Total Oil Company has threatened to pull out its $20 billion investment from Nigeria, if insecurity worsens, amid global anxiety at the weekend over renewed insurgency in the Niger Delta. 

But Abuja sent out an emissary to London to press its case against the West for arms dealing, blaming Europe for the violence in the oil producing states of West Africa. 

President Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Secretary, Hassan Tukur, told journalists in the British capital that the West collaborates with dissidents to raise the tempo of violence “and the reason for this, you know, is to protect their investments. 

“Even countries in the Gulf of Guinea would have gone to war if not for the brotherly role that Nigeria is playing and also the establishment of the Gulf of Guinea Commission.” 

Regardless, Total Chief Executive Officer, Christophe de Margerie, declared on Sunday that his company could be forced to quit Nigeria if insecurity deteriorates further. 

“If it gets worse, we may have to leave,” he told an investor conference in Paris. “We don’t have many employees kidnapped.” 

Three Total workers kidnapped in Nigeria have since been freed. 

The Joint Task Force (JTF) smoked out militants last Thursday and freed 19 hostages.

Over 30 rifles, some 10,000 rounds of ammunition, and 12 machine guns were recovered, likewise laptop computers, radio communication equipment, assorted military uniforms, and an array of mobile phones and sim cards. 

Daily Independent reported exclusively on Friday Abuja’s directive for a total clampdown on “the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta.” 

The JTF on Saturday disclosed that it has, in its latest operation, arrested a militant leader and 62 of his followers suspected of involvement in a string of recent kidnappings of oil workers. 

The gang was paraded before the media at an Air Force base in the oil hub of Port Harcourt.

 JTF Spokesman Lt. Colonel Timothy Antigha said the militant leader and his underlings were responsible for the kidnapping of 19 oil workers, including several foreigners, who regained their freedom last Thursday. 

“It was the group that abducted the ExxonMobil workers and the Afren group workers and were responsible for other previous kidnappings and robberies in the past,” Antigha confirmed.

The gang was captured in Borokiri, Rivers State, a senior military officer told AFP. 

“We had surrounded the whole place , so they had to surrender. They were forced to surrender because of fire power,” said the officer, who took part in the raid. 

“They didn’t deny any of the crimes and said they are sorry for what they did.”

On the same Thursday, however, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) threatened more kidnappings of oil workers after the rescue of the 19 hostages. 

It had claimed responsibility for 14 of the hostages. 

It also claimed in a statement on Friday that its fighters had ambushed a convoy of JTF gunboats and killed a number of soldiers, but Antigha said he was not aware of such an attack. 

Many observers have noted that the amnesty granted militants in October last year has failed to address underlying issues of poverty and unemployment in the Niger Delta. 

Militant leaders given stipends in exchange for turning in their weapons would eventually be replaced by others, they warned. 

The MEND, which claims to be fighting for a fairer distribution of oil revenue, has also been seen as an umbrella organisation for criminal gangs. It is believed to have splintered, particularly over the amnesty.

 MEND leaders, John Togo, Africa, among others, have backed out of the amnesty programme and returned to the creeks to rekindle the embers of violent agitation.

MEND Spokesman Jomo Gbomo last week renewed warning that the shadowy group would cripple the oil industry.

People are beginning to move out of their communities fearing that the JTF may resort to aerial attacks as it did last year in the confrontation with insurgents in Gbaramatu.

However, the JTF at the weekend ruled out using aerial bombardment in its renewed offensive against the insurgents, vowing to smoke them out.

Antigha urged the people in riverside communities not to panic, saying the target is the elimination of the criminal gangs that destroy oil facilities and kidnap oil workers.

Said he: “The attention of the JTF has been drawn to information circulating in the media that the JTF is set to commence an aerial bombardment of communities in the Niger Delta. This is false and not in the contemplation of the JTF now and in the future.

“This falsehood is being sponsored by renegade militants and their sympathisers and should be disregarded. The target of the ongoing operation is the elimination of criminal gangs, their arms cache, and other assets identified and confirmed as their centres  of gravity.

“Traditional rulers and their subjects are advised to remain calm and continue to pursue their legitimate endeavours. Communities where these criminals are hiding are encouraged to call local JTF Commanders and turn them in immediately.”
Culled from Independentngonline.com
  

Nigeria on the blink of bursting.