Cheat Sheet Week 29 2009

Monday 13 July 2009

MEND claim first attack in Lagos: On Sunday MEND in a statement claimed an attack on the Atlas Cove Jetty, Lagos. Monday authorities confirmed the attack.

Related: MEND claim attack on Chevron facility again: On Friday 10 July, MEND in a statement announced to have destroyed the recently repaired Chevron pipeline linking Alero creek through Abiteye to the Chevron export terminal in Delta State.

Rebel activities likely continue after Okah’s release: Charges against Henry Okah were expected to be dropped on Monday which would see his release soonest, but its not likely that this release would stop rebel activities.

MEND on Obama’s visit to Ghana: MEND, by Jomo Gbomo applauded US President Obama’s visit to Ghana saluting him for not choosing “failed” states for his maiden official visit to sub-Saharan Africa.

Tuesday 14 July 2009

Henry Okah goes free: FG freed Henry Okay on Monday, while MEND issued a statement saying to be grateful to God that the “trumped-up charges” had been dropped.

MEND’s ‘unprecedented’ attack: The surprise attack by MEND on the Atlas Cove Jetty, Lagos, left at least 5 people dead. It is the first time the group hit a high value target outside the Niger Delta.

Wednesday 15 July 2009

MEND announce ceasefire: MEND in a statement said to be observing a 60-days temporary ceasefire. 

The how.. the why.. and the where we are now…

Okah sees no end in sight: Henry Okah in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday said unless a fairer share was giving to the region, he didnt see an end to the voilence.

However one last thought….: For the Niger Delta to change there must be an acceptance that things have hit rock bottom.

Thursday 16 July 2009

MEND say ceasefire threatened: MEND in a statement on Wednesday said the 60-days ceasefire could be called off due to troops movement. The JTF denied any such movements.

A new Defence Minister announced: On Tuesday the FG announced the swop of the Minister of Interior and the Defence Minister.

Threat to shipping off Nigeria is overshadowed by Somalia: Lloyd’s List reported that piracy attacks off Nigeria pose a mounting threat to international shipping that has been overshadowed by events off the Horn of Africa.

Okada crash in Kano: Three expatriates came close to being lynched in Kano on Wednesday after their vehicle hit a motorcyclist.

Friday 17 July 2009

So will the ceasefire end the conflict?: Chief offers a little retrospective of this week’s developments in the wonderful world of the oil war.

Oil sector reforms coming soon: Oil minister Rilwanu Lukman said on Thursday that the newly proposed bill on oil reforms in Nigeria”s oil sector would strip its operations of secrecy and make them transparent, Oil minister Rilwanu Lukman said yesterday.

Total force majeure on Amenam crude: Total SA declared force majeure on cargoes of Amenam crude oil loading in the second half of July following technical problems.

And then there’s this…: Mystery horse causes tension in Ado-Ekiti

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,