Cheat Sheet Week 25 2009

Monday 15 June 2009

British hostage freed – finally!: Matthew Maguire, kidnapped on 9 september 2008 from the HD Blue Ocean was finally freed on 12 June 2009.

Ransom request for Filipinos taken off Bakassi: A ransom demand of $500,000 was laid down for the release of three Filipinos and a Ukrainian kidnapped from the MV Sil Tide off the coast of Bakassi, 14 March 2009.Related: Philippines lifts deployment ban to Nigeria: The POEA said to be considering lifting the deployment ban

Former hostages sue employer: 2 Ukrainians and 2 Norwegians sue their employer for blowing off a request for more security after which they were kidnapped in August 2006. 

 Chevron tightens security as MEND blows pipelines: Chevron tightened security around EGTL after MEND blew up the Makaraba-Utonana-Abiteye pipeline.

MIA soldiers’ bodies found?:  Newswires reported recovery of the 18 soldiers, missing since 13 May, the JTF denied the claims.

JTF arrest suspected militant leader:  JTF announced the arrest in PHC of the alleged leader of the Bregede Camp, Bernard Wilcox.

EU backs amnesty for militants:  The EU expressed support for the amnesty plan of the FG.

Police shoot 17 in Maiduguri: 17 people were left injured in Maiduguri on 11 June after police started shooting over traffic violation claims.

Explosion rocks pipeline in Lagos: A NNPC pipeline exploded on Ilados, Saturday 13 June. NNPC claimed no fatalities.

Tuesday 16 June 2009

Expat kidnapped from Obigbo: OOL sources reported the kidnap on Monday of a Lebanese national employed by Homan Engineering Company Limited from a construction site, Obigbo by Imo River, Rivers State, leaving the mopol escort killed.

MEND threaten to widen area of attacks: MEND in a statement threatened to extend its operations to other states in the region.

MEND threaten international football tournament: MEND in a statement told the UEFA that the security of international players and visitors of the U-17 World Cup could not be ascertained.

MEND claim war crimes proof in video: MEND demanded an international inquiry for war crimes over a video for what it claimed being extrajudicial killings by the army.

Major militant may accept amnesty: Ateke Tom announced to consider amnesty after FG has defined the terms.

Unrest in oil-rich Niger Delta since 2006: list of major events since beginning of 2006.

Chinese firm discovers oil in Niger Delta: SIPEC and NPDC announced to have discovered oil in the OML 64, alias Kakaku-1 well, Niger Delta.

Governors forum cancels Harvard training: The Governors’ Forum, cancelled the planned training programme for its members and forum staffers after the pact with Harvard, ran into a hail of criticism.

And then there’s this…: Missing Genitals: Protest Rocks Taraba College

Wednesday 17 June 2009

Army denies extra judicial killings: The JTF dismissed MEND’s claims over extrajudicial killings in the Niger Delta.

Ateke, Yar’Adua, Amaechi, Asari and the amnesty: FG announced it accepted the decision of militant leader Ateke Tom to lay down arms, and embrace the amnesty, whilst Ameachi and Asari a different point of view.

Opposition urges FG to expose militants’ backers: The AC in a statement demanded the government to publish the documents said to have been found in militant Camp 5 in Delta State.

‘Anti-kidnap’ squad coming: VP Goodluck Jonathan announced government plans to form a brand new police squad dedicated only in stamping out kidnapping.

Related: VP Jonathan also commented on the pitifully poor power generation, a problem for the population right across the nation.

Despite unrest, FIFA adamant over U17 World Cup: FIFA, via a Federation official, said it will make a final inspection of facilities for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in July.

Police begins investigation of soccer player’s death: Police announced the investigation into the death of Bayelsa United FC skipper Abel Tabor , shot dead on the Warri- Sapele road on Sunday night. 

NNPC at the centre of a parliament probe: Public hearings started next week revealed fraud and corruption within NNPC

Thursday 18 June 2009

Gun battle in Akwa Ibom: OOL sources reported a gunbattle between militants and army early hours Thursday monring, Oron, Akwa Ibom.

MEND claim attack on Shell pipeline: MEND in a statement claimed to have destroyed a Shell crude oil trunk line in the Agge:Odimodi axis, Bayelsa State

Related: Shell announced on Wednesday extenstion of its force majeur on Forcados production until July.

President calls emergency meeting on amnesty: President YRD scheduled a special meeting on the Niger Delta to discuss the terms of the amnesty to be offered to militants as well as unfold his agenda for security and development in the oil-producing region.

Related: On the amnesty willingness of Ateke Tom, MEND said he was not a member of MEND.

MEND urges JTF to allow reporters to visit oil facilities: In an e-mail to journalists, MEND urged the JTF to allow reporters to visit oil facilities it had attacked “to judge for themselves.”

Chevron begins de-manning of facilities: Chevron started the workers from its Escravos Terminal.
Crew of Ukrainian plane detained: An aircraft from Ukraine carrying arms and heading for Equatorial Guinea was intercepted and its crew detained Wednesday after landing at the Kano airport.
Minister plans London visit to lobby Virgin: Nigerian transport minister Babatunde Omotoba is to visit Virgin Atlantic in London to discuss the UK carrier’s decision not to extend Virgin Nigeria’s access to the Virgin brand.
Agency bans malaria drug Maloxin: NAFDAC banned the sale and use of the malaria drug ‘Maloxine’ in the country after it announced that the genuine brand Maloxine had been off the market since 2003.

Friday 19 June 2009

MEND claim fresh pipeline attack: MEND in a statement claimed to have blown up an Agip pipeline Nembe creek, Baylsa.

Shell confirms pipeline breach: Shell confirmed the attack of Trans Ramos pipeline, Aghoro-2 community Bayelsa State.

Amnesty details to be announced next week: President YRD will next week proclaim an amnesty for Niger Delta militants who surrender their arms and embrace peace.

Attacks to persist but are the militants divided?: Guerrilla-style attacks on exposed oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta may spread in the coming weeks but the militants appear divided, with some ready to negotiate an amnesty.

Police foil theft of six gunboats: Akwa Ibom State Police Command said it foiled militants attempts to hijack the six bullet- proof gunboats.

Related: Local communities in Eastern Obolo, Aka Ibom , continued to complain of the environmental damage caused by an oil spill.

Impounded plane – government asks for answers:The Directorate of Military Intelligence is reported to have taken over the investigation of the Ukrainian cargo plane impounded in Kano on Wednesday.

And then there’s this……: Customs takes delivery of 2 new helicopters

Hostage Watch:

Kidnap: Lebanese national working for Homan Engineering Company LTD, from construction site Obigbo, Imo River, Rivers State, 15.06.09

Also held: 4 foreign workers on the vessel, MV Seal Tide, attacked by pirates offshore Bakassi on 14.03.09

Also held: 18 crewmembers of the MV Pusan Reafer, nationalities unknow, reported abducted 15.05.09

Also held: 2 filipino crewmembers of the MV Spirit hijacked 13.05.09,