Nigeria - "are the oil fields going to be dynamited or not?"

international | consumer issues | other press Saturday September 24, 2005 14:19 by iosaf

Nigeria produces 2.4 million barrels per day, 200,000 more barrels than have just been cancelled from the production of the USA. Understandably therefore any threat made to the Oil fields is big news.

the "Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force" (NDPVF) yesterday made just that threat, if their leader Moujahid Dkubo-Asari arrested on the 20th of September is not released within 48 hours.

Chevron have closed platforms and evacuated workers as have Shell - Nigeria's production is down 19,000 barrels according to british sources 26,000 barrels according to other sources.

The last time Mr Dkubo Asari entered western news was in November 2004 when his group threatened oil companies in the state leading to the withdrawl of personel by Shell and others.

http://www.vivrealetranger.com/filActu/index.php/Afrique/2004/11

That threat didn't really materialise, and on the 20th of this month, Dkubo Asari was arrested.
Some in Nigeria say he will be (& ought be) exectued a.s.a.p.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23133700.htm
Others disagree.

this is what the NDPVF said :-

"We will kill every iota of oil operations in the Niger Delta. We will destroy anything and everything," the group said in a statement. "Shell, Chevron, Mobil, Total and others should please take note. All of their installations will not be spared."

But this is a developing story -

Alali Horsfall, now says he's the acting leader of the NDPVA and the group is suspending further action.

Dakuro Princewill, is making a rival claim saying he is also a member of the group's Supreme Command, and that a temporary cease-fire had been decided but some in the group disagreed and may not respect it.

links:-
how the story broke in Nigeria last 32 hours :-
http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/life_style/article05/240905
http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/cover/september05/24092005/f224092005.html
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other media links articles in english-
russian
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=2444292&PageNum=0
chinese
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-09/24/content_3534801.htm
british
http://www.guardian.co.uk/oil/story/0,11319,1577446,00.html
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the last hours udpate :-
"We, the Supreme Command, have decided a cease-fire,"

"We want the Nigerian state to release him. We will wait for some days up to a week, and if we are not seeing him, we will fight back," said Mr Princewill.

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The state of Nigeria earns billions of €uros every year from its Oil reserves the largest exploited in Africa but Nigerians still live, especially in the oil producing Niger delta region in abject poverty.
Their poverty is compounded by corruption within the Nigerian state which was a brutal military dicatarship for 40 years. The €U are presently engaged in a 3 day fact finding mission in the state to discuss "the millenium goals"
http://allafrica.com/stories/200509230422.html