Posted by By FEMI FOLARANMI, Yenagoa on
Niger Delta militants on Wednesday morning continued their onslaught against oil companies and their workers when they attacked an oil servicing company, Daewoo Construction in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, kidnapping 10 oil workers.
•Nine Koreans, one Nigerian
Niger Delta militants on Wednesday morning continued their onslaught against oil companies and their workers when they attacked an oil servicing company, Daewoo Construction in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, kidnapping 10 oil workers.
This is coming even as nine oil workers kidnapped separately by militants in Agip terminal, in Brass on December 8, 2006 and January 6, 2007, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State have not been released.
The latest attack was deadly as dynamites and sophisticated weapons were used by the militants in their invasion of the company's premises at Ogu base, site for the gas pipeline project from Soku to Gbarain, which is part of the Eastern Gas Gathering (EGG) project of Shell Petroleum Development Company.
Daily Sun gathered that the militants stormed the company at about 5 am on Wednesday, having arrived in three speedboats. The militants were said to have engaged men of the Joint Task Force in a gun battle, which lasted for one hour, before gaining entry into the company's premises.
After successfully overpowering the military, the militants, it was gathered, rounded up the oil workers and took them away in a waiting boat.
The public relations manager of the Daewoo Construction, Mr. Johnson Agagbo, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that the company has lodged a report with all relevant security agencies, including the state government. He gave the names of those kidnapped as M. S. Lee. J.T. Hong, W.S. Kim, N.S. Kim, Y. M. Park, Y.I. Yoon, J. C. Choi, J.G. Kim, J.J. Choi and a Nigerian, E. Augustine.
Agagbo, who confirmed that the militants used sophisticated guns and dynamites, said unexploded dynamite later found after the attack has been defused and taken away by the anti-bomb unit of the police. He noted that the company does not have any problem with the host community, adding that they were building their camp, as work has not even started on their 40-inch gas pipeline project.
Agagbo, who said that the militants had made no demand as at Wednesday, said: "The abductors should not harm the expatriates. They should please release them without harm."
The early morning invasion has caused the company to shut down operations as few workers were seen in the premises when Daily Sun visited.
Police sources confirmed the attack and said that investigations have already commenced.
Reacting to the militants' attack, the Bayelsa State police command on Wednesday exonerated its men from negligence. According to the command's AC, CID, DCP Kings Omire, there were 18 soldiers and five policemen at the premises of Daewoo Construction during the time of the attack. He revealed that the policemen, who were deployed to the company for escort duties, were sleeping in one of the rooms given to them by the company when the militants arrived, adding that they woke up and came out when they heard gun shots.
"Today, 10 of January 2007, we received a distress call from Daewoo Construction that armed youths numbering 50 in five speed boats invaded the company and kidnapped nine Koreans. As of the time of this kidnapping, 18 soldiers were on guard. The police did not have armed guard; the five men posted to the company were for escort. And as at the time of the attack they were sleeping in one of the rooms given to them. But we have since discovered that they fired some shots but when they learnt they were all alone, they had to take cover elsewhere," he explained
Omire, who said the police had intelligence report about the attack, regretted that it did not happen in places where the police had surveillance. He said that 172 bullet shells of 9.3mm rifle were recovered as well as one shell of PMG 3 rifle.
Omire denied that the policemen on duty have been placed on arrest, stressing, however, that by virtue of their training and being at the scene of the incident the policemen are helping in the investigations.
Meanwhile, the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) has denied involvement in the attack on Daewoo Construction. Spokesman of the group, Gbomo Jomo, said that MEND was not involved in the latest attack
"We are not involved in it. It is probably for ransom and we don't ask for ransom," he noted.