Posted by By FEMI FOLARANMI, Yenagoa on
South-South based militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), has claimed that its Operation Cyclone meant to cripple Nigerian oil exports is recording success with the shutdown of 500,000 barrels per day in the combined attacks oil installations.
• As militants attack another police station
South-South based militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), has claimed that its Operation Cyclone meant to cripple Nigerian oil exports is recording success with the shutdown of 500,000 barrels per day in the combined attacks oil installations.
The group had in a statement last week announced the commencement of Operation Cyclone, which is targeted at crippling Nigerian oil exports in protest against the continued trial of its leader, Henry Okah.
MEND, in a statement made available to Daily Sun on Monday, quoted the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) that its attack on April 24 at the Kula Trunk line has further disrupted oil production, which it claimed the Federal Government has instructed Shell not to disclose.
The statement reads: 'Our sources inside Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has informed us today that the consequences of our April 24 attack on the Kula major trunk line is the disruption of a further 350, 000 bpd, bringing the total shut-in so far to over 500,000 bpd from the combined attacks.
'Shell, we are told, received a directive from the government of Nigeria to conceal this figure to avoid panic and embarrassment. The government of Nigeria and the oil majors are in denial but the reality is that MEND will continue with this phase of its attacks until we have crippled every oil and gas production in the Niger Delta before proceeding to the next phase of Operation Cyclone."
Meanwhile, less than 48 hours after suspected militants attacked a Police station in Bonny Island, Rivers state, killing five policemen, another group of militants, Sunday evening, invaded Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and sacked the Divisional Police Headquarters, carting away unspecified number of arms and ammunition.
Also carted away were the examination scripts of candidates writing the on-going General Certificate Examinations being conducted by the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC)
According to investigations, the militants, numbering about ten, stormed the community in four speed boats at about 7.30 pm and after disembarking headed straight for the Divisional Police Headquarters, where they successfully overpowered the policemen on duty after others had fled.
The militants were said to have ransacked the armoury where they carted away some rifles and ammunition, including a bag which they thought contained money, but which investigations revealed contained scripts of the Biology practical written last Saturday by candidates sitting for the GCE.
After their operation, which barely lasted for 30 minutes, the militants shot sporadically into the air and moved out of the community through the Amassoma water side.
Already the carting away of the examination scripts has caused anxiety for the candidates as their fate in the examination now hangs in the balance.
When Daily Sun got to the WAEC office located along Azikoro road, the coordinator was said to have travelled out of town but a staff who pleaded anonymity confirmed the incident but said only the coordinator was competent to speak on the matter.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr. Ininbong Ibokette in an interview also confirmed the story but said nobody was hurt and nothing was taken away.
'Yes at about 7.30 pm, some armed youths attacked the Divisional Police Headquarters at Amassoma . They are not able to take away anything and nobody was hurt. The situation is now under control and the Police have launched investigation into the incident. There is no cause for alarm as the police is capable of protecting lives and properties in the area," he said.