Where We Are Not

[Annie]

http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/nigeria/articles/20070707.aspx

Turf Wars
July 7, 2007: The separatist movements in the Niger Delta are not making much progress, but the copycat gangs that have emerged to join in the growing banditry and mayhem, are. Gangs of robbers roam the main highways, some of them in police uniform (and some of those may actually be police). More gangsters are demanding protection money from businesses, and that leads to gangs fighting over control of territory to "protect." The government is concerned because of the billions of dollars in lost oil revenue. About a quarter of Nigerias oil production is now shut down by the violence. The government cannot muster sufficient security forces to pacify the Delta, and has been unable to negotiate a deal to get the new players, the Delta gangs, to do it for them.



July 5, 2007: For the second time in two weeks, kidnappers have grabbed a three year old child. This time its the daughter of a British couple. Ransom is demanded. MEND insisted it was not involved in kidnapping children, and would assist in the search for the British child. While separatist groups like MEND may publicly abhor kidnapping children, the increasingly lawless atmosphere in the Delta region has led to many freelancers joining in a feeding frenzy of crime. It's going to get worse.



July 4, 2007: Five foreign oil workers were kidnapped for ransom after their offshore oil rig was attacked by gunmen in speedboats. Over a hundred foreigners have been grabbed so far this year, and about fifteen are still being held.



July 3, 2007: The 30 day ceasefire by MEND is over and navy patrols of the Delta are again being fired on. At least two sailors are dead, killed by heavily armed gang members in speedboats...