Cheat Sheet Week 32 2009

Monday 3 August 2009

Death toll tops 1,000: Authorities in northern Borno state  put the death toll in Maiduguri at 700. The total death toll of the violence which started in Bauchi spreading to Borno, Yobo, Kano and Katsina states will be over 1,000.

Photos show Yusuf alive: The BBC has published a photograph showing Yusuf Mohamed was alive when captured by the military whilst authorities say he had been fatally wounded trying to escape arrest.

Inquiry to be held: FG by President of the Senate, David Mark, announced that the government will establish an inquiry at the “highest possible level” into the clashes between police and the Boko Haram. 

Slain sect members given mass burial: Authorities swept dozens of bodies into mass graves yesterday after spending two days clearing copses from the streets of Maiduguri. 

And as the amnesty approaches…: After his return to the country on Saturday from a trip to Brazil, President Yar’Adua said “tremendous progress” had been made in the amnesty he offered militants in the Niger Delta.

Breaking News:  Kidnap in Aba: OOL sources reported the kidnap of a British national from his home last night in Aba, Abia State. 

Breaking News:  Possible vessel attack: OOL sources reported the attack of the MV DUDEN by gunmen last night, at 02:20 hrs at approximately 15 nautical miles west of the Okworri Field. 

Tuesday 4 August 2009

Doctor abducted in Aba: The British national kidnapped in Abia State yesterday is employed by a non-governmental agencies, which shows a new line has been crossed by aiming at a victim from a non profit organisation.

Another vessel attack: The attack reported on Monday on the MV Duden, has been confirmed.

OOL sources reported Tuesday  the attack and abduction of 5 crew members from a cargo vessel anchored offshore Escravos, around 23:45hrs Monday night.

Niger Delta Crisis hits cash reserves: The Niger Delta crisis which has dealt a heavy blow to Nigeria’s oil income and crude production is finally threatening to consume the country’s foreign reserves too

Don’t get a job – get a gun!: Quick calculation by Chief on the benefits of turning in guns after Prince Joseph Etella Harry claim of Abuja having promised N300,000 per AK-47 rifle and two magazines returned.

A Fair or a Circus?: The Ministry begins a multi-million Naira project it tagged Job Creation Fair/Training Expo 2009 in Abuja, far outside the 9 Niger Delta States.

Wednesday 5 August 2009

Most recent hostages are Lithuanian: The 5 crewmembers kidnapped Monday night from the Saturnas, a small cargo vessel, offshore Escravos, have been confirrmed by official sources as being Lithuanian. 

MEND says disarmament will be free: MEND in a statement said late last night that its disarmament would not be in exchange for money.

So let the amnesty begin…

What will it cost?: The government budgeted about $63 million for rehabilitation and reintegration programs, and for allowances for thousands of militants.

Detained Ukrainian plane and crew finally freed: Airport officials yesterday finally released a Ukrainian aircraft and its crew arrested on June 17 at Kano airport with an arms cargo bound for  Equatorial Guinea.

Thursday 6 August 2009

Amnesty implemented: Today saw the implementation of the long awaited amnesty deal for militants in the Niger Delta.

Sokoto demolishes radical sect’s mosque: Authorities in Unguwar Gagi neighbourhood of Sokoto city, Sokoto state, have demolished a mosque of a radical Islamist sect, Sanusi Tukur Faru, in an attempt to rid the state of the group, an official said Thursday. 

The politics of the clashes: The connection of armed groups, political parties and the clashes.

In Brief:  Dangote to head stock exchange: Aliko Dangote was Thursday elected president of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). .

In Brief:  British hostage freed: The British doctor kidnapped from his home in Abia state earlier this week has been released.  It is not known if any ransom was paid.

Friday 7 August 2009

Amnesty day 1: In Brief: Police find arms stash/Bickering between Okah and Boyloaf/Coalition calls for oil minister’s sack/Poor turn out so far

Nigeria and the global recession: The collapse in crude oil prices over the past year, along with the steady decline in production in the Niger Delta, has strained Nigeria’s foreign and government accounts and caused it to lose pole position among African oil producers.

Sect leader’s father-in-law killed: Babakura Baa, the eldest son of Baa Fugu Mohammed, has said that he believes police killed his father after he went voluntarily to a police station.

In Brief:  So were the radical crushed?

Lithuanian hostage update: The 5 Lithuanian crewmembers of the Saturnus kidnapped earlier this week offshore Escravos healthy, but the company is continuing to negotiate the crew’s release. MEND have denied any responsibility for this attack. 

In Brief:  Concern over increase in pirate attacks 

And then there’s this…: A couple have been fined for having sex on the altar of their local church. 

Hostage Watch:

Kidnapped: a British national was kidnapped in Aba, Abia State on 03.09.09 and released on 06.09.09

Kidnapped: 5 Lithuanian nationals from the cargo vessel Saturnus, offshore Escravos, 03.09.09

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

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,