Cheat Sheet Week 28 2009

Monday 6 July 2009

MEND attack Chevron – again: MEND in a statement claimed to have attacked Chevron’s Okan manifold, Delta State on 05.07.09. Chevron said to be investigating the claim.

 MEND attack Shell – again: MEND in a statement said to have attacked Shell Well Head 20, Cawthorn Channel, Rivers State hours on 05.07.09. Shell said to be investigating the claim.

 MEND threaten gas pipeline – again: In a statement on Saturday 04.07.09, MEND threatened the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline project would follow the same fate als all the other pipelines attacked.

 MEND allege extra judicial killing – again: MEND in a statement said the JTF allegedly kidnapped and possibly killed a traditional ruler from the Egbema kingdom in the Niger Delta, HRM Isaac Thikan, the Agadagba of Egbema. The JTF denied any of the accusations.

 All about the amnesty – again: Officials are considering paying militants cash for turning in their weapons as part of the amnesty deal, despite government statements to the contrary, according to a person involved in the talks

 Okah’s trial continues regardless: Henry Okah appeared in court on Friday in Jos as his trial for gun running and other crimes continued despite the amnesty announcement. .

 Expats abducted offshore Escravos: OOL sources confirmed the boarding of the MV Sichem Peace on Saturday and abduction of six crew members, around 20 miles offshore Escravos. MEND in a statement warned all oil, gas and chemical tankers entering Niger Delta waters.

 Abducted American freed in Imo: An American national employed by a contractor to Addax, kidnapped on 30 June in Imo, was released on the evening of Friday 3rd July.

 Abducted Indians freed in Imo: Imo state Police Command said to have arrested men responsible for the kidnap of two Indian nationals.

Related: Imo State government said that it sealed off a hotel in Oguta, which it alleges was being used as a hideout by kidnappers and criminals.

Tuesday 7 July 2009

Vessel agents confirm crew kidnap: A statement from the managers of the Sichem Peace, confirmed that armed men boarded the vessel near Escravos and forced the men to come ashore. The ship was released and the remaining 13 crew moved it further offshore.

 Oil output and the militant effect: A report of the NNPC issued over the weekend stated that MEND had carried out more than a dozen attacks on oil facilities in recent weeks resulting in the loss of at least 589,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

 Related: At least 12,000 workers redundant: Nigeria is losing over N120 million of man man-hours on daily basis as at least 12,000 oil workers, who have been removed from various oil locations, fail to return.

 JTF: an army of occupation: As MEND wants the JTF to pull out of the region the JTF said not te be an army of occuptation.

Chief getting just a tad worried: There must be some pretty harsh questions inside government over what sort of respect the government is getting for its ceasefire. Chief suspects that the military might be awfully tempted to strike back. But at what?

 Wednesday 8 July 2009

MEND claim yet more attacks: MEND in a statement said to have sabotaged a Agip pipeline, Nembe Creek and a Shell pipeline at Asawo Village both in Bayelsa State on 08.07.09.

 Three arrested with explosives: The JTF said it arrested three men early Tuesday carrying bomb making chemicals, suspected to be planning an attack near oil facilities.

Talks begin with Okah: The FG said on Tuesday it had opened dialogue with Henry Okah,

Abuja asks UK for assistance: The Minister of State for Defence, Chief Demola Seriki, asked the British government to assist in ending the crisis in the Niger Delta

Contact made with kidnapped crew: Contact has been made with the six seafarers, seized from the Sichem Peace on 04.05.09, acc. To a statement from the operator.

Five kidnapped in Bakassi: Five Chinese nationals working in the fisheries sector were kidnapped off the Bakassi peninsula in south Cameroon, bordering Nigeria.

Thursday 9 July 2009

Agip confirm MEND assault: Eni on it website confirmed Sunday’s attack and said its equity share of the production loss was 4,800 barrels of oil per day.

Unions advise members as unrest persists: NUPENG and PENGASSAN in a statement on Wednesday urged oil workers to be on the alert in their duty posts as militants beefed up violence.

Chevron shuts facilities and evacuates staff: Acc. To Punch newspaper, Chevron closed down five crude oil platforms producing a total of 230,000 barrels per day and evacuated 600 staffers from offshore locations in the Niger Delta region.

Foreign firms asked to aid in amnesty: The government says it has budgeted millions of dollars to the amnesty programme, but has yet to receive any financial support from foreign oil firms.

UN Report: Nigeria loses 55m barrels to bunkering: A UN report revealed that Nigeria is losing at least 55 million barrels of oil every year through theft and smuggling.

So who’s hurting and where…: Overview and details of firms affected by the latest round of attacks.

MEND deny Chinese kidnap: MEND denied responsibility Wednesday for the abduction of five Chinese off the Bakassi peninsula in Cameroon near the border with Nigeria.

Friday 10 July 2009

New adviser opens doors to talks: MEND in a statement said the appointment of Timi Alaibe as new presidential adviser on the Niger Delta opened a channel for communication.

Okah accepts amnesty: Henry Okah, welcomed a government amnesty offer and could soon be released.

Who is Henry Okah?: Overiew of Henry Okah.

So what does this mean?: What could be the scenario when Okah is released.

Asari sues over amnesty: Leader of the NDPVF, Alhaji Asari Dokubo yesterday approached an Abuja Federal high court asking it to invalidate the amnesty offered by YRD.

Chinese hostages are not Chinese: The expats abducted 07.07.09 off the Bakassi peninsula are actually three Filipinos and two Ukrainians, instead of 5 Chinese nationals assumed earlier.

Hostage Watch:

Kidnapped: six foreign crewmembers of the Sichem Peace, off Escravos on 04.07.09.

Kidnapped: five foreign nationals on 07.07.09, off the Bakassi peninsula in south Cameroon, bordering Nigeria.

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,

 Change of Service: From 1st July 2009, Chief’s Briefs changed to a paid subscription service only. Access to the online archive had already been restricted to paid subscribers only but… Now you will also need to subscribe to read the daily edition of Chief’s Briefs either in your email inbox or live online.

To ensure minimum disruption to your service – we ask you to complete your payment as soon as possible.

Automatic payment using your credit card and PayPal can be done online at www.chiefsbriefs.com. For individual or corporate invoicing to make payment by bank transfer – please contact us directly by return e-mail.

Also do not hesitate to contact Chief’s Briefs HQ if you have any questions or comments on payments, terms of service or suggestions of how to make Chief’s Briefs better for you.

We hope you will continue to enjoy Chief’s Briefs. We enjoy bringing them to you. We’re out there – so you don’t have to be!