Nigeria - Mend interview

Mend seize tanker crew, claim attack on Chevron facility

Article published on the 2009-07-06 Latest update 2009-07-06 16:59 TU

Nigeria's President Umaru Yar'Adua an amnesty package for gunmen in the Niger Delta in late June 25
(Photo: Reuters)

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said on Monday that it had seized six crew members from the oil tanker Sichem Peace in the waters of Delta state.

They described it as a warning to oil tankers to stay away from the Niger Delta region. "Their arrest is meant to serve as a warning to others that there are root issues that have to be resolved with the Nigerian government," said a statement from the group.

They say they took six Russians, two Filipinos and one Indian from the tanker.

Mend also said that it had destroyed a Chevron oil pipeline junction but the oil company only said an investigation had begun and refused to make any further comment.

Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua offered an amnesty in late June to any fighter in the Niger Delta who laid down arms. Mend however accuses the country's government and the Joint Task Force of carrying out "kidnappings and arson against innocent communities" and has said it will continue its activities.

It says its attacks aim to obtain a fairer distribution of the region's oil wealth.

Last weekend Mend said it would oppose a proposed 10-billion-dollar pipeline project that had been agreed between Nigeria, Niger and Algeria.

 

A Mend spokesman, using the name "Tom" told RFI that there were issues at stake surrounding the introduction of "fiscal federalism, where oil-bearing communities will have a stake in the resources being tapped from their communities".

"The very first area where oil was found in commercial quantities in Nigeria is now a desolate run-down town," he said. "It's wrong for people to run quickly to start signing contacts without taking the major stakeholders into the whole deal."