigienes, militants to sheath their swords and surrender with guaranteed amnesty or get caught and tried or at worst bombed in the creeks.

The NAVY should block arms inflow through the high sea else Heads should roll. Massive Naval operations to cut off supplies is necessary, with teams of warship and patrol boats in inestimable numbers - even if it is for a short week and on loan or lease supply, with strategic amphibious attacks on previously identified black spots (what is the function of SAT 1 and NARSDA if they cannot spot human/arms movement's creeks and they are bidding for Telecoms license - someone needs to ask the Security Attache in NARSDA what his job specifications are and why he/she should be retained at tax payer's expense).

If Militants can hijack FPSO that is a bad signal for National Development. While, military options is not a sustainable way forward it is needed at this material moment so as to allow the Militants re-assess their negotiating power before all and sundry agree to get back to the discussion round table. Blasting Bonga is quite unacceptable by any standard and the FG must stamp their feet with authority in a way that would stop militants from making further damages to the economy and the country's economic goodwill.


I learn some militants forcefully took skye bank recruitment test - I feel their pains and frustrations, I empathize with them but the only weapon that I know that fights better than Gun is the pen.

Should they be ready to fight by the pen - i would willingly volunteer within their service. When Guns clash, even the victors can't claim victory! Someone needs to tell them no war ever ended with a clear winner, not even desert storm.

Even, while they are unaware or pretend to be ignorant, several erudite scholars and intelligent professionals, including fire brand legal luminaries have genuine affiliations for the cause for which the militants are fighting without necessarily identifying with their attacks/strategies, hence the wide spread media awareness on anomalies in Niger delta and pressure on FG to make amends. Peace and reconciluation strategies by the FG, though slow paced is quite impressive; blasting more installations, would never sway arguments in their favour and I doubt if the have the fie power to confront the State if and when the state is ready to employ the fire for fire option!

Hope they will not sell those warships to the militants?

So let me get this straight.

The Director of Naval Intelligence is saying that the Bonga FPSO and oilfield which represents a 200000 barrel per day multibillion dollar investment from Nigeria i sleft unprotected at times?
Is he saying that in the 7 hours it takes a fast speedboat to reach the shore, the Navy had no capability to intercept the marauders? That the defense of large swathes of our shoreline is left to the presence of one ship?


The idiot should be fired for this. In the old Soviet Union, he would long have been shot for 'crimes against the state' at the KGB's lubyanka prison 

otokx:

Hope they will not sell those warships to the militants?

Hopefully those ships wont get lost.

Jakumo:

How dare you cast aspersions on the pride of the Nigerian Navy, those life-sized inflatable replicas of WW II naval memorabilia which have now been towed out to the delta to be moored offshore where they will loom menacingly on the horizon, inspiring panic in the hearts of all Ijaw fishermen who behold them.

LOL, good thing they did not go overboard and forget an action man figure on the "warships" before taking that picture.

Yes! i'm loving this. . . . bring them on

Go ahead and destroy those idiots called militants

IF they don't wan't the case to be solved peacefully, then it's going to be brutal

Please, i need to know; when are they going to start lauching attacks against them

davidylan:

Hopefully those ships wont get lost.

[size=13pt]Oh boy those ships are lost/sold already[/size]

@folahan

we r watching u

mind what you say

or

u will be the first to be ataked

m u s f

Akpanbaba what road do you want the FG to construct? the allocation wen Allam and odi them pac no reach to get them roads?I wonder wetin this millitant them dey think, the money wen Allam dey carry go UK wen them catch am for no construct road for them? .Boy this millitant the dey face the wrong side. Them be freedom fighters abi politicians boys? if Nigeria leave Niger-Delta alone them go kill thierselves finish within three days.

As far as Public Relations is concern, the Niger Delta militants are winning the war against a Nigerian government battling with a very bad global image.

Using force as a tactics to subdue the militants is not going to work. From all indication it is clear that the militants are winning. No matter how you see it, the Niger Delta problem has come to stay and the thugs are now becoming freedom fighters, patriots, and heroes!

Abeg o
Naija Navy get functional warships?
Na NNS Ambe abi na NNS Obuma wan go?
Abeg dat ship wey dem put dat pix no b naija warship
all naija warhips don rust
na ordinary sound of d Ak47 of d militants d ship go hear wey
e go sink.
Adekeye don use all Navy money send im pikin go yankee and jd
if dem leave am selve im go send naval guards go gurad dem for yankee and jd

warship ke?
im really worrried about the militarisation of the niger delta.
those militants should start by attacking their governors who squander their money away, alams and the rest. im sure if allocations for niger delta states were effectively utilised, that place will be finer than abuja.
there are two things i suspect in the delta
1. its either those corrupt politicians keep stoking the flames and encouraging the boys so more money can be sent to the delta for them to siphon away,and the stupid boys always agree for a paltry sum and sell away their future.

2. Maybe the govt itself is faning those flames so as to have an excuse for a military build up to a possible face off with cameroon over the bakassi pennisula which they may not hand over by the said date(my own special conspiracy theory )

whatever the case, you dont hold a sovereign govt to ransom, it wont augur well for your people cos when the army and navy go in with blazing guns, they wont keep to any yeye rules of engagement, that is nija, not yankee.
fear catch me.

Up Nigerians,the Giant of Afrika,i think with little of my international idea,the Niger Delta are fighting for the good of the Nation.The just need to be listened to and FG should make Nigeria good althogether and deploy the boys into the marine Army.

REGARDS.
NIGER CITIZEN.

Bunch of Criminals called Militants

The Niger Delta issue has gone beyond thuggery as most Nigerian newspaper columnists put it. It has gone beyond the grasp of the insincere and unimaginative Nigerian government. The flame has been ignited and it will continue to burn and as it burns would evolve into something bigger and more complicated to handle.

Over the years we have watched little problems metamorphose into unimaginable monsters all over the world. There was the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and today we have Al Qaeda, Tamil Tiger in Sri Lanka, the Kurdish movement in Turkey, Hamas, Hezbollah, and all those rebels you hear about in Colombia and all over South America, just to name a few. The Niger Delta militants are gradually taking that shape and form and there is no stopping them.

The blowing of Bonga oil platform operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company by the militants in the Niger Delta recently shows how this thing is becoming more and more complicated. Yes, there are elements of criminality but there is no doubting the fact that there is also that patriotic allegiance to the course, which they have reiterated as better life for the people of the Niger Delta. The militants would hide under the umbrella of emancipation of their people and win sympathy and support of the world.

The monster is growing very fast and as it continues to grow we will see no peace in the Niger Delta. It’s a little too late for peace. The Nigerian government lacks the savvy for now to solve the problem of the Niger Delta. Politicians care more about what gets into their private pockets than any other thing. The government cares more about politicking than solving any other problems.

When in future Hollywood comes down to Nigeria to make movies on the Niger Delta, which they would definitely do one day like the movie ‘Blood Diamond’, they would portray the militants as groups fighting for injustice against their people. An objective script writer, if there is such thing as objectivity, would show those criminal elements, but in the end the audience would be emphatic to the militants and not the Nigerian government. Everyone loves superhero(es).

Reindeer,i concur wit u,doz militants shld stat by annihilatin their past governors who chose to repartriate their funds abroad to build palatial mansions they only visit twice a year.& as 4u Jakumo,d Nigerian Navy is as good as they come.They hav d capability to put theze boys in their place but hav chosen to apply restraint 4 d sake of sanity.Don't assume u know because u don't.

folahann:

Yes! i'm loving this. . . . bring them on

Go ahead and destroy those idiots called militants

IF they don't wan't the case to be solved peacefully, then it's going to be brutal

Please, i need to know; when are they going to start lauching attacks against them

Hahahahahaaaaaaaa, I'm having a big laugh, folahann you will be embarassed how them militants will disgrace the Nigerian Navy in the creeks

FYI, ND people has never said they wanted peace, all they ask for is justice.

am happy the president finally decided to take this line of action,
believe me these militants have taken the people of these nation for granted for a very long time.
they are clamouring for dividends of these oil finaced society, like they are the only deprived ppl in naija.
take alook around and tell me if anything has been working in nigeria for the past 18years?
why do they now xpect the desolation of years gone to be redressed suddenly.
if them go wipe out the whole niger-delta to fish them out, then so be it.

Its about time, we can't allow masked bandits to hold a whole country to ransome. Its time for the Nigerian armed forces to show those militants what they'r made of.

Yes there will be civilian casualties but this is their price to pay for failing to isolate themselves completely from the militants (u cant hav ur cake & eat it niger-delta!!)

warship ko, warship ni,
The US & NATO continue to suffer great loss of lives in IRAQ and Afghan inspite of their huge cache of arms and ammo, the freedom fighters(militants to you) will push the entire armed forces to its knees with thier speedboats & AK47s, our gavt should face the issues otherwise this flame will spread further

GOD bless Naija

WarShips to rid the place of millitants?? WOW!!

Hey! I can see you all are just talking not knowing what you are saying. I bet you it will not take our armed forces more than 6hrs to be through with the entire Niger delta It is just the Yar'adua is scared of what the outside world will say and think if he should order for the complete over run of the Niger Delta. Don't have much to say but what I am saying is true. U can asked of free town and what our armed forces did there if you care to know. Just a little history I think it will help a lot.

Who dash Naija warship. . . . . . .

Their harem is made up of frigates, minesweepers and other inconsequential crafts.

The little ones dem get sef, them dey use am jam for highseas.

@ bami
The Nigerian army is not as conventional as the NATO & US army so they cant be compared. Let loose the army on the niger delta for a day & u'l see wat they can do. With or without the war ships these bandits will be brought 2 their knees within 24hrs.

The niger delta needs a military occupation so that the area can be developed for those who really want & need progress in the area.

jagwar:

@ bami
The Nigerian army is not as conventional as the NATO & US army so they can't be compared. Let loose the army on the niger delta for a day & u'l see what they can do. With or without the war ships these bandits will be brought 2 their knees within 24hrs.

The niger delta needs a military occupation so that the area can be developed for those who really want & need progress in the area.

I don't think you know the Naija-Delta to be talking like this. Unless Nigeria government bombs civilian settlements, there is no way they can win the war in Naija Delta easily. It will take at least a year if full-scale war breaks out and it will bring Nigeria almost to its knees. Obasanjo was wise to negotiate. Yar'Adua is making a mistake. I remember my popsie told me about the invasion of Okrika mainland during the civil war. The Nigerian soldiers (of Naija Delta extraction) attacked the island, shooting at the Biafrans with one hand whist swimming with the other. From the water, they finished off the Biafrans. That stretch of water from OGS to Mainland is about 400m, yet they swam it whilst shooting and killing Biafrans.