MEND claims responsibility for attack on ExxonMobil

Yenagoa—The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has claimed responsibility for the attack on the American oil giant, ExxonMobil facility in Akwa Ibom State.

The group also threatened to launch a major operation that would simultaneously affect oil facilities across the Niger Delta.

But the Joint Task Force, JTF, assured indigenes of the Niger Delta of their safety stressing that the security outfit is working round the clock to rid the region of criminal elements masquerading as militants and engaging in all manner of atrocities.

MEND, in an online statement signed by its Spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said the attack on the Ibeno facility was carried out by its fighters.

The statement reads: “The attack commenced at approximately 2040hrs Nigerian time and terminated at approximately 2237hrs Nigerian time after our fighters detonated explosives they had earlier rigged to this facility, causing considerable damage.

“Like in the previous attack, on the shallow-water Okoro oilfield on November 7, 2010, seven local employees were abducted. They were taken to prevent the Nigerian government from attributing the damage to this facility to an industrial accident.

“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, wishes to draw the attention of the International Community to the indiscriminate bombing and strafing of communities in the Niger Delta and locations in the creeks and swamps suspected of accommodating militia camps by the Nigerian military.”

It alleged that “At about 1400hrs on November 15, 2010, the Nigerian Army carried out such an attack as described above, in the general vicinity of one of our camps in Rivers State in the Niger Delta.

“Expatriate hostages held at this location had to be removed and relocated for their safety as rocket attacks by the Nigerian military came very close to these individuals.”

The group urged the Nigerian government to be mindful of the fact that these activities are endangering the lives of these hostages who otherwise, would come to no harm in their custody warning that no amount of military activities will secure the release of the hostages as they would be released at their own time.

“The Nigerian government till date has refused to dialogue over addressing the injustice in the Niger Delta preferring instead to deceive the world into believing that the Niger Delta issue has being resolved by the government of Goodluck Jonathan who has only being successful in bribing a few miscreants.

“In the coming weeks, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) will launch a major operation that will simultaneously affect oil facilities across the Niger Delta,”

Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force has assured indigenes of the Niger Delta of their safety stressing that the security outfit is working round the clock to rid the region of criminal elements masquerading as militants who have been engaging in all atrocities such as like kidnapping, sea robbery and illegal boarding of oil production platforms.

The Coordinator Joint Media Campaign Centre, Lt. Col Timothy Antigha in a statement said, “you will recall that in the last few weeks, criminal gangs masquerading as militants have been engaging in all atrocities, like kidnapping, sea robbery and illegal boarding of oil production platforms.

“The JTF is currently in an operation to rid the Niger Delta of these criminal elements, in order for the region to experience the needed peace and security which are imperatives for sustainable development.

“All law abiding indigenes of communities hosting these criminals are advised to remain clam and promptly report suspicious characters to relevant military authorities.”