Human Rights Report 2008

Scorecard for 200
A CEHRD Report on the state of human rights abuse and violence in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
SCORECARD FOR 2008
Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD)
Scorecard for 200

A CEHRD Report on the state of human rights abuse and violence in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD)
Scorecard for 2008

A CEHRD report on the state of human rights abuse and violence in the Niger region of Nigeria
Written By: Patrick Naagbanton Steyvn Obodoekwe Sebastian Kpalap
Published By: Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) 6, Obo Nwanke Street, Post Office Building Ogale-Nchia, Eleme. Rivers State, Nigeria.
Tel; +234 (0)82557893, 082557885, 082557083. E-mail: nigerdeltaproject@yahoo.com Website: www.cehrd.org
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First Published in 2008 By
Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) 6, Obo Nwanke Street, Post Office Building Ogale-Nchia, Eleme. Rivers State. Copyright @ Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), 2008 ISBN NO: 978-38124-9-1 The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) asserts its copyrights to this report, it allows reproduction or photocopying of extracts from this report provided that acknowledgement is given and a copy of the publication carrying the extract is sent to the address above.
Cover Concept: Typesetting:
Mr.Augustine Nse Daniel Miss. Nwawuru, Ugochi G.
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Acknowledgements
he Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) wishes to express her sincere gratitude to several community people, groups and victims of human rights abuse who at one point or another in 2008 reported their cases to us, especially those who CEHRD encouraged to use constitutional means, to seek redress and they heeded our advice. We are also indebted to local journalists and NGO workers who network with us, to raise awareness about the various cases of abuse the organization handled. We encourage them to continue such work to save the Niger Delta region, and the country at large from total collapse. Indeed, without the kind support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), Washington, DC, USA gave to CEHRD we wouldn't have succeeded in doing the work. NED supported CEHRD during the field activities, publication, distribution and other activities related to this project. With our collective commitment and passion, we hope better days will come.Again, we wish to thank NED.
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Foreword
his project commenced in 2007. The project focal states are Bayelsa (central delta) Delta (western delta) and Rivers (eastern delta). At the end of that 2007, CEHRD was supposed to produce a comprehensive annual report for 2007 like this, but that was not possible due to shortage of fund. This is the first human right annual report the organization is producing. The project involves traveling round the project states investigating, documenting and reporting human rights in the states and at the end of each month, produce a newsletter which exposes the basic human rights abuse such as police lawlessness, extra-judicial killings, arrest, detention and harassment. Not only focusing on the reckless behaviour of the police in the region, but also on the violence unleash by the military task force, the Joint Task Force (JTF), the armed groups tagged militants and the general state of insecurity in the region. Most importantly, to this project, are the issues of environmental degradation, pollution and its deadly impacts on the region and its people. CEHRD knows that mere exposing the widespread violations of human rights and violence in the region wouldn't solve the problems. CEHRD after thorough investigation into the cases, create awareness around it, explore its good relationship with other NGOs locally and internationally and the media, to take interest in such matters. In most horrible cases, CEHRD goes out of the project mandate, to provide financial assistance to victims of such violation, to take legal action against the violator(s). CEHRD so many horrible pictures of the horrible incidents in this report, but it is a matter of editorial decision, not to tell the story with such. In course, of this project, it's been quite challenging and frustrating as the project officials faced threats from rights violators (both state and non-state) etc, but that wouldn't deter CEHRD in the struggle to create a society where the respect for human rights will form its basis. In 2008, the situation was appalling and hopeless as other past years. The tragic situation as documented in this report is not peculiar to the core Niger Delta states of Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers (the project states). The aim is to demonstrate
using these three states as case studies that in spite of a supposedly democratic rule in Nigeria these abuse had, continued unabated. What is happening in the deltaic region is also happening in other parts of Nigeria. The incidents in this report are manifestations of a sick and kleptomaniac society. There is the urgent need for a genuine and true democracy in place. Democracy can't come through a siddon look posture, waiting for some divine intervention to come. The people must rise to the occasion, mobilize and organize themselves and fight non-violently in a sincere and committed way to achieve true democracy. We hope that this will be achieved soon through our collective struggle. Patrick Naagbanton, January, 2008.
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Preface
his report was prepared by the trio of Stevyvn Obodoekwe, Sebastian Kpalap and Patrick Naagbanton. Obodoekwe is the head of the Human Rights Program of CEHRD, while Kpalap is its special project officer and Naagbanton is the coordinator of the organization. The content of this report is based on cases of violations, investigated as reported by the human rights project. Every month CEHRD prepares this report and publish them in a newsletter called The Human Rights News which is distributed locally and internationally. The news here are generated from CEHRD's massive networks around the rural communities in the delta, the security forces, the armed groups and gangs, the oil and gas corporations etc. CEHRD stands by the reports as contained here. They are well-researched and authoritative. It is not based on heresay. While investigating the reports, we interviewed a lot of persons, we respect those who talked to us, they confided in us, what we should report and what we should not. The readers of this report should bear with us over this. Mere reading it, is not enough, please take action to redress the situation. You can do something in your small way. The human rights news for 2008 was too bad. The Nigerian police force charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order, protection of life and property through out the federation of Nigeria by virtue of section 214 (1) of the 1999 constitution and section 3 of the PoliceAct was one of the worst violators of human rights in 2008. They extort bribe from poor commuters at illegal checkpoints, they are used by persons to kill their perceived opponents on trumped up charges, and they arrest and detain persons unnecessarily. They behave as if they are above the law. They violate citizen's rights at will without any bit of regard for the law. Their lawless behaviour is partly responsible for the violence in the delta today, because when a force like the police that is supposed to safeguard the people later turn against them, someone will take the law into his or her hands, and a state of lawlessness will eventually emerge. Secondly, in 2008, apart from the lawless behaviour of the Nigerian police force, another security force that has also violated the rights of people in the zone, is the military task force code-named Joint Task Force (JTF)
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sometimes called Operation Restore Hope (ORP). The JTF was formed in 2003 to tackle the growing spate of insecurity and violence in the Niger Delta region. This task force also operating in a very lawless manner like their counterpart, the Nigerian police force has also committed terrible violence and violations in the region. The JTF comprises of the police, the State Security Services (SSS), the Army, the Navy and the Air force. The task force has been implicated in several cases of extra-judicial executions, extortions, illegal arrests and torture of innocent persons on trump up charges. The JTF has also been implicated in cases where they are hired as mercenaries to settle scores in community. They have also been involved in massive proliferation of dangerous Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and thereby contributing to the general state of insecurity which beclouds the deltaic region now. In this report, there is a section that deals with reports of the lawless activities of non-state armed groups and gangs, there are also reports on rape cases and also proliferation of SALWs. There are reports on armed groups like the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) of Jomo Gbomo and its affiliates like the Niger Delta Strike Force (NDSF) led by Farah Dagogo Ipallibo, the People Liberation Movement (PLM) spearheaded by Egberi Papa currently in JTF detention etc. There are also other groups like the Niger Delta Vigilante Movement (NDVM) led by Tom Ateke. The Outlaws by Soboma George, and other MEND chieftains like Chief Ekpemupolo popularly called Tompolo, Commander Jackson a.k.a. Young Shall Grow, Commander Ogbombos, Africa Owei, Victor Ben Ebika Bowei popularly called Boyloaf, Joshua Mackiver who is said to have quit militancy. There are also the street/creek gangs like the Deadly underdogs, the Deewell, the Deebam etc. Sadly, the formation of the JTF in 2003 did not bring the desired peace and security; rather on daily basis we see more audacious armed groups and dangerous SALW flooding the region. Today, a climate of insecurity and culture of violence reign in the region. Kidnappings and other forms of violence are out of control. And finally, It is important to note that, in discussing the proliferation of small arms, armed groups and violent conflicts in the region, the roles of the
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oil and gas Transnational Corporation (TNCs) like Shell, Chevron, Agip etc in the state of insecurity and destruction of the environment of the people which has left the local people miserable, poorer, aggrieved and vulnerable as highlighted in the reports in this section on A dead Environment and a Finished People. The TNCs just take advantage of a weak and corrupt government in place and perpetrate the worst form of abuse and violence unheard of anywhere they operate in the world. The situation looks hopeless. There is an urgent need for true democracy, justice and people-oriented development in Nigeria as a way of redressing the situation. The Niger Delta is just a small unit of the country. The solutions to the situation must be holistic. January, 2008.
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements Foreword Preface (1) THE POLICE: EXTRA-JUDICIALKILLINGS AND LAWLESSNESS Police Breaks The Head of a 9-year-old Hawker Pastor Uses Police, Soldiers to Terrorize Innocent Person Taxi Driver Tortured by Police Over N200 Bribe Goes Blind 23-year-old Student Shot by Police Mobile Policemen Kill Site Engineer, Brand him Armed Robber Policemen Torture Security man in Effurum PoliceAbduct Miss Juliet Ezechi, Others, Extort Money from them Policeman Shot Dead 25-year-old Timi Joshua in Yenogoa Police Shot Dead 23-Year-Old Gabriel atAgbor Pastor Ibiyeomie Uses Police to Harass Journalists, Threaten Others Mobile Police Inflict Life-Threatening Injuries on Hospital Worker Delta Council Boss Uses Thugs, Police to Detain, Harass Journalists Hired Policemen Shot Dead Maduchem over N300,000 (about $2,200) credit Kaladi Languishes In Prison for Not Giving Police N40, 000 Bribe Gang rape of a Girl gave Police Opportunity to Extort Money SSS Tortures Bonny YouthActivists CourtAwards N5m Damages to Don-Pedro for Rights Violation by SSS Court Dumps 13-Year-Old Boy in Prison FamilyAccuses Police of Snatching, Killing two Month old Baby Police Tortured Journalist Isine Ibanga iv v - vi vii - ix 1 2-3 3-5 5 5-7 7- 8 8 8-9 9 - 10 10 - 11 11 - 12 12 - 13 13 - 14 14 - 16 16 - 18 18 - 19 19 19 - 20 20 -22 22 - 23
Police Officer Killed Okadaman, Two Others Askia Ogieh, Isoko Council Boss Uses Thugs, Police to Detain, Harass Journalists (2) Military Task Force and State Violence JTFSoldier Shoots Oluchi Over N50 Bribe Soldiers Torture Ijaw Youth Leader Soldiers Brutalize Fubara forAsking Question during Run-Off Elections JTF shoots Truck Conductor over N500 SoldiersArrest 4Americans, one Nigerian Soldiers Storm Militants' Camps, Kill 5 SoldiersAccused Of Rape, Sale OfArms Soldiers shoot Peaceful Protesters, Kill One Soldiers Brutalize CEHRD Volunteer SSS Bullet Puts 50-year-old Woman on Danger List JTF Kill 2 MilitantsAt Shell's Flow Station in Rivers. JTFArrest Journalist, 9 Others, Detain Them in SSS Cell Bayelsa Re-Run Election: Soldiers Torture Opposition Party Members SSSArrests CNN Journalist Soldiers SackAgge Community, Kill Local People JTFArrest Innocent Persons, Tag Them Militant Soldiers Shot Dead 3 Innocent Persons, WoundAnother inA Commercial Boat JTF Sank Two Boats Carrying IYC Officials JTF Shot Dead a Footballer, 2 Others, Brand them Militants SoldiersAbductAmerican Journalist MEND Declares Oil WarAs Soldiers Kill Innocent Persons, Militants in Rivers Shell's SoldiersArrest Journalists,Activists, Community People JTFArrest Traditional Ruler over Romance with Militants Murder of Deebari Mabani; JTF Kill 15-year-old Barieleera Kuele JTF Kill one Youth, Sack Ogoni Village Egberipapa, Senior MEND CommanderArrested by JTF
23 - 24 24 - 25 26 - 27 27 27 - 28 28 - 29 29 - 30 30 - 32 32 - 33 33 - 34 34 35 35 - 36 36 -37 37 - 38 39 39 - 41 41 41 - 43 43 43 - 44 45 46 - 49 49 - 50 50 - 51 51 51 - 53 53
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Chevron Soldiers Shoot Peaceful Itsekiri Protesters JTF Shot Dead Ijaw Youth Leader in Bonny Ibaka Chief Shot Dead ByAssasin in Military Uniform -
54 55 - 56 56 - 57
(3) Violence, Insecurity and non State armed Groups and Proliferation of SALWs Soldier Killed, German Worker Seized 58 Ateke's Fighters, Naval Officials Killed in Fierce Battle inAlakiri 58 - 59 GoergeAdumu, JTF Soldiers Clash inAndoni 60 - 61 Man abducts 6-year-old boy from church 61 - 62 Margaret Idisi, wife of oil magnate kidnapped. 62 - 63 MEND launches more deadly attacks on oil facilities. 63 - 65 Youth election claims 3 lives in Ekpan 65 Gunmen kidnap Ekeneoreawaji, 2 missing inAsarama. 65 - 66 Mother of Tai caretaker chairman seized in Kira 66 Commissioner's son spends 7 months in captivity 66 - 67 OdukwuAssasinated inAhoada 67 8-year-old child of a widow kidnapped inAsaba 67 - 68 Two toddlers seized inAleto 68 Mistaken identity; lawmaker's wife snatched by gunmen 68 - 69 Bloody violence engulfs Bonny Island. 69 -71 Cultists kill 10 innocent persons in a shooting spree 71 - 72 Bayelsa prison in Rivers State stinks 72 - 73 Gunmen kidnap 2 Lebanese, one Syrian construction worker 73 Ex-Rivers commissioner's ageing mother snatched 73 - 74 Bloody violence soaks Delta State local government election 74 - 75 Gunmen kill 2 policemen, cart away weapons 75 - 76 3-year-old Tonye George kidnapped in Okrika 76 Lawmaker's mother seized by gunmen 76 - 77 8 killed in Gokana, Tai shooting 77 NosaAigbangbe kidnapped inAsaba 77 - 78 Kidnappers of Ndoki chief demand N42m ransom 78 Ship captain, engineer abducted in Bonny waterways 78 MEND attacks shell's facility in Bayelsa 78 - 79 Gunmen hijack vessel, 9 Nigerians, 2 expatriates 79 - 80 Cult violence in UNIPORT, 8 killed, others wounded 80 - 81
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Kidnappers demand N1 billion to free expatriate workers Former Bayelsa state commissioner kidnapped Naval officer killed in militant reprisal attack Gunmen kill security guard, kidnap oil magnate's father Prince Igodo of Bayelsa State, others killed in violent clash Abducted permanent secretary found dead 3 killed as gunmen attack Gov. Uduaghan's convoy MEND attacks Shell's Bonga oilfields FridayAniefiok killed, 3 others wounded as Deebam storm suburb - 6 killed as Farah battles Soboma George Journalist receives death threat Govt.Agents Terrorise opponents during Rivers Local Council polls Abducted female oil worker disappears from kidnappers Dorothy Otele rescued from commercial kidnappers Father of raped girl reports to CEHRD Pregnant woman gives birth in captor's den Politician's children kidnapped Abducted man dies 11-year-old girl raped by beer parlour owner Ateke's groups destroy NNPC gas pipeline Josiah Onaro, 54-year-old tanker driver abducted Gunmen kidnap ship crew, youth corper Egberi Papa, Soboma George's violence spreads to Port Harcourt as 15 feared dead One killed by gunmen in police uniform, school principal kidnapped Kidnappers of toddlers demand N30m 18-year-old Hannah Mgaji raped and murdered inAbraka Israeli worker kidnapped as its ambassador visits Port Harcourt Cult violence left 3 dead in separate attacks in Bayelsa Gunmen kidnap two French expatriates in Onne Rising Ekennoa kidnapped in Rumuolomeni Five civilians, one police killed as militants attack shell's facility -
81 - 82 82 82 - 83 83 83 - 85 85 - 86 86 86 - 87 87 - 89 89 - 91 91 91 - 93 93 93 - 94 94 - 95 95 95 - 96 96 97 - 98 98 - 99 99 99 - 100 100-101 101-102 102-103 103-104 104-105 105 106 106-107 107-108
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MEND calls off ceasefire, attacks major pipelines in Nembe 8 expatriates kidnapped Gunmen kidnap 2 oil engineers Government house accountant murdered Father of Delta SSG kidnapped, N50 million paid as ransom Nornu, Yobo's brother kidnapped Lawmaker's father kidnapped 30 gunmen kill soldier, kidnap German workers Violence swallows Jakpa community Assassins murder man, wife Assassins kill 26-year-old Deebari Mabani in Kpite Noble Diri kidnapped at Kalaibiama Samuel Okwa, the Icelander Chief inAndoni arrested. Gunmen overrun Okoroba Community, one dead, 15 injured. Police rescued Port Harcourt Local Government boss, 2 kidnapped Prof. Fakae seized by 6 Gunmen 6 Filipinos kidnapped in Bonny Cult clash claims the life of Sunny GunmenAbduct Timber Merchants, Publisher Soldiers, militants killed in a major attack in Bonny Island Niger Delta-Bakassi group kidnap 10 oil workers Gunmen kidnap two sisters Pastor Bassey, Sola Femi kidnapped 6-year-old Collins Roberts 62-year-old Moses Irimisose kidnapped Gunmen abduct Lebanese construction worker Zenith bank manager kidnapped Shell workers kidnapped in Bayelsa, Delta Retired Methodist clergy kidnapped in Gokana 4 Naval Officers, Shell Worker, 5 others killed in attack in Nembe MEND opens camps in Delta State, threatens more violence 74-year-old Mrs. Benamiasia kidnapped INTELS boss assassinated in Port Harcourt 14 killed in violent attack in Sangana creek 5 policemen, one Saipem worker killed by gunmen in Rivers
108 108-109 109 110 110-111 111-112 112 112-113 113-114 114-115 115 115 116 116-117 117 118 119 119-120 120 120-121 121-122 122 122-123 123-124 124 125 125-126 126-127 127-128 128-130 130-131 131 131-132 132-133
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Policemen Killed in Opobo Waterways Kidnappers seize Shell Workers, Demand N7 M Ibaka chief shot dead byAssasin in military uniform Assassins who posed as photographers shot dead school vice-principal 14-year-old Stella Chinedu raped to death Tom Ateke's fighters disarm JTF soldiers at NNPC depot, Eleme Senator Lee Maeba's aged mother abducted Elder Sylvester Mbata gunned down in his bedroom More killed as Deebam, Deewell clashed in Ikwerre community PDP stalwart, another assassinated in Port Harcourt same day Chief Wale Adegboye gunned down in Port Harcourt Russians, Ukrainian, Filipino kidnapped in Rivers 3 Youths, 5 Soldiers died in attack on Agip facility in Bayelsa State Abducted female oil worker disappears from kidnappers Gunmen kidnap two toddlers Militants attack police station in Amasoma, cart away arms Militants sack Bonny police station, kill 5 policemen, free detainees. Gunmen abduct 11-year-old Chichi, kill driver, escort. 4 soldiers, others killed as Soboma Jackrich clashes with Soboma George Gunmen kill 3 soldiers, 4 civilians Deewell cultists murder 67-year-old Thompson Enang Militants attack police station, kill one police man, Cart away arms Kidnapped Pa Jacob Odivwri found dead 6 days after Shell Workers Abducted in Rumuodomaya, Kidnappers Demand 7 million naira RansomPidomson, Ex-Rivers SSG's Sister Kidnapped RSUST Professor Kidnapped, Released After Payment of N3million Ransom Emengini, Union Bank Manager Kidnapped -
133 133-134 134 135 135-136 136 137 137-138 138 139 139-140 140 140-141 141-142 142-143 143 143-144 144 144-145 145-146 147 147-148 148 148-149 149 150 150-151
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Joy Iyaye, Rivers Sport Commissioner's Wife Abducted Baron Wami Shot Dead by Assassins in His Office Scottish Oil Worker Kidnapped Pa Jacob Odivwri Kidnapped, Found Dead 6 Days After (4) A Dead Environment and a Finished People Shell's Toxic Waste Threatens Rural People Community People Decry Shell Refusal to Clean Spill Oil Spill Destroys Otefe Community Local People Cry over Intimidation by Chevron's Soldiers Shell Dumps toxic Waste in Orogun Shell's Unprecedented Spill Destroys Bodo Creek, As Shell contractor threaten CEHRD officials over report. 3 Die in Agip Oil Pollution in Ikebiri Agip Dumps Toxic Waste in Delta Community 6 Shell Workers Die in Pipeline Explosion, Others Injured. Shell Spill Ravages Ikarama Community -
151 151-152 152 152 153 153-154 154-155 155 156 156-159 159-160 160-161 161 162
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Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness
(1) Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and Security of person - Article 3, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Police Breaks The Head of a 9-year-old Hawker The head of Temple Isaac, a 9-year-old water vendor (pure water hawker) was broken with gun butt by policemen from the Mile 1 police Division. Also brutalized with him by the same policemen was an Okada rider, Mr. David Frank who was stripped naked by the rampaging security men. Frank was brutally dealt with and bundled to the police station in pants only. The ugly incident occurred at the ever-busy Education bus stop on Friday, May 30, 2008 at about 10am. Frank and Temple were among many other people at the bus stop area when the policemen stormed the place like hawks in search of preys. Frank, the commercial motorcycle operator disclosed that he was at the filling station at the bus stop area waiting for passengers when the policemen arrived. On arrival, they opened fire into the air, forcing people to scamper for safety. I joined others in running knowing that everybody around there is a target, the Okada rider stated. However, he could not run fast enough as he was eventually rounded up, captured and beaten mercilessly. He was accused of beating up two police women; an accusation he said sounds funny to him. It was in the process of kicking at every moving object within their reach that the little Frank was hit with a gun butt which broke his head. An eye-witness told CEHRD that when the little boy collapsed, he rushed to him and took him to the Mile 1 police station. At the police station, the boy was taken to the officer who referred the boy to the trauma unit of Teme hospital, Port Harcourt where Doctors without Borders has a trauma unit. The Okada rider was detained for several hours and was later released at about 6pm on payment of N3,000 bribe.
Pastor Uses Police, Soldiers to Terrorize Innocent Person For daring to demand his debt of about Two hundred and Eight Thousand Naira (N208,000) from his pastor, Mr. Eworo E. Emeng of Jabez International Ministry, Port Harcourt, Nnana Adoo and his family of six children have not only been subjected to constant police harassments, but have been locked out of their resident at No. 3 Car Link road, off Abacha Road, Port Harcourt. Mr. Adoo, a bricklayer, who hails from Botem in Babbe Kingdom, Ogoni, was locked out of his apartment with his wife, who was then nursing a four month old baby and his five other children. I am now stranded, the small business I dey do, I no fit do again, my children no longer go to school. We are all packed in a small store in front of the premises where my wife is doing small trading, Mr. Adoo lamented to CEHRD. He further disclosed that a lady nurse who was touched by his family's ordeals in the hands of the pastor gave him a store, a pot, spoons and plates with which they have been eating since their properties were locked up in the compound. Before locking Adoo and his family out, the man of God, a pharmacist who works with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Waterline, Port Harcourt, as chief pharmacist was said to have used both soldiers and policemen to harass, arrest and detain Adoo, a member of his church. He had also used lawyers to issue quit notice to him, claiming to be the owner of the property. One of the quit notices served on him by one Jude E. Mama was handed over to him three days after the birth of his new baby. I couldn't believe it; when my wife delivered, I told him. I baptized him in his church, and three days later, he gave me another quit notice telling me to pack out from the house. I asked him whether he was really a, man of God, that he should pity the new baby and his mother. But determined to force him out of the premises which belong to Anjuba Oruambo who resides at Abuja, the Ogoja-born pastor who met Adoo as the caretaker in the compound, brought two soldiers to torture him and forced him to accept to quit. Mr. Adoo was not at home when the rented soldiers came. On May 17, 2008, he was arrested by policemen from Olu-Obasanjo police station but was released the following day following the intervention of his land lady's son Sodi who, though was in Abuja, directed somebody to go and release him on bail. After listening to Adoo, the Olu Obasanjo police dismissed the matter saying that he had no case to answer. But the pastor
later used policemen from Nkpolu Mile 3 police station to arrest and detained his 18-year-old son, Festus Adoo. The policemen who affected the arrest narrowly missed Adoo as he was not in the house when they came. When he later sent somebody to secure the release of his son, he was told to pay N20, 000. He then sought help from the Legal Aids Council which referred him to CEHRD. Following the intervention of the groups and the then Port Harcourt Area police commander, Mr. Jonathan Udoh, the boy was freed. However, the police refused to advise their customer to open the door and allow Mr. Adoo and his family gain access to the house and belongings after about two weeks. Contacted on phone, the landlady expressed dismay that the pastor locked out a man who has been working for her and has been living in the premises over the years. The pastor can't do that, she said. Mr. Adoo was living peacefully in the yard from 1997 until 2007 when he asked the pastor to pay him the sum of N208, 000 being cost of labour he rendered for the pastor's church building. It was gathered that when the pastor moved into the premises in 2006, he was welcomed by the caretaker, Mr. Adoo who did clearing and other jobs for him when he was building the church. He charged N2, 000 daily for the labour. Mr. Adoo, who was converted to Christianity by the pastor, said that he considers the pastor as God on earth until he showed his true colour. Taxi Driver Tortured by Police Over N200 Bribe Goes Blind Mr. Joshua Oseveta, a taxi driver based in Warri, the slummy over-crowded Metropolis of Delta State who was tortured by 5 policemen from the Enerhen Divisional Police of the state police headquarters, Asaba, Delta state is now a blind man. On March 31, 2008 the police officers flagged down Oseveta who was driving his passengers Volkswagen Passat taxi along Urhobo College Road in Effurum, in Warri. As the taxi cab stopped, the police officers demanded a bribe of N200 (less than $2) and when the driver pleaded with them that he doesn't have money again and that he has just paid similar bribe at a nearby police checkpoint, the angry bribe-loving police officers pounced on him. They beat him with the butt of their guns to the extent that their prey (Joshua
Osevata) bled profusely and they left him. A victimized Oseveta who had his right eye and body seriously bloodied first went to Delta state Government owned general hospital to receive treatment for his injuries. Some days afterward, he was referred to an eye specialist hospital in Warri. The victim lamented to CEHRD in Pidgin English, a corrupt version of English Language which has now assumed a life of its own in Nigeria. This is the translated version of Joshua Oseveta's interview in English: since I went to the General hospital that first treated me to obtain medical report and they refused, I later wrote a petition to the police but since then the police have been coming to my house to threaten me and my landlord has given me quit notice. I found out that the police also threatened my landlord to quit me. I am out of that house and don't have a place to live. The owners of the car I hired have taken their car, I used all my savings to treat myself and don't have money to rent a new house now. I am jobless now and not seeing. I feel like committing suicide and just die away. He broke down and wept uncontrollably while talking to CEHRD monitor in Warri. CEHRD contacted Mr. Gabriel Ughoton, the Enerhen divisional police officer (DPO) of the police station where the police who brutalized Joshua and who mounted their pick-up van with the bold inscription, DIVISIONAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS, ENHERHEN came from. Characteristic of the police, Ughoton swore to the high heavens that his men were not involved in the torture in spite of the fact that Joshua told CEHRD that he knows the men and that after he reported them, they have been coming to his former residence to harass him and his landlord. CEHRD also visited the general hospital in Warri, and the officials there confirmed that Joshua Oseveta was attended to in the hospital, but refused to release any report to CEHRD. A sympathetic nurse at the hospital who pleaded anonymity told CEHRD that when Oseveta was still receiving treatment in the hospital, the police met with top officials of the clinic and held close door meetings with them. And that since then, the hospital officials have threatened nurses working
there not to even mention the Joshua Oseveta case to any body. The eye specialist hospital in Warri confirmed to CEHRD that Oseveta has lost vision (blind). CEHRD wrote a letter dated June 28, 2008, to the inspectorgeneral of police and copied relevant bodies regarding Oseveta's impaired vision, but until the time of this report, the organization has not received any reply. A dramatic twist has however been added to the case of poor Joshua Oseveta. Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, the Delta State chairman of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR) recently instituted a N10 million law suit in the Federal High Court in Benin city, Edo state against DPO Gabriel Ughoton and 3 others on behalf of Oseveta for the enforcement of his fundamental rights to life, dignity of human person and personal liberty. Since the filing of the legal action, CEHRD is extremely worried that the human rights lawyer (Oghenejabor Ikimi) is being threatened on daily basis by the affected police officers. 23 year old Student Shot by Police The police from Delta State axis like other police in other parts of Nigeria behave recklessly. On October 23, 2006, at about 6.15pm, a team of mobile policemen who raised a checkpoint at Warri/Port Harcourt expressway by Enenurhe junction, near Patani, Delta State shot a 23-year-old Cynthia Agaga who was driving a private vehicle with her brother-in-law and were heading to Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. Agaga, who was in her second year then at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma Delta State, biochemistry department, had her right leg shattered to pieces by the police bullet. Mobile Policemen Kill Site Engineer, Brand himArmed Robber On Monday September 8, 2008, around 6:45pm, heavily armed Mobile Policemen from the Quick Response Squad (QRS) of the Delta State police command stationed at Sedco junction, Warri in Delta state shot dead a 35year-old Gideon Bluff Ovikpokpo who was traveling in a car and branded him an armed robber. The victim, a mechanical engineering graduate of the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, was a site engineer with Poliod Engineering Services
Limited. The tragic incident befell Gideon while he was returning from work on that fateful day. He was shot dead at Ogunnu junction in Warri. But the police maintained that the deceased was an armed robber and that he was part of a 3-member gang that robed and dispossessed them of their possession. Muazu Mohamed, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Enerhen police division said that the shooting of Gideon occurred in his jurisdictional area, confirmed the incident to CEHRD investigators, but said the shooting was not done by his men. Some eyewitnesses recounted the incident to CEHRD as follows: Gideon would have survived. When they shot him he didn't die instantly, we took him to Delta Clinic, there was no electricity; we took him again to Mena Clinic, all in Warri and there was no Nurse to attend to us, the doctor at Mena refused to attend to us. Because he was bleeding seriously, he later died, reported Mr. Justine Oma, 28-year-old student who made attempt to save Gideon's life. I returned from work that day around 5:00pm, I was sitting in my parlour just watching the road. My house overlooks the Sedco junction. I actually saw when the police shot at the car carrying the boy (Gideon). We went down to see the person. To me, it is not a strange incident. I have been staying in my house for the past 8 years. We have witnessed and heard similar incidents several times. Immediately after the shooting, I saw when the mobile policemen entered their vehicle, a pick-up with an inscription written on it, Quick Respond Squad, and left the scene as people were shouting. I was one of those who summoned courage, because I am a mother. In the hands of Gideon was a black cell phone, paw-paw and oranges (both ripe and unripe). One of his hands was clutching to it. It was so sad. What must have happened? How can the police just shoot him and run like that? 43-year-old woman (name withheld) is a mother of 5 children and a civil servant; she is not allowed by law to grant interview to any publication.
Chief Paul Idemudia, the executive director of Poliod Engineering Services Limited, where the late Gideon Bluff Ovikpokpo was working, told CEHRD that the deceased was not an armed robber and that he left him in the office at 6:00pm that day. Also, Apostle Idogo Ekoh of the Divine Prayer and Faith Ministries at Ekete waterside where the late Gideon was an active member said that he has never been involved in any criminal activities since he knew him about10 years ago. Police told CEHRD that Gideon was a member of a 3-man gang who robbed some people along the Sedco area near Ogunu junction and that he was shot while fleeing with other members of his gang after robbing the occupants of a pick-up van. CEHRD has written to the police calling for a thorough and sincere investigation into the incident. Policemen Torture Security man in Effurum On October 1, 2008, while Nigeria was still celebrating her flag independence from Britain, around 6:30pm of that day, a team of policemen from Ekpan police station driving in a Volvo car pounced on Mr. Daniel Ileomona 37, a staff of OCAN Marine Services riding his Lifan Motorcycle marked DT 4839Z. The policemen used the butts of their guns and horsewhips on the victim. Ileomona was beaten by the police to a state of unconsciousness at the popularAkaAvenue at Effurun in Delta State. The police had stopped Daniel who was returning from his work and threatened to deal with him for riding his motorbike around that period. CEHRD gathered from eye-witnesses that the poor Daniel Ilomona responded to the police politely that it was not yet 7:00pm, and that he was not a commercial motorbike rider. The police didn't take it kindly, they swooped on him and gave him the beating of his life and abandoned him there, while his motorcycle was seized and taken into the police vehicle and zoomed off. A sympathetic commercial motorbike rider telephoned CEHRD about the incident. Mr. Yusuff Audu, the Division Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ekpan police station where the police who tortured 37-year-old Daniel come from
and where his seized motorbike was traced to, told CEHRD, I paraded my men that night and they did not leave the station until past 8:00pm CEHRD also found out that the team that tortured Daniel was led by Inspector Daniel Tashi. The victim, Daniel Ilemona was admitted at a hospital in the area due to the injuries he suffered. CEHRD wrote to the police office asking them to pay for the bills of the victim but they never replied. CEHRD is also encouraging the victim to sue the police. In Delta State and other states of the delta, motorcycles are banned from plying the streets from 7:00pm. Those caught are prosecuted, however, security officials mostly police, navy, soldiers etc don't obey the order. They are seen operating beyond the 7:00pm ban for commercial purposes. PoliceAbduct Miss Juliet Ezechi, Others, Extort Money from them On October 20, 2008, a team of heavily armed policemen from the old GRA police station in Port Harcourt, Rivers State at about 10:50pm invaded the premises of 62 Ogbunabali Street in the city and took Miss Juliet Ezechi, a 16-year-old hair dresser and 2 others to their cell at the old GRA police station. The police team which was led by Supol Bassey saw Juliet and her friends lying on a mat in front of their No. 62 Ogbunabali family house and arrested them. They were not told their crime, but when taken to the police station they were asked to pay N30,000 each for their bail. Others paid and were released the following day, but Juliet was held, not until CEHRD called the attention of the police in the state to the matter, and she was released. Such incident of human rights abuse by the police was on the increase as the year (2008) drew to an end. The police arrest innocent persons and place charges on them with a view to extort money from them. CEHRD condemns this. Policeman Shot Dead 25-year-old Timi Joshua in Yenogoa On Wednesday 22 October, 2008, a police officer with the Bayelsa Police Command shot dead Timi Joshua, a 25-year-old man accidentally. Apart from Timi Joshua, T-Boy, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Akenfa
Youth Movement (AYM) was hit by stray bullet from the mobile policeman. The accidental shooting took place at the Akenfa community in the Yenegoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The unprovoked shooting stirred emotion; the youths of the community later mobilized and disarmed the trigger-happy mobile policeman. The remains of the deceased were deposited at a hospital in theAkenfa area. The police in the area beefed up security around the Divisional police station in the Akenfa area, to pre-empt any planned protest by aggrieved youths. A mobile police armored personnel carrier was stationed at the entrance of the station. The Bayelsa state police Relations Officer, DSP Iniobong Ibokette confirmed the incident to CEHRD, but claimed they arrested the police officer while investigations into the matter continued. Police Shot Dead 23-Year-Old Gabriel at Agbor On Friday, October 31, 2008, a police constable shot dead a 23-year-old Gabriel Anubituanokole at a popular checkpoint near Oando Filling Station along the Agbor/Benin Expressway located in the Agbor in the Ika South Local GovernmentArea of Delta State. The victim and his friends were traveling in a Honda Odyssey car, the car was ordered to stop and the police demanded for the particulars of the car. As the driver of the car dipped his hands into the car, to bring out the documents, a bang was heard. Unfortunately, the Gabriel was hit by a bullet from the police gun. As Gabriel wailed in pains with blood gushing out of his body, his colleagues in the car immediately drew the attention of the police to the tragic incident. An eye-witness who telephoned CEHRD said that when the policemen realized that some body had been shot by one of them, they hurriedly returned the particulars to the driver of the car Gabriel was traveling in and zoomed off. They were 5 in number at the check point. Still breathing and bleeding profusely from the bullet wound, the victim, Gabriel Mordi was taken to the Agbor Central Hospital. The hospital officials refused to give him treatment until his mother came from Asaba,
about 20 minutes drive to Agbor and made payment for her son to be treated. The hospital authority started treatment too late and Gabriel died after loosing much blood. Several persons had died this way as a result of negligence and sheer callousness on the part of government hospital officials. CEHRD urges the Nigerian government to upgrade its medical facilities and staff it with qualified and competent personnel. When CEHRD contacted the Delta State Police Public Relation Officer (PRO), Mr. Charles Muka, the police spokesman confirmed the incident and assured us that the command is investigating the matter. Several times CEHRD gets such assurance from the security officials, but they end up not doing anything. On Wednesday, November 5, 2008 23-year-old Gabriel Anubituan Kole Mordi was buried at Ebu, near Asaba, the capital of Delta State after a requiem mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church there. Poor boy was buried amidst wailing and curses on the Nigerian police force and the hospital. It was a pathetic scene. CEHRD official attended the burial at Ebu, but the Nigerian Police force was not there. Pastor David Ibiyeomie Uses Police to Harass Journalist, Threaten Others On September 27, 2008, Mrs. Ibiene Ogundu, a broadcaster with the Rivers State Television (RSTV) had done a documentary on her radio station entitled, Prosperity; Right Here, Right Now. The documentary examined the flamboyance lifestyle and crass materialism of Pentecostal pastors. The documentary did not single out any particular pastor or church as its thematic concern. It focused generally on the issues without mention of a particular person. No sooner was the documentary aired than Mrs. Ogundu came under threats. Pastor David Ibiyeomie, the head of the Salvation Ministries, a fast growing Pentecostal church headquartered in the GRAof Port Harcourt, Rivers State, angered by the report of Mrs. Ibiene Rowland Ogundu on RSTV, reportedly ordered his church members to rain curses on the poor broadcaster and her generation and that they should also pray for her death. A helpless and
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frightened Ibiene contacted CEHRD to protect her. CEHRD contacted the Nigerian union of Journalists (NUJ), rivers state council which should protect journalists. Other human rights organizations were also contacted. CEHRD also issued press statement calling for refrain on the part of the Pentecostal pastor. Even journalists who reported the ordeals of Mrs. Ibiene Rowland Ogaundu found themselves harassed, arrested and detained by police on the instructions of Pastor David Ibieyeomie. The National Network and Surveillance newspapers wrote reports about the harassment of Mrs. Ogundu. In the early hours of Tuesday, December 2, 2008, a team of policemen from the police headquarters in Abuja led by Alfa Musa, an Assistant Superintendent of Police invaded the No. 6 Udi Street, Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt office of The National Network and arrested Mr. Kenneth Amabipi, the executive editor of The National Network Newspaper. He was released later. It would be recalled that on November 18, 2008, the police also detained surveillance newspaper editor-in-chief and publisher, Mr Monday Wehere because of the Ibiyeomie story. CEHRD condemns the way and manner the Police is used for malicious purposes by individuals. The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 guarantees the Right to Freedom of Expression and the press (see section 39 (1) and (2)). What Pastor David Ibiyeomie should have done rather than resorting to such savage means was to refute the report that he doesn't fall in the category of prosperity preachers the Mrs. Ibiene Rowland Ogundu report described. Mobile Police Inflict Life-Threatening Injuries on Hospital Worker. On Sunday, December 7, 2008, men of the Joint Security Patrol team (mobile policemen) in the Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State manhandled Mr. Patrick Ebogbuem, the chief security officer in charge of the Obiaruku General Hospital in the area and inflicted serious injuries on his chest. The crime of the victim, Ebogbuem is that the Mobile Policemen brought corpses of 3 persons the police said were armed robbers to be deposited at the morgue of the hospital. Ebogbuem insisted that the Police should bring necessary documentations and the Police got angry and gave him the beating of his life with gun butts.
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A staff of the hospital who revealed the incident to CEHRD said Mr. Patrick is now on danger list. He has injuries in his chest and body and required a specialist attention. He was referred to the university of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State capital. The hospital where the victim is working is a government hospital. CEHRD has written to the Delta state police command over the incident urging the police to save the life of their prey by offering all necessary medical support and punish the erring police officer. The police never acknowledge the receipt of the CEHRD's latter or reply it. Delta Council Boss Uses Thugs, Police to Detain, Harass Journalists Recently, the Paris, French-based journalists watchdog, Reporters without Borders in their press Freedom Index ranked Nigeria as the 120th worst violators of press freedom. According to the group, Nigeria scored 32.23 which placed her ahead of 48 countries in terms of press freedom. But among African countries, Nigeria is the 31as worst violators of press freedom. Few days after Reporters Without Borders declared their findings, thugs and policemen from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Delta State Police Command Asaba, the capital of Delta State mandated by Mr. Askia Ogieh, the chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State on Monday, December 8, 2008 descended on some journalists Mr. Richard Ogbage, publisher of The Niger Delta Details and Isoko Details Newspaper (both Local tabloid). Ogbage was traveling to his Igbide village in the council area when thugs attacked him and police detectives from CID arrested him. Richard Ogbege, the victim of the council boss' lawlessness was first detained at the police cell in the area for 12 hours before being taken to the state Police headquarters, Asaba where the newspaper publisher was harassed by police officials clearly under the instruction ofAskia Ogieh. CEHRD gathered that even journalists, Joe Ogbodu andAmour Udemude of the Compass and Niger Delta standard newspapers respectively who had visited the council to find out the position of the chairman following the
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arrest of their colleague, narrowly escaped being lynched by stern-looking thugs loyal to the council boss. They were harassed and threatened to leave the council secretariat by the chairman, Askia Ogieh. It took the intervention of some sympathetic visitors to the council who pleaded with the chairman before the journalists were allowed to leave in peace and not in pieces. In October, 2008 Richard Gbage had, in The Isoko Details newspaper reported, Squandermania; N400 million Scam. According to the report, Mr. Askia Ogieh, the chairman of Isoko South Local Government area, an oil and gas rich council in Delta state, had expended 400 million naira within 100 days in office in a manner that was not transparent. The chairman was angered by such revealing report of misuse of the council funds meant for developing the area, but was instead to under-developed and povertystricken Isoko South area. He rented thugs and policemen to harass, arrest and detained the journalist and others. CEHRD called the private mobile phone of the council boss to urge him to release the newspaperman and respond to the allegations raised in the publication rather than adopting such thuggish and undemocratic behaviour, but he wouldn't pick his phone. We gathered that the publisher was later released from the police cell due to pressures from CEHRD and other groups. Hired Policemen Shot Dead Maduchem over N300,000 (about $2,200) credit On December 3, 2008, two policemen hired by Okwudili Ezeamam, a shoe trader, shot dead Mr. Chukwudi Sampson Maduchem over a Three hundred thousand naira ($2,200) money owned the victim, Mr. Chukwudi by Okwudili. On the above date, CEHRD reliably gathered that Mr. Okwudili Ezeamama, a trader who deals in shoes and wears had persuaded Mr. Chukwudi Sampson Maduchem, a 27-year-old final year law student of the Anambra State University, Uli, Anambra State and a shoe dealer, to accompany him (Okwudili) to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Wharf in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. That he would buy table salt and after that pay him the
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whooping sum of N300, 000 ($2,200) he was owing Chukwudi. Little did Chukwudi know that death was lucking around? Two Police corporals Mr. Okwudili Ezeamama, who runs a Shop at No. 42, Creek Road, and resides at No. 50, Moore House Street, Port Harcourt, had hired were waiting with their fully loadedAK47 riffles to strike. Around 11.30am, Okwudili Ezeamama had arrived with his prey, Mr. Chukwudi Sampson Maduchem. Abimaku Wahala and Joshua Angazi, both corporals from the NPA police station arrived and shot dead Chukwudi. He reportedly died instantly from bullet wounds. CEHRD investigators gathered that it was wares hawker who recognized the victim and ran to report to Mr. Sampson Maduchem, the father of the deceased. The culprits had thought their misdeeds would not be exposed but the tragic news was every where around the NPAarea. Mr. Sampson Maduchem, the father of the victim wrote a petition to the police and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Rivers State Police Command told CEHRD that the two policemen were arrested. However, they never allowed CEHRD to see them in their cell neither give details of the matter. We later gathered that corporal Abimaku Wahala is still being held at the CID cell, but that his colleague, Joshua Angazi has been released. CEHRD is worried that police who are supposed to protect lives and properties, could be rented like a thug to kill the people they are supposed to protect at will. CEHRD also doubts police sincerity in this matter. Even the autopsy report that the victim's father paid for is being withheld by the police. CEHRD has written to the police over the matter. Kaladi Languishes In Prison for Not Giving Police N40, 000 Bribe. For not being able to cough out N40, 000 to give to the policemen at the Diobu Mile one police station, Port Harcourt, Kaladi Batubo who hails from Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State has been dumped at the Port Harcourt Prisons where he is still languishing as at the time of compiling this report.
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Kaladi, 25, was among 17 Port Harcourt residents who were arrested on Thursday May 6, 2008 during an early morning raid by policemen from the Diobu Mile 1 division. The heavily armed police team stormed Udi Water front, a slum settlement in Diobu at about 4am that fateful day, shooting sporadically, both into the air and at ground level. While the shootings were going on, they were smashing doors and windows capturing male residents of the area. Some of the victims of the early morning raid received various degrees of injuries. Among those arrested was an 18-year-old boy identified as Idong. Although they were not told the reason for the raid, they were all bundled to the Mile 1 police station and detained. At the station, they were told to bring between N15, 000 and N40, 000 naira before they would be released. The 18-year-old Idong was billed N18, 000 but the family members were able to pay only N10, 000. They were told not to fail to bring the balance of N8, 000. Initially, Kaladi was billed by the policemen N40, 000 as price for his liberty. When our field officers talked with Sonia, sister to the detained Kaladi who was going to the police to ask for his release, she disclosed that the family offered to pay N25, 000 to the police, which the policemen rejected bluntly. However, following an intervention by some CEHRD officials, Kaladi was released free of charge on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 after spending seven days in the dirty police cell. But on the following day, Wednesday May 14, he was re-arrested when he went back to the Police station to ask for his handset and golden necklace which were seized from him by the policemen. He was arrested and detained and the policemen told him that he was ungrateful. Others paid money for their release, but you were released free and you have the mind to come back to ask for your handset and necklace, one of the policemen told him. Arrested with him on that May 14 was his sister, Sonia, who bargained for his release when he was first arrested and offered to purchase his brother's freedom with N25, 000. She was later told to bring the N25, 000 she once offered on behalf of his brother failing which she would be charged for cultism. Kaladi was later dragged to a Chief Magistrate court sitting in Port Harcourt on May 15, 2008 and was charged with cultism. The Magistrate suit no is PMC, /597c/2008. A human right group later went to a state High
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Court to seek his bail. As at the time of this report, the motion for his bail has not been moved as the judge handling it seems to be avoiding the case. Kaladi is still in prison. Gang rape of a Girl gave Police Opportunity to Extort Money. A 25-year-old girl (names withheld) was gang-raped for over 4 hours continuously by a gang of 10 hoodlums. The ugly incident took place at the St. Thomas area of Diobu, Port Harcourt on Thursday, May 15 2008. I was dragged from a bus by 4 of the boys at about 11pm and taken to a jungle where 6 other people were waiting and one after the other, the 10 of them took their turn to rape me, the traumatized girl told CEHRD with tears in her eyes. The girl said that as soon as they dragged her to their bunk, a mechanic garage littered with abandoned vehicles, they subjected her to serious beatings, tore her skirt and blouse before embarking on the sexual escapades. As each of them was doing it, without condom, others were urging him to do quickly and give them chance saying o boy do quickly now make I do my own, she stated. They continued like that until about 3am when they finally allowed her to go. The rape victim said that initially she wanted to break loose and run away, but was warned that if she tried it, she would be killed. I no wan die, I was helpless, so, I resigned to fate and kept my body for them, leaning on one of the abandoned vehicles, she said. When they became satisfied, they told her to run but warned that she should not try to alert the police. They also seized her clothes, leaving her to go in pant and bra only. The exhausted girl managed to trace the house of one of her friends around that area and as soon as she entered the house, she collapsed. Her friend gave her clothes to wear and as soon as day broke, she went and got some drugs for her. She remained with the girl until Sunday when she went home in the morning. For several days, her private part, waist and lower abdominal region pained her seriously. When asked why she did not go home or go to the police immediately she regained her freedom, she said, I was ashamed coming out naked, I may be seen by people
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The girl was being taken home by the bus driver whose name she gave as Ikechukwu. Another boy who said that he came for examination in Port Harcourt but was stranded as their vehicle arrived very late was also in the bus. However, as they stopped to help the boy locate his destination, 6 of the hoodlums surrounded them. One of the boys faced the boy, 4 engaged the driver, Ikechukwu, while one confronted the girl. They wanted to rob the driver, but he managed to escape and ran away, leaving them behind (herself and the boy). Two of the hoodlums pounced on the boy and started to beat him mercilessly, while the other 4 men dragged the girl carelessly along the rough path to the jungle. The boy had his head broken. The driver who escaped from the cultists ran to a JTF checkpoint at Owhonda by Ikwerre road, near Ikoku junction. After alerting the soldiers, he went back to the spot, brought out N500 note and shouted come and take money and leave my sister alone. Not knowing that that was a bait to apprehend them, one of the rapists was sent to get the money from him. When the boy saw the N500, he told him that N500 is an insult and as he wanted to turn back, the man told him to wait that he wanted to increase the amount. As soon as the boy turned to collect the money he grabbed him and wrestled him down, held him tight until the soldiers came to arrest him, the cult boy. He was taken to the JTF checkpoint where he was tied by the soldiers. The detainee was later handed over to the police at the Diobu Mile 1 police station. With the aid of the boy, 3 other members of the gang, including one Mola identified as their leader were also arrested. Mola is said to be a local hard drug seller while the rapists are his errand boys and marketers. Those captured revealed other members of their gang. Unfortunately, rather than going after them, the policemen went back to the area and arrested 4 other persons said to be innocent and took them to the police station. Even the rapists told the policemen that those boys were not among them but the police insisted on detaining them. They were later released on Monday May, 19, 2008 after bribing the police with about N7, 000 each. The rape incident later turned out to be an opportunity for the policemen to extort money as they refused to prosecute them or carryout investigations into the activities of the hoodlums. It was
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gathered that the policemen later collected about N150, 000 from the rapists and let them off the hook after threatening to arrest the raped girl and the bus driver for daring to request that the matter be charged to court. The gang is said to have been terrorizing the area, raping helpless girls and married women on daily basis. SSS Tortures Bonny YouthActivists The State Security Service (SSS) on June 5, 2008 arrested Samuel Allison and Henry Jumbo, both peaceful youth activists in the Bonny Island in the Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State. They were detained and tortured in the SSS cell in the area for 3 days. CEHRD gathered that few days before the youth activists ordeals, DBN Limited and Fougerolle Nigeria Limited, the companies operating in the area terminated the appointments of some youths from the area hitherto working with the companies. Samuel Allison and Henry Jumbo were angry that the companies terminated the appointment of their employees without enough reason. The duo wrote letters and went round the area to circulate to youth bodies, elders and the companies to wade into the matter and reinstate those sacked. The action of Allison and Jumbo did not appeal to the officer-in-charge of the SSS in the Island. He later arrested them. Speaking to CEHRD on the Island, Henry Jumbo said: our sin is that we wrote letters about the indiscriminate termination of our youths by DBN Limited and Fougerolle Nigeria Limited. The SSS boss arrested us. We were covered with rain coat to disguise us. In the cell, we were tortured with horse-whip, humiliated and branded with all sort of names. In the cell, he forced guns into our hands without bullet and photographed us and told us that he will bring charges of armed robbery, militancy and cultism against us. It is now I understand how poor and innocent people are killed in this country. We will let the world know what happened to us. CEHRD tried to contact the SSS boss, but was denied entry to his office. However, Kingsley Adonis-pepple told CEHRD that he knows about the torture of Samuel Allison and Henry Jumbo. I can't really say this is the crime they committed. I think the action of the SSS is wicked and inhuman.
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Adonis-Pepple is the chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Bonny chapter. CourtAwards N5m Damages to Donpedro for Rights Violation by SSS A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State has ruled against the State Security Services (SSS) for the violation of the fundamental rights of Ibiba Donpedro, a board member of CEHRD and an award-wining journalist and Managing Editor of National Point Newspapers based in Portharcourt, while traveling to attend a conference in the United Kingdom. Delivering the judgment on Wednesday July 30, 2008, the presiding Judge, Justice Gladys Olotu granted the plaintiff, Ibiba Donpedro, the relief's sought for and awarded her N500.000.00 damages, in addition, to the return of 114s copies of her book seized from her by the SSS or payment of another N228000 if they fail to return the books. But Ibiba said she doesn't want the book again, the SSS should rather pay for the book. The affected book oil in the water, Crude power and militancy in The Niger Delta was seized from her by the SSS at the Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State on July 20, 2006. Angered by such violation of her rights with impunity by the state agents, CEHRD encouraged the victim to seek legal option and funded the matter. The Duruke's law firm based in Owerri, the capital of Imo State in the eastern part of Nigeria handled the matter. The suit No. was FHC/PH/CS/3246/2006. Court Dumps 13-Year-Old Boy in Prison A 13-year old boy, Mmaduabuchi Okon is presently languishing in Port Harcourt prisons on allegation of armed robbery/cultism. It was gathered that the little boy was arrested on Sunday, August 24, 2008 at about 2:00am by a crack team of police men from the notorious and dreaded Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, located in Borikiri, Port Harcourt. He was arrested from their house by the team in search of fleeing robbery suspect. The team stormed the Anozie Waterfront residence of the boy, a slum settlement, broke the door of their room and took him away while he was still sleeping.
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The immediate elder sister to the boy, Onyinyechi Okon, 15, disclosed that she was sleeping when the policemen came. I begged them to leave my brother, that he was a small boy and committed no crime, but they refused and took him away, Onyinyechi lamented while sobbing. The girl also said that when she went to visit her little brother in the police station in company of their guardian, the aggressive policemen chased them out of the station with horsewhips. He was later arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court which remanded him in prison custody and ordered his file to be sent to the State's Director of Public Prosecution, DPP for legal advice. Under the Nigeria's legal system, children below 18 are regarded as Minors and are not supposed to be tried in a regular court or remanded in prison custody with adult suspects. It was gathered that Mmaduabuchi's problem started when a suspected armed robber was caught along Psychiatric Road, Rumuigbo Port Harcourt by a vigilant police officer. On interrogation, the suspect who owned up to crimes took the policemen to Anozie waterfront where his colleagues were hiding. However, in the bid to arrest the armed robbers, the 13-years-old primary 4 drop out who assists his aunty in selling dried fish was also arrested in addition to two of the suspected armed robbers. Reacting to the incident, CEHRD officers had called on the authorities to remove the boy from the prison immediately while proper investigations should be carried out as it concerns crime which is a capital offence. He should either be freed unconditionally or sent to a remand home. FamilyAccuses Police of Snatching, Killing two Month old Baby Mr. Innocent Aguamba, 60, and 19 years old girl, Comfort who claims to be the former's wife has alleged that policemen from the State Criminal and Investigation Bureau, Port Harcourt, Rivers State Police command snatched a two-month old baby from them on July 7, 2008. It was gathered that the policemen swooped on the family at number 34 Herbert Macaulay Street, Amadi Flat, Old GRA residence in Port Harcourt and arrested the man, the wife and the new born baby accusing them of child trafficking. Although the police latter released Innocent and his wife, they
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held on to the baby refusing to release her. However, following persistent demands from the family for the baby, they were told by the police that she died at a clinic where they took her to for medical attention when she took ill. The police further claimed that they sent the baby to the Port Harcourt Children's home where she was deposited to allow them carry out their investigations and that it was at the children's home that she developed ill health. The couple lamented that even with the agony of being told that their baby has been killed, they were told to pay the sum of N20, 000 for autopsy to be conducted on her. Narrating his ordeal, Mr. Innocent Aguamba said: Trouble started when my second wife, Mrs. Comfort Aguamba put to bed a baby girl and left for her exams at Akwa-Ibom. Three policemen from Rivers State Police Command headquarters arrested me and my household, including the two-month-old baby on July 7, 2008. Later they told me at the police headquarters that I stole the child. The mother, Comfort finally came back and reported to the police, they (police) arrested her. After our statements to the police, we were granted bail on payment of the sum of N70, 000 and a date fixed for us to come and collect the child. But when we came on the appointed day, they took us upstairs and told us that the baby had taken ill. I want my baby back. I want to know how the baby died, where she is, who or what killed her? I need my baby. Comfort corroborated Innocent's story as follows: I gave birth to a baby girl and later I had examinations to write at Akwa Ibom. The baby was not breast fed from day one. When I came back from the examination, I didn't see my baby, when I asked; my mate told me that the police arrested the baby, alleging she was a stolen baby. I went to the police headquarters. They asked me how I gave birth to the baby and whether Mr. Aguama was my husband. I answered in the affirmative. They accused me of selling the baby to the man; I denied it and told them I cannot sell my blood for money. They detained me and latter told that the baby was dead and deposited at the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital, BMH mortuary and demanded for N20, 000 naira for autopsy. I told them that my baby was healthy before they arrested her and cannot die like that. But the police insisted that Innocent was not the legitimate father of the baby, but may have bought her from Comfort. They alleged that Innocent Aguamba specializes in child stealing and keeping stolen children in his No. 34 Herbert Macaulay Street, Amadi Flat Old GRA, Port Harcourt. On June 24, 2008, information reached us that a baby was found with Mr.
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Aguamba without a mother. Policemen were detailed to check up the information. They saw Aguama, but he denied being the one but the wife identified him. He denied having any baby within the premises but a baby was sighted by one of the police officers covered with cloth, kept on the floor and protected under pillow. He was arrested and taken to the police headquarters for investigation. The child was immediately dispatched to the Children Home, Borikiri with a letter dated June 24, 2008 from the police headquarters to the officer in charge of the Children Home Borikiri, for care and custody. On interrogation, police sources said, Aguamba confessed that he actually met Comfort, the mother of the baby in February this year, when he went to see his sister at Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt. She was five months pregnant. Aguamba admitted approaching the 19 year old girl and started having a secret sexual affair with the pregnant girl in his sister's absence. The girl delivered on June 6 2008 and abandoned the child and ran to Akwa Ibom and he decided to adopt the child. Aguamba's wife made a similar statement. The actual father of the now dead baby is not known yet. When Aguamba's sister was contacted, she said: When I came back from church one day, I met a pregnant girl in my house. At a point, my brother, Aguamba started sleeping with her. And as soon as the girl delivered, she abandoned the baby and ran away. The girl was said to be a student of University of Calabar,Uncial and would not want her parents to hear about the pregnancy. Aguamba and his wife took the baby away from my house, she said. Police Tortured Journalist Isine Ibanga On November 10, 2008, President Umaru Yar'Adua warned government officials and security agencies in Nigeria that he won't condone human rights abuse. Yar'Adua said that during the opening session of the 44th ordinary session of the African commission on Human and People's Rights (ACHPR). On November 11, 2008, a team of police officials on patrol captured Mr. Isine Ibanga, the Rivers State bureau chief of The Punch newspaper, who walking back from a restaurant, close to his residence in D/line area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Isine after being captured by the rampaging police team was horsewhipped, beaten and brutalized even when he (Isine) identified to the police
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that he is a journalist. The victim told CEHRD that they threatened to shoot him dead and declare that he is a militant after he told his torturers that he is a journalist. The victim showed injuries all over his body the police inflicted on him. CEHRD had volunteered to take up the matter to compel the authority, to bring the lawless police officer to book, but the victim (Isine Ibanga) refused the offer, arguing that I know what CEHRD can do, if CEHRD take up any action against the police officers, they will be sacked and their families will suffer. CEHRD was informed that the police never apologized for their illegal action nor take care of the medical bills of their Prey (Ibanga). Police Officer Killed Okadaman, Two Others On November 30, 2008, a trigger-happy, and drunken police officer, Corperal Daniel Yahuda Shot dead, Mr. Ogbonna, a motorbike rider popularly called Okada in Nigeria and wounded two others at the cattle market, along the Benin/Asaba Expressway in Asaba, the Delta State capital. CEHRD gathered corporal Yahudu had left his duty post at the MTN office in Asaba, and walked for some 3 kilometers away, to the cattle market where he got himself drunk with the locally distilled gin called Ogogoro. According to Madu Uche, who said is the friend of the deceased, he spoke with CEHRD on phone I was not there when Ogbonna was killed, but from what those who witnessed it told us, he (Ogbonna) was tired because the sun was high, and was resting in a shop near the cattle market. He saw a girl of about 5 years hawking groundnuts and he beckoned on her with the intention of buying the groundnuts. The police officer turned and asked Ogbonna why he called him. Ogbonna said he was not calling him. The argument became hot between two of them, and the police officer brought out his riffles and fired Ogbonna. He fell and died, even two other persons around were wounded. Reports has it that there was confusion, as aggrieved people around descended heavily on the police officer with sticks and stones if not the intervention of a police patrol van, the police officer would have been killed.
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The police was beaten to a state of coma. One of those hit by the police bullet was a pregnant woman. CEHRD learnt that the intervening police team took the lifeless Ogbonna's body, the unconscious police officer and two other victims of the police shooting to a government hospital inAsaba. Charles Muka, the police spokesman in Delta State confirmed and quoted as saying the policeman (Corporal DanielYahuda) would definite bear his cross. Askia Ogieh, Isoko Council Boss Uses Thugs, Police to Detain, Harass Journalists Recently, the Paris, French-based journalists watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) in their press freedom Index ranked Nigeria as the 120th worst violators of press freedom. According to the group, Nigeria scored 32.23 which placed her ahead of 48 countries in terms of press freedom. But among African countries, Nigeria is the 31at worst violators of press freedom. Few days after Reporters Without Borders declared their findings, thugs and policemen from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Delta State command Asaba, the capital of Delta State sent by Mr. Askia Ogieh, the chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State on Monday, December 8, 2008 arrested and tortured. Mr. Richard Ogbage, the publisher of The Niger Delta Details and Isoko Details newspapers (both local tabloid). Ogbage was traveling to his Igbide village in the council area when thugs intercepted him and handed him over to the police detectives from CID arrested him. Richard Ogbege, the victim of the council boss lawlessness was first detained at the police cell in the area for 12 hours before taken to the state police headquarters, Asaba where the newspaper publisher said was harassed by police officials clearly under the instruction ofAsjia Ogieh. CEHRD gathered that even journalists, Joe Ogbodu andAmour Udemude of the Compass and Niger Delta Standard newspapers respectively who had visited the council to find out the position of the chairman following the arrest of their colleague, narrowly escaped being lynched by stern-looking
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thugs loyal to the council boss. They were harassed and threatened to leave the council secretariat by the chairman's thugs under the watchful eyes of the chairman himself,Askia Ogieh. It took the intervention of some sympathetic visitors to the council who pleaded with the chairman before the journalist was allowed to leave in peace and not pieces. In the October, 2008 Richard Gbage had in The Isoko Details newspaper reported, Squandermania; N400 million Scam. According to the report, Mr. Askia Ogieh, the chairman of Isoko South Local Government, an oil and gas rich council in the Delta State had squandered 400 million naira in 100 days in office. The chairman angered by such revealing report used the council funds instead of using it to develop the oil and gas-rich, but underdeveloped and poverty-stricken Isoko South area, rented thugs and policemen to harass arrest and detained the journalist and others. CEHRD called the private mobile phone of the council boss to urge him to release the newspaperman, and respond to the allegations raised in the publication rather than adopting such thuggish and undemocratic behaviour, but he wouldn't pick his phone. We gathered that the publisher was later released from the police cell due to pressures from CEHRD and other groups.
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Military Task Force and State Violence
(2) Military Task Force and State Violence

Every person has a right to life, and so one shall be reprieved intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria Section 33 (1) of the 1999 Nigerian constitution, chapter IV JTF Soldier Shoots Oluchi over N50 Bribe In the early morning of Tuesday, March 25, 2008, soldiers attached to the Niger Delta military task force, code-named Joint Task Force (JTF) posted to an intersection of Echue by Illoabuchi streets in the Diobu area, south east of Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state shot Ms. Oluchi FlorenceEgbuka, an Adult Education student of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Nkpolu, Port Harcourt.. Oluchi had boarded a commercial motorbike popularly called Okada in Nigeria to her destination, but as they got to the JTF checkpoint, they were flagged to a halt as usual by the armed soldiers. But when the motorbike rider was asked to pay N50 (less than half a dollar), an increase of N30 from the usual N20 (less than quarter half dollar) which they normally pay, the Okada rider pretended to be willing to pay the bribe. However, when the soldier turned his attention to another commercial Okada for similar extortion, the one carrying Oluchi sped off without paying the bribe. As they were moving, one of the soldiers lifted up his AK-47 riffle and fired at the fleeing motorbike. The bullet hit Oluchi who was shouting at the Okada driver to pay the new rate (N50 bribe). The JTF bullet pierced her into her heart region and she slumped from the Okada. Groaning in pains, she was conveyed by sympathetic passers by to Teme clinic located at the same Diobu area. Teme Clinic is used by MSF (Doctors without Boarders) to treat patients of violence without a fee. When CEHRD contacted JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Musa Sagir over the incident, he said that he has not received report of the incident, but promised to investigate the matter and act accordingly. Oluchi's fate still hangs in the balance as at the
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time of compiling this report. She was later moved from Teme Clinic to an undisclosed hospital for operations to extract the bullets lodged in the heart region of the woman. SinceAugust, 2007, the task force was deployed to the region to stem militia and gang violence, the JTF has been implicated in a lot of flagrant violation of human rights of poor citizens. Soldiers Torture Ijaw Youth Leader At a time the United Nations (UN) special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, Professor Manfred Nowalk just released a damaging report on torture in Nigeria by security officials at the UN Human Rights Council, Chris Ekiyor, a dentist and president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) was severely tortured by soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF) On Tuesday, February 19, 2008, Ekiyor was on his way to conduct their organization's election in Oporoma community, the headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa state when two soldiers attached to JTF accosted the IYC delegation and brutalized the IYC leader and others. The soldiers who attacked them are captain Toro and Sergeant Bello. When CEHRD contacted the JTF commander in Bayelsa state, they initially denied ever assaulting anybody but later admitted and apologized personally to Dr. Ekiyor, who has been involved in peace works and has been persistently calling for an end to the violence in the delta. Soldiers Brutalize Fubara for Asking Question during Run-Off Elections On April 5, 2008, Mr. Warisenibo Cyrus Fubara, one time supervisory councilor for Works in the Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State was brutalized at one of the voting centers in the area during a local council election. Worried by the late arrival of electoral materials, he had asked an official of the Professor Nimi Briggs led Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) who was drafted to the area to conduct the election, why the delay. Not fewer than 50 soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) drafted to the area descended on Fubara.
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The victim had gun butts injuries all over his body when CEHRD saw him. The soldiers were clearly doing the biddings of some politicians in the area. CEHRD gathered that on Saturday, March 29, 2008, when the local government elections were held in the area, it was marred by violence, thuggery and hijacking of electoral materials perpetrated by the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). Warisenibo Cyrus Fubura was among some opposition politicians who rose up in an out right condemnation of the poll and the elections were cancelled and a run-off was earmarked for the April 5, 2008. During the elections in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area like other areas, members of the JTF were allegedly bribed by the ruling PDP to give security to the party officials while they rig the election. The military assault on Fubara was so serious that he was admitted in a hospital. JTF shoots Truck Conductor over N500 A soldier of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Bayelsa State command in mid April, 2008 shot Mr. Woyingimiebi Anderson Igoniderigha, an indigene of Opokuma in the Kolokuma Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa state, over his refusal to pay him N500 bribe. The trigger-happy soldier shot the truck conductor in the leg. The victim was admitted at Glory Land Medical Centre where he underwent treatments and needed further treatments abroad since Nigeria does not have the facility to take care of his fatal gun wounds. After that, the poor boy will also require to be using artificial limb which will require some money. CEHRD gathered that at the time of this report, the bill has not been settled by the victim's poor parents or the JTF whose member committed the act. Lt. Col. Chris Musa, commander of the Bayelsa command of JTF disclosed to CEHRD in Yenagoa that the trigger-happy soldier of his command has been dismissed after an orderly room trial. He also claimed that his command had deposited some funds at the Glory Land Medical Centre towards the discharge of the victim.
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This is not the first case, men and personnel of the JTF had been implicated in several cases of violence, torture and criminal acts all over the delta. CEHRD is extremely worried that if the affected officer of the JTF is dismissed, what happens to him? Won't he join several criminal cartels operating in the delta to further deteriorate the insecurity in the region and the country in general? CEHRD is aware that the various security bodies in the country lack the resources to monitor their officials when they are dismissed from the army.Alot of them end up in criminal and violent gangs? SoldiersArrest 4Americans, one Nigerian Soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF) code-named Operation Restore Hope, on Saturday afternoon, April 12, 2008, arrested Sandy Cioffi, Tammie Sims, Sea Porter, cliff Worsham and Joel Bisina at Oghara in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State as they were about boarding a boat to travel to the creeks of the western Niger Delta (Delta State), Southern parts of Nigeria. Arrested with them was Joel Bisinia who was facilitating their assignment in the area. The victims had facilitated the establishment of the Niger Delta Friendship Library at the Oporaza community in the Warri-South-West Local Government Area of Delta state. Bisina is the executive director of the Warri, Delta state- based Niger Delta Professionals for Development (NIPRODEV). He hails from Oporoza. Sources at the JTF command in Warri, the slummy metropolis of Delta state told CEHRD that the victims were arrested for traveling illegally which amounts to security breach. When, in the afternoon of that Saturday, some one in Warri contacted CEHRD officials, informing them about the arrest of the 4 Americans and the Nigerian civil worker, Bisina., CEHRD made frantic effort to establish contact with Bisina who sent a short message from his mobile phone where they were arrested. To ensure their freedom, CEHRD contacted several groups and media organizations locally and internationally and the matter got some attention. The 4 Americans and Joel Bisina were kidnapped by operatives of the JTF They were flown to the capital of Nigeria, Abuja and after stressful
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interrogations, were released after spending some days in the dungeon of the Nigeria state. Sometimes last year, Judith Burdin Asuni, the executive director of Academic Associates Peace Work (AAPW), her staff, Danjuma and 2 German Journalists were arrested on trumped up charges of espionage. They were later pardoned and released after public outcry and long legal battle in Nigerian courts. The latest victims of state assault were doing a documentary on the Niger Delta. No charge was preferred against them. They were later released, while the Americans left the country to their base in Seattle in the United States ofAmerica (USA), Joel returned to continue his work in the delta. Soldiers Storm Militants' Camps, Kill 5 In the early hours of Sunday, June 8, 2008, heavily armed troops from the Joint Task Force (JTF) also called Operation Restore Hope (ORH) raided the camps of the Deadly Underdogs and Niger Delta Freedom Fighters (NDFF) in Egbema, in the Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State and Epebu community in the Ogbia Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State respectively. Five suspected militants were allegedly killed and their weapons seized during the attacks. The JTF soldiers who stormed the camps in gunboats took the militants unawares and engaged them in a grave gun battle which lasted for hours. JTF's spokesman in Bayelsa state, Major Omale Ochagwuba said that 3 militants were killed in Bayelsa, 2 in Egbema and weapons mopped up from both camps. The military said that they recovered 3 AK47 riffles, two Italian made Berretta pistols, one German G3 riffle, one automatic pump action riffle, 437 rounds of 7.6mm ammunitions, 20 Ak47 magazines, one cylinder magazine, 2 bullet proof jackets and 2 mobile phones. The military further said upon arrival at the camps, their men came under heavy bombardment, from the militant's gunfire but did not loose any member of their troop. JTF was angered that the Deadly Underdogs and NDFF were fingered to have carried out the deadly attacks on the Olero flow station owned by the
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American oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, which led to the closure of oil production there. Some JTF men were also killed during the attack on the Olero flow station and weapons seized. CEHRD investigations revealed that the Deadly Underdogs was born around late 2006; it is a small group, highly organized and operates more like a secret gang, making the attacks to be deadly. Its fighters number over 50, with a lot of young combatants. The Deadly Underdogs have a lot of AK47s, G3, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), and dynamites in her arsenal, including charms and amulets. It operates mostly around the Egbema kingdom, an Ijaw territory in the Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State. They are not too politically inclined like others, rather the group operates more like a freelance criminal group. CEHRD reliably gathered that MEND has been trying to deepen their ideological consciousness about the Niger Delta cause and bring them to its fold. On the other hand, the Niger Delta Freedom Fighters (NDFF) came into limelight around 2005. They are more political. A relatively large group, and highly organized too. The group has few camps scattered around the creeks of Delta and Bayelsa states. They are heavily armed and have been involved in hostage-taking, kidnapping and ransom collections mostly in the Bayelsa state where it has a stronghold. NDFF is headed by a young man codenamed Egbema one. The camp recently raided at Epebu community is a new camp they wanted to open. They have numerous dangerous small arms and Light Weapons in their armories. It is difficult to determine the group's network because commanders grant separate interviews to journalists and researchers, making it difficult to ascertain whether or not they are really under the MEND umbrella, although, they are said to be in touch with MEND. CEHRD investigation revealed that the attack was carried out by the 81 Battalion of the Nigerian Army under the JTF at Koko Town in Warri North Local GovernmentArea of Delta State. About the same time, JTF also raided other militants' camps in Edo and Ondo states. The JTF raids angered the deltaic insurrectionary umbrella, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). Its
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spokesman, Jomo Gbomo described the attack as unprovoked aggression by the JTF on the unarmed civilian of the Ijaw riverine communities. Jomo Gbomo's MEND promised to avenge the attack. The Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), another militant clearing house operating in the region and leading a faction of MEND also promised to avenge the soldiers' attack in an online statement issued by the JRC spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte. In the wake of the JTF attacks on militants' camps and Ijaw communities, Ijaw activists under Ijaw Youth Leaders Forum (IYLF) withdrew from dialogue with the Federal government. In a communiqu issued after the end of the IYLF's meeting in Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of the Gbaramatu clan of Ijaw in the Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, the forum cited alleged non-commitment and acts of aggression against its kinsmen as reason for the action. Amongst those at the meeting were Chief Government Ekpemupolo popularly called Tompolo, a top commander of MEND in Delta state, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and Alhaji Dokubo-Asari, leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF) SoldiersAccused of Rape, Sale ofArms Recently, a group which called itself, Association of Itsekiri and Ijaw in the Riverine Area (AIIRA) sent a letter to CEHRD. The letter entitled: Oppression, Suppression and Intimidation By men of Operation Restore Hope Ahead the Benin River and Escravos axis of Delta State, was signed by Mr. Friday Floiti and Oritsegubemi Ejisan. The letter reads in parts, We write to call the attention of well meaning Nigerians, government, defense headquarter and the international community about the incessant and arbitrary abuse of power by the Joint Task Force commander and his men along the Benin River and Escravos area of Delta state. Perhaps, because of the low level of literacy in the area, the JTF and its commander has metamorphosed into a demigod and even a deity that needs to be worshipped by all. Our female children are forcefully raped and arms and ammunitions are indiscriminately sold out to our youths so that they can engage themselves in gun battle and kill themselves on slight issues that we would have been able to settle in our traditional ways. For men of the military Joint
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Task Force also known as operation Restore Hope to come to our villages and houses and trash us, to stop us from fishing and do small scale farming business amount to adding insult to the injury already inflicted on us by the government of Nigeria. We are, therefore, constrained to call for the withdrawal of the JTF commander as he is trying to instigate another round of crisis in the state going by the way he operates Soldiers shoot Peaceful Protesters, Kill One On Monday, April 7, soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) attached to the Beta Glass Plc, a glass company owned by the Leventis group operating in Ekakpamre community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State shot dead Onoriede Gboroghonhwe; a youth of the Ekakpamre community. Following massive pollution of the community by the glass company which discharges industrial wastes into the community streams, the villagers staged a peaceful protest to the company premises in their community. Soldiers of the JTF who were attached to the company fired life bullets at the protesters who were carrying placards with the inscriptions: stop polluting our river and pay us compensation. The bullet killed Onoriede, a motor bike operator who joined the protest. He died instantly. When CEHRD contacted Beta Glass Plc over the incident, Mr. Friday Adigbo, the Human Resources manager of the company said on behalf of the company that they did not send soldiers to kill members of their host community and that they have not polluted the community's streams as Ekakpamre community claimed. After shooting dOnoriede, the JTF men said that the late Onoriede was an armed robber, but when criticisms trailed their action and utterances, they kept mute over the tragic incident. Seven other persons were also injured, one of them is Fovie John, a 21-year-old student of Ekakpamre Grammar School, and he was rushed to the General hospital in Otu-Jeremi in the same area. Contrary to Adigbo's claim that We don't use chemicals in our production line and nothing strange is introduced into our system during production,
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Greenwatch Nigeria Limited, an environment consultant, in 2002 released a detailed scientific report about the contamination of the area. The report revealed that Beta Glass Plc is actually polluting the environment of the poor rural community. Soldiers Brutalize CEHRD Volunteer A CEHRD volunteer, Justine Ijeomah was subjected to severe beatings by men of the Nigerian military on May 31, 2008. Also dehumanized was an apprentice attached to Justine at his shop where he sells motor spare parts, Sunday Odimegwu (who is about 17 years old). The problem started when the soldiers went to the shop of Justine at number 139 Ikwerre Road, within the Young Shall Grow Motors garage near the Ikokwu bus stop, Mile 2 Diobu, Port Harcourt at about 5.50pm. By the time the soldiers came, Justine had already gone home while his assistant was getting set to go home too. Monday disclosed to CEHRD that when the soldiers came, they asked him what he was doing. He told them that he had just finished the day's work and was getting set to retire home. They called him thief and ordered him to follow them to where they parked their white-coloured pick-up van without registration number. They told him to go and fix something for them. When the boy told them that he had closed and was about going home in order to be able to get home before dark, they started dragging and beating him. They only stopped when another person offered to go and do the work for them. While the boy was being beaten up, Justine was informed through his cell phone. He rushed to the scene and as his boy was narrating to him what had happened, the soldiers pounced on both of them, kicking angrily and ferociously. When Justine had a little chance, he phoned the Army spokesman in the state, Col, Musa Sagir to complain to him what he was passing through in the hands of his men. When he wanted to give one of the soldiers the phone to speak with their superior officer, they became more furious and intensified the beatings for trying to let their superior officer know what was going on. For several days, Justine and his shop assistant experienced severe pains all over their bodies as a result of the brutality. SSS Bullet Puts 50-year-old Woman on Danger List
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On May 28, 2008, Madam Elizabeth Krokele, a 50-year-old single mother and bread hawker was shot accidentally by an over-zealous officer from the State Security Services (SSS) Command in Warri, Delta state along Orhuwhoron road in the Warri metropolis. Security operatives in Nigeria are guilty of driving recklessly on the road amidst noisy blaring of siren and often shoot indiscriminately while speeding through the bad roads in the country. An SSS officer who was in a vehicle escorting a bullion van to a branch of a Bank at Orwian, Delta state hit poor Krokele with his stray bullet. The SSS was struggling for the right of way with other vehicles around where the victim was hawking bread at the junction when the bullet hit her. She was taken to a hospital by a sympathetic passerby when the incident occurred. Madam Elizabeth Krokele bled profusely and lost large volume of blood. CEHRD learnt that blood transfusion had already been done on her, but it may not be up to the quantity required to recuperate her. Meanwhile, the hospital later detained the person who brought the victim for not being able to pay two hundred thousand naira (N200, 000) medical bills. CEHRD is not aware whether the SSS visited her in the hospital or made any promise to settle the medical bill. JTF Kill 2 MilitantsAt Shell's Flow Station in Rivers. On Thursday, May 22, 2008, about 10 militants armed with AK47 riffles, dynamites and machetes invaded the Alakiri flow station; an oil facility operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and attempted to blow the facility up. But in a swift move to repel the invading gunmen, a detachment of soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) posted there engaged the gunmen in gun battle, killing two of them while 8 others escaped living their dead colleagues behind. The Shell's Alakiri flow station is located in the Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers State. CEHRD investigation revealed that the militants came from a camp near the area which is operated by TomAteke of the Niger Delta Vigilante Movement (NDVM). The armed gang attacked the facility in a passenger boat which they had hijacked. Confirming the incident, spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Col. Musa Sagir said: In the crossfire, two
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miscreants lost their lives. Sagir also claimed that his men seized 3 Ak47 riffles, 122 ammunition of 7.62m, 4 Dynamites abandoned by the attackers. Samuel Alalibo, a 58-year-old fisherman spoke his native Okrika dialect to CEHRD in Alakiri community two days after the deadly attack. Below is the translated version of Alalibo's interview from his Okrika tongue into English; For the past 40 years I have been a fisherman. The things I see now I have not seen it since I was born. I have 7 children. I trained them in schools all of them from my fishing profession. We can't go for fishing again. You are either harassed by soldiers or militants. I don't really know the side to follow. We used to go to fishing even in the night. There are no fishes in the river to catch and the little there, soldiers and militants won't allow us to catch. There are times when fish buyers come here and they go back without buying fish. We are really suffering and hungry now. JTFArrest Journalist, 9 Others, Detain Them in SSS Cell A detachment of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Thursday, June 5, 2008 at about 7.10am arrested Damiete West, the acting editor-in-chief of The Hard Truth, a Port Harcourt-based weekly newspaper. Damiete West was arrested along other 9 persons at Eagle Island located on the outskirts of the Port Harcourt city and transferred to the headquarters of the Rivers State command of the State Security Services (SSS) where they were held over 24 hours. Narrating his ordeal to CEHRD monitors who heard about their arrest and contacted the Rivers State branch of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other human rights organizations in the state, to call for their release, West, who was the only victim who was bold to talk to CEHRD (perhaps, because he is a journalist) lamented: My brothers as I am talking to you right now, I do not know my offence. Even the SSS men were confused; they don't know what allegation to level against me. After properly identifying myself as a journalist and the acting editor-in-chief of The Hard Truth newspaper, they still went ahead to put me in a cell. An angry Damiete West lamented further:
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How can you see somebody on the road and pass judgment that he or she is a criminal? This is absolute nonsense. Our security agents need proper orientation about their jobs so that they will not trample on people's fundamental human rights. The victim also disclosed that the SSS the JTF handed them over to was really confused about what to do with them because The JTF could not say the crime they commuted. When CEHRD monitors asked him whether he would sue the JTF, West asked, Can the Nigerian judiciary give one justice? A judiciary that is soaked in corruption. CEHRD investigations revealed that in a similar manner; innocent captives are detained, tortured and in most cases killed. Bayelsa Re-Run Election: Soldiers Torture Opposition Party Members On Monday, May 19, 2008, while embarking on a campaign ahead of the rerun governorship election slated for Saturday, May 24, 2008, a detachment of soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) stationed at about 50 meters at the secretariat of the opposition Action Congress (AC) along Isaac Boro Express Way, Etegwe, Yenogoa, the Bayelsa state capital brutalized some members of theAC campaign team. 58 members of the party who had boarded buses and heading for Sagbama, the capital of Sagbama Local Government Area and Ekeremor, the capital of Ekeremor Local Government Area of the State, to campaign for their party were horse-whipped by the soldiers. Some of them were beaten with gun butts. CEHRD learnt that the earlier solidarity visit of Alhaji Dokubo Asari, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples' Volunteer Force (NDPVF) to the AC party Secretariat in Yenagoa and his call on Bayelsans to vote out the government of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) must have provoked the action of the soldiers. Dokubo Asari was an armed militia leader, but later disarmed minimally, embraced dialogue, but remained vocal on several political issues. His presence in spite of his relationship with the Yar Adua/Jonathans's government still evokes fears in some quarters.
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CEHRD recalls that it was Miriki Ebikibina, secretary of the AC in the state who persuaded his party men and women from resorting to violent confrontation with the soldiers. CEHRD condemned the action of the soldiers and described it is provocative. The attitude of the soldiers towards the opposition AC shows that clearly they were working for the ruling PDP. A dehumanized 33-year-old Stella Teker, a single mother of two and an activeAC member narrated her ordeal to CEHRD monitor, It was near Tombia-Amassoma junction, 2 detachments of JTF soldiers heavily armed to the teeth stopped our buses while we were heading to Sagbama and Ekeremor. PDP people were passing there that same day and the JTF was not harassing them. When we got there, they ordered all of us out and searched our vehicles. Instead of them to ask us to go, they started beating us with the butts of their guns. If not that Ebikibina, our secretary, stopped our boys, they would have killed everybody that day, because our boys were ready to confront them with bare hands. The soldiers were paid by PDP. I don't even trust the outcome of the coming election. An officer of the Bayelsa State police command said the matter was reported to them, and that they have to investigate to found out the truth. On April 15, 2008, a court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State nullified the election of Chief Timipre Slyva and ordered a fresh governorship election on the ground that the election was rigged. The AC filed the court action challenging the PDP On May 24th, 2008. The government was sacked and re-run election fixed. CEHRD monitored the election and can report that there were incidences of violence, low turnout and rigging by the PDP. However, the electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) later declared Chief Sylva again, as the governor. SSSArrests CNN Journalist
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On Sunday, May 11, Christian Purefoy, a reporter with the American Cable Network News (CNN) was abducted by rampaging agents of the State Security Services (SSS) and detained at their headquarters in Port Harcourt for few days before being handed over to the SSS in Abuja. CEHRD could not establish whether Purefoy was held there again or not. Christian Purefoy was arrested at a waterside in Port Harcourt. At the time of his arrest, he was not taking pictures or filming anything. Of late, following the escalation in violence in the region, security operatives have reportedly expressed worry about critical reports by mostly the international media on the situation in the region. Scores of foreign journalists have been arrested and detained on trumped-up charges of espionage and recently, the Nigeria's Defense headquarters issued a new directive ordering that any foreigner visiting the Niger Delta creeks must get permission from the military headquarters. Granting such permission is discretional on the part of the military. Before now federal ministry of Information and presidency normally accredit foreign journalists and visitors to the region. When some body passes through such accreditation, that person will be monitored by the secret service agents like the SSS, Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) etc until such person leaves the region. CEHRD condemned the arrest of Christian Purefoy and urged the government to put an end to this violation. Soldiers SackAgge Community, Kill Local People Agge, a riverrine community in Bayelsa state was destroyed by soldiers attached to the JTF. The incident coincided with the period Gordon Brown, British Prime minister had promised to send British soldiers to train soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and supply them with warships and weapons to combat militancy in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The Brown's promise elicited wild and wide condemnations. The British government later rescinded the decision and promised to supply only surveillance equipment to the JTF troops to monitor key leaders of the militant groups and their activities, with the aim of monitoring and hitting them where and when necessary. On the other hand, Brig. Gen. Idada Iponmwen, former Provost Marshall of
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the Nigerian Army had just issued a public statement denouncing the deployment of troops to the delta, saying that it is unconstitutional because the National Assembly never backs it with law. His comments came on the heels of the sacking of Agge when the rural riverine community in the Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was razed down completely by soldiers from the JTF command of Bayelsa State; that is, on August 4, 2008. Agge is one of the several Ijaw communities on the Atlantic shore. It has a population of about 6, 000. The major occupation of the Agge people is fishing. The military told CEHRD investigators that militants had, on Saturday August 2, 2008, engaged the soldiers at Bomadi in Delta State in violent gunfire leading to the seizure of two gunboats which were later abandoned along the Akugbene creek in Delta State. The gunmen who attacked military outpost at Bomadi were traced to Agge, but the Agge people denied the claim. Comrade Braboke Stanley, the spokesperson of the Agge community while addressing a press conference it has called at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) press centre in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Friday, August 8, 2008 said the military lied about its claims for invading his community (Agge). Mr. Stanley also said that a middle aged community member reportedly slumped to death in an attempt to escape as the JTF soldiers stormed the village and that about 500 indigenes of the Agge community were rendered homeless. In an online statement, MEND spokesman Jomo Gbomo condemned the action of the JTF soldiers, No where in the world, except during the Nazi regime and Bosnia wars, do soldiers destroy whole villages because of the sins of a few men. It is unfortunate that an already neglected community of impoverished fishermen would have their mud houses, fishing nets and canoes destroyed in the army's search for criminals. The operation lacked tactics and professionalism, resembling that of drunken bulls on a rampage. Shots from heavy caliber machine guns were being fired as they were approaching the community not considering the safety of innocent children, babies, elderly men and women who ended up as victims of stray bullets without the invaders accomplishing its intended mission.
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JTFArrest Innocent Persons, Tag Them Militant On Wednesday August 20, 2008, the Rivers State command of the Joint Task Force (JTF) paraded scores of persons they alleged were militants. Worried by the indiscriminate arrests, CEHRD contacted the various militant camps to confirm the alleged arrest of militants by JTF. CEHRD tried investigating the claims by the JTF by contacting some of those arrested and tagged militants. Those CEHRD spoke with denied being militants. One Mr. Chinedu said, I am a truck pusher. I saw somebody owing me, and flagged a JTF truck and pleaded that they should help me recover my money. They stopped and took me into their van that I am a militant. Is this the way people are tagged militants and killed? CEHRD also spoke to scores of others who narrated their ugly ordeals in the hands of the JTF soldiers. Some are arrested and detained in their cells and later killed. The JTF never allowed investigators like CEHRD into where those innocent persons are kept. Soldiers Shot Dead 3 Innocent Persons, Wound Another in A Commercial Boat Just as Chief Emeka Anyoaku, the ex-Common Wealth Secretary General was calling on the President Yar Adua government not to respond to the Niger Delta crisis through the force of arms, the soldiers in the delta opened fire on a passenger boat killing 3 and wounding one. On Sunday August 24, 2008, soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on routine patrol at about 5.00pm guarding an oil servicing company at Lubia 11, a rural riverine community in the southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State shot a commercial boat driver killing 3 innocent passengers and wounding one. Those killed by the rampaging JTF soldiers were Peter Sese, a final year student of the Niger Delta University (NDU) and his pregnant fiance, TitiAjayi and Mr. Iniami Sese, the boat driver. The only survivor, Mr. Clever Ebibai who was injured in the attack narrated his ordeal to CEHRD in Yenogoa, the Bayelsa State capital; We were going to Lubia community; we were very close to it when we saw
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a boat housing JTF soldiers. Suddenly when the soldiers saw us, they started shooting at us even when we raised up our hands that we are not militants. They killed three of us; I am the only person who survived. I don't think it is a mistake as journalists are reporting, from the look of things they just wanted to kill us. But, I survived to tell the story if I didn't survive, they would be saying they killed militants. It was God that saved me, bullets weres flashing through my head like rain. The Joint media campaign centre Coordinator of the JTF, Lt. Col. Abubakar, Rabe claimed that those killed were militants who attacked soldiers. While, Jomo Gbomo, the spokes person of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) condemned the killing and claimed that 10 persons, including students and women were killed. CEHRD investigation goes contrary to this claim; it could confirm only 3 and one injured survivor Mr. Clever Ebibai. Also, contrary to JTF claim, the victims were not armed nor could we trace them to any non-state armed formations in the delta. CEHRD spoke with most residents of the creeks in Bayelsa State in the wake of the shooting of the innocent persons. A fisher woman who hailed from Lobia 11 community spoke to CEHRD in her native Ijaw tongue. This is the translated version, The waterways are now more dangerous than before, whether fishing boats or passenger fleets, nobody is safe. It is either militants in search of soldiers to kill or soldiers in search of militants to kill. Though, the militants pass by us, greet us and sometime tells us not to fear. But immediately the soldiers who are mostly from Hausa land (Northern Nigeria) see us, they will be shooting and curse us to show them our children who they said are militants. Me I don't have any child who is a militant. We are really in trouble. The military authorities in Nigeria have been accused of sending soldiers and other security operatives from Northern Nigeria to the delta, so that they can be ruthless in their operations against the people. CEHRD has asked the military authorities which they denied, but soldiers of northern Nigeria extraction actually dominate the military formations in the delta. CEHRD is insisting that military response will only worsen the situation.
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JTF Sank Two Boats Carrying IYC Officials On August 20, 2008, troops from the NNS pathfinder, Rumuolumeni naval command of the Joint Task Force (JTF) attacked 2 boats carrying over 20 youths of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC). The IYC team was led by Mr. Tee Kaiser-Whilbeim a.k.a. TK Ogoriba on a peace mission to the camp of Tom Ateke of the Niger Delta Vigilante Movement (NDVM)/Niger Delta Patriotic Force (NDPF) along the Alakiri creek in the Okrika Local GovernmentArea of Rivers State. The IYC leadership led by Dr. Chris Ekiyor was angry. Sometime last year while on similar peace mission to an Ijaw community in Bayelsa State, the IYC was battered by soldiers of the JTF. Ekiyor issued a 24-hour ultimatum that if JTF didn't provide explanations for their action, they would embark on retaliatory attacks across the Niger Delta region. The Ijaw leader told CEHRD that those killed by the JTF troops were on peace mission, and that they were neither armed nor militants. The deltaic armed formations like MEND etc rose up in strong condemnation of the attack which they described as unprovoked and irrational. But Lt. Olabisi Wey of the naval command whose troops carried out the attack said his troops ran into an ambush set up by some militants and had to defend themselves. CEHRD tried to contact the JTF to get more information about the incident, but to no avail. Ogoriba survived the attack, but about 12 of his IYC colleagues who traveled in the boats remained unaccounted for. JTF Shot Dead a Footballer, 2 Others, Brand them Militants On Tuesday August 19, 2008, a naval gunboat operating under the command of the Joint Task Force (JTF) shot dead 26-year-old Kingsley Enefa-a Obene popularly called Capito and others traveling in a commercial boat going to Tombia community in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. The navy, after killing Capito and two others traveling in the same boat with him announced that they have killed militants. Narrating the incident to CEHRD, a boat driver who pleaded that his name
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should not be mentioned and who operates at Iwofe waterfront in the Rumuolumeni community in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, where passengers traveling to Tombia and other riverine communities use as their route, said, Capito (Kingsley) is a popular footballer, there is no body in Rivers State who doesn't know him. He is not a cultist or a militant. I can tell you. Those of us operating boat business here (Iwofe waterfront) know those who are bad boys and those who are not. As their boat took off that day, not long after, I heard several gunshots and shouts. I did not know they have killed Capito. Poor boy, he doesn't even go home (Tombia), just today that he went, look at what has happened to him? The boat driver spoke to CEHRD in Pidgin English, but above is the translated version of his interview. CEHRD also spoke to the deceased's ageing mother, Madam Dorothy Dick. Said she: my son is a footballer; he is a very quiet person among my children. Some days ago I asked him not to answer Capito that I hear people calling him because most of those names can put one into trouble. Today, they have killed my son. What have I done to deserve this? Please tell them to bring my son She broke down and wept profusely while invoking curses against the Nigerian government. CEHRD also contacted the naval command of Rivers State, but they refused to comment on the matter. But the navy had already issued a statement that they killed some criminal elements. Such cases abound where JTF and other security operatives operating in the region, arrest, detain and even kill people on trump up charges of being militants. The murdered footballer, Stanley Tamunobere Pepple is the younger brother of Mr. Larry Pepple, the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Dr. Peter Odili, the ex-governor of Rivers State. SoldiersAbductAmerican Journalist On Tuesday, September 2, 2008, Andrew Berends, an American freelance journalist was abducted at the Nembe waterside in the Port Harcourt Local
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Government Area of Rivers State by a detachment of the Joint Task Force (JTF) stationed there. Lt. Col. Musa Sagir speaking on the arrest of the American journalist said, it is true that troops of JTF operation flush out III on state deployment in Nembe waterside intercepted foreign journalist taking video shots of our deployment. He was handed over to the SSS for investigation to simply ascertain his mission and why he intruded into operational area, taking video shots of troops and their deployment without security clearance. We don't hide our operational activities but simple security clearance must be conducted for the safety of the person(s) involved. CEHRD got information about the arrest of Andrew Berends 20 minutes after his arrest, and alerted local and international media outfits and continued to mount pressures on his captors to release him. When the pressures on the State Security Services (SSS) headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State increased, they later transferred him to the SSS underground dungeon in Abuja where he was held for some days. Instead of giving accurate information about where Berends was held, the SSS continued to give false and conflicting information about the whereabouts of the victim. This has been the practice by the SSS and other intelligence agencies in Nigeria when they arrest and detain somebody. Andrew Berends was later released. In the wake of the escalating Niger Delta crisis, the Nigerian authorities had made it extremely difficult for foreign journalists who appear to be too independent and critical, to have access to the region. They are denied entry visa except on a tour which the government will guide. On Sunday, May 11, 2008, the SSS also arrested Christian Purefoy, a reporter with CNN. He was released later. MEND Declares Oil WarAs Soldiers Kill Innocent Persons, Militants in Rivers Just few days after the US-based Foreign policy magazine and the Fund for
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Peace Ranking for 2008 failed states index ranked Nigeria as the 18 most unstable country in the world, the bloody oil war was declared by militants in the oil rich, but poverty stricken Niger Delta region of Nigeria. According th to the report, Nigeria shares the same 18 position with Lebanon. On Saturday September 13, 2008, in the morning hours, soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) at about 9:00am stormed the Elem Tombia and Ogboma communities in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. The heavily armed soldiers bombarded the two communities with 8 gun boats and an helicopter gunship. According to a public statement made by Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, the spokesperson of JTF in Rivers state which was made available to CEHRD, the JTF stated that In view of current sea piracy in the riverine area, our team was on marine patrol along Tombia waterways when it was attacked by militants. The JTF claim was however contrary to what CEHRD gathered. The Elem Tombia and Ogboma communities that JTF attacked are not militant camps; the area is populated by poor migrant fishermen and women from other non Ijaw areas such as Ogoni, Akwa Ibom etc, though few militants cantonments are found in the area. Mrs. Udo, a mother of 5 children and a fish seller told CEHRD at Ogboma, During high tides, fishermen don't go to fishing because water will cover every where, we were all resting in our houses on Saturday (September 13, 2008) about 8:30 in the morning when we started hearing gun shots and it was like the sound of the gun was moving closer and closer to us. After sometime, we saw soldiers shooting into here (Ogboma), people were running because the soldiers came out. Some people who were running were hit down by bullets from the soldier's guns. They later burnt down our properties, houses and took some including big fish away. Up till now, I don't know why the soldiers came, but from what I heard, that they were looking for militants. The soldiers know their camps and they know that militants don't stay here, or are all of us militants now? I lost all I have worked for over the years. They treat us as if we are not human being This interview was translated from Pidgin English; the above is the translated version. CEHRD also gathered that the soldiers also stormed a camp operated by
th
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Farah Dagogo, leader of the Niger Delta Strike Force (NDSF) who also doubles as the commander in charge of the eastern command of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). Five of Farah's boys were killed and MEND spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo described those who were killed as gallant fighters. Scores of the Nigeria's soldiers were also killed, but the military authority said only one soldier was injured. A source close to the military confirmed to CEHRD that more than five soldiers were killed and that it is not a good war strategy to admit that, since such can weaken the morale of other soldiers. On Sunday September 14, 2008, MEND, in a public statement declared their operation Hurricane Barbarossa also called oil war. MEND said that to make the oil war effective, it united once more all MEND factions, armed groups outside MEND umbrella, pirates and cultists operating in the region. On how they will contain the aerial and marine offensive of the soldiers, MEND's Jomo Gbomo said that MEND had an edge over the JTF because They are doing what they are doing for a salary and we are doing what we are doing voluntarily. Our knowledge of and adaptation to the terrain has been crucial because we can launch attacks at night in pitch darkness and more at top speed of 200km per hour in boats. These nocturnal operations, which we refer to as mosquito raids, have been very effective. CEHRD also gathered exclusively, that though the oil war was declared in Rivers State, heavily armed MEND fighters from different MEND formations in Bayelsa, Delta etc, mobilized down to Rivers State and coordinated bloody attacks on oil facilities. MEND in declaring the oil war said the operation will continue until the government of Nigeria appreciates that solution to peace in the Niger Delta is justice, respect for fundamental human rights and dialogue. The military style of bullying belongs to the past 50 years when the Niger Delta people responded only with their mouths, pens and placards. All international oil and gas loading vessels entering the region are warned to anchor in the Niger Sea or divert elsewhere until further notice. Failure to comply is taking a foolhardy risk of attack and destruction of the vessel. Again, we are asking that oil companies
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evacuate their staff from their field facilities because the brief is not to capture hostages but to bring these structures to the ground, MEND ordered. At about 3:00am of that Sunday September 14, 2008, scores of heavily armed militants and equally well armed soldiers clashed at Soku where Shell has a huge oil and gas project; similar clash took place at Robort-Kiri, another big oil facility operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited, an American oil company. Several soldiers and militants were killed. CEHRD gathered that the casualties were high on the part of soldiers because they were taken unawares at the facilities. Twenty-seven oil workers, including 5 expatriates from Britain, South Africa and Ukraine and 20 Nigerians kidnapped by sea pirates from a vessel called MT Blue Ocean were trapped in the militantmilitary crossfire. MEND said it rescued them, later released the South Africans on the ground that Henry Okah's wife pleaded on behalf of the SouthAfrican hostages. Barely few hours after, the new Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshall Paul Dike, worried by the militant attacks on oil facilities and killing of soldiers, visited the operational bases of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states. He warned the non-state armed groups in the delta region, to steer clear of all oil facilities or be ready to face the wrath of the security outfit. Militants detonated explosives on vital oil facilities belonging to Royal Dutch Shell Plc at the Cawthorne Channel facility. At Adamakiri flow station, scores of fighters from the Tom Ateke's Niger Delta Vigilante Movement (NDVM) and Niger Delta Patriotic Force (NDPF) joined MEND to attack the Adamakiri facility. CEHRD confirmed this from both military and militant sources. As the oil war bites harder reducing oil production quota, the United States (US) warship USSEL ROD arrived the western naval command of the Nigerian navy at Apapa, Lagos led by its commander; Todd Pelts to train Nigeria navy on safety in the marine sector.Another US warship, HSV swift, had visited Nigeria in April 2008 and the expedition was dubbed, Transiting the Gulf of Guinea. The Gulf of Guinea is where Nigeria's largest gas project, the Bonga project is situated. Military sources told CEHRD that the US Nigeria Joint activities are to protect all major oil rigs in
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Nigeria. The oil war dropped oil production per-day by 150,000 barrels. Other oil facilities at Idama, Bakana, Rumuekpe etc came under MEND vicious attacks. MEND also intensified its intense propaganda machine, realizing such is crucial in field operations to boast the morale of its field commanders and combatants. The JTF also followed suit. On Tuesday September 16, 2008, Chief Edwin Clark held a secret meeting with the militant leaders from the western delta axis (Delta State) at his Kiagbodo home in Delta State, to intervene and dissuade their colleagues in Rivers State (Eastern) delta region, to stop further hostility until December 31, 2008, to allow the Federal Government carry out massive development of the region, while calling for the release of Henry Okah, the detained militant leader. The hostility later stopped. Some representatives of the militant formations later traveled with Clark, to attend peace meeting initiated by the Federal Government. However, CEHRD investigations revealed that arms continue to flow into the delta and tension still pervades the atmosphere. Shell's SoldiersArrest Journalists,Activists, Community People On Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 74year-old community activist and extrade Unionist, Comrade Che Ibegwara and 20 others were arrested at Iwhrekan community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State by heavily armed and extremely hostile soldiers in a Toyota car with registration No.AG14BMA. Others arrested are Chima Williams, an environmentalist with the Environmental Rights Action (ERA)/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (FOEN), Felix Opute, a journalist, Celestine Akpobari, an Ogoni activist amongst others. ERA had coordinated the community visit to Iwhrekan, to hold their usual community outreach to educate the community residents on peaceful and non-violent environmental awareness when soldiers acting on intelligence information from the Shell unit there arrested the team and detained them at the Shell camp there. Iwhrekan community is among few villages in the delta region which had
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obtained a court order to stop Shell from flaring toxic gas into their environment. Shell, though disobeyed the order, is angered by the action and has been doing everything to frustrate any action by the local people to make it act responsibly, Iwhrekan community activist, Solomon told CEHRD who visited the community later. One of the victims, Akpobari telephoned CEHRD office about their ordeals in the hands of the Shell's soldiers and CEHRD immediately alerted local and international media, human rights and environmental groups and pressures came on Shell and the Nigeria's military. CEHRD official also granted interviews to local and foreign newspaper agencies, and the victims were released. The Iwhrekan community hosts the huge Shell's Otorogun gas plant. The gas plant emits gas continuously into the community's atmosphere and environment with its devastating impact on the health of the locals. JTFArrest Traditional Ruler over Romance with Militants On Wednesday, October 29, 2008, Operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) of the Bayelsa State command swooped on King French Tume, the paramount ruler of Letugbene community in the Ekeremor Local GovernmentArea of Bayelsa State. The traditional ruler was inaugurating the Peace and Conflict Management Committee of Iduwini cluster Development Board at the Ekeki area in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, when JTF soldiers arrested him. The arrest of the chief truncated the inauguration of the committee. Immediately CEHRD heard about the incident, it called the then outgoing commander of the JTF, Lt. Col. Chris Musa, who confirmed the arrest of the Letugbene monarch, saying that if the ruler has nothing to do with militants in his domain he would be released. Tume was released later. But Musa further revealed that their investigations unearthed that the traditional ruler had some links with militants operating in his locality. When CEHRD contacted Tume, he denied any link with the armed groups. CEHRD's further investigation revealed that in Letugbene, there are some armed groups but can't establish the link between the monarch and the militants. To be safe, in some area, since the armed groups
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can't be chased away completely because of the weak security situation, such traditional ruler won't oppose them, or do any thing to anger them; perhaps such is the case of the Letugbene monarch. Murder of Deebari Mabani; JTF Kill 15-year-old Barieleera Kuele Following the assassination of Mr. Deebari Mabani, the 26-year-old grocery shop owner in September 2008, in Kpite community, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State by unknown gun men, acting on a tip, the Joint Task Force (JTF) unit in Tai Local Government Area, stormed the Deeken community in Gokana Local Government Area in the early hours of Thursday October 30, 2008 and fired gunshots sporadically. CEHRD reliably gathered that a frightened 15-year-old Barieleera Kuele who saw the dreaded looking JTF soldiers shooting sporadically and barking ran across the main road for safety like other Deeken natives. He was shot dead and the JTF took his lifeless body away. The deceased's mother, Mrs Felicia Kuele, a widow lamented to CEHRD, I heard that the soldiers came here because of the killing of September 22, 2008 in Kpite. I can remember that day. My son and I were in this house. I am not defending my son, but I am saying that my son do not belong to any cult group not to talk of going to kill somebody. As a mother, if my child is like that I will tell you. They should bring my child. I want him alive. She broke down and wept uncontrollably while talking to CEHRD in the community. Above, is a translated version of the interview from her Gokana, Ogoni dialect? JTF Kill one, Sack Ogoni Village In the early hours of Tuesday, December 2, 2008, four youths from Nyo-be Beeri Community in the Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State led by Felix Deezia visited the office of the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) in Ogale-Nchia community in the Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, to report the killing of 2 youths of the community and sacking of the village. CEHRD delegated its investigators to investigate and later contacted both local and international media about the incident. On Tuesday, December 2, 2008, about 3:00am, scores of soldiers from the Joint Task Force (JTF) had
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invaded the poor rural Ogoni community and fired guns sporadically at all directions killing one Ogoni youth and wounding scores of others as the villages scampered for safety in the bushes and neighbouring villages around. The JTF soldiers after killing the youth reportedly carted away his corpse. Felix Deezia spoke to CEHRD investigator We were all sleeping in our community, I don't think we have problem with any body or any community. About 3:00am early this morning we started hearing gun shots. Since we did not have problem with any body, we thought it was fire works by children since we are in December already. The gun shots came closer and closer and the soldiers that we identified from the area. You see while we are convinced that they are soldiers are that after the killing of those youths they came again in day light and made some arrests again, and took them to their base in Bori, the headquarters of the Khana Local GovernmentArea of Rivers State. Local journalists and CEHRD monitors working on the issue contacted the JTF spokesperson, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, who denied involvement of his troops in the community. In line with the transformation process going on in the Nigerian Armed forces, no operation would be conducted without the knowledge and explicit approval of the appropriate superior authority. I have checked and re-checked at the JTF headquarters and all sectors, particularly sector 2 where the incident allegedly took place, nothing like that ever happened. Sagir said. Contrary to Sagir's claims, CEHRD reliably gathered that Abba Dimkpa and the victim, Thompson Numieh who was shot in his stomach leading to his instant death and 2 of his brothers sleeping in the same room arrested by the JTF soldiers had had some misunderstanding in their place of work. And that Mr. Abba Dimkpa had hired a handful of JTF soldiers and police officers to deal with the deceased, who was branded armed robber before being killed. Others arrested were also branded robbers. CEHRD is extremely worried that if the security was coming to the village to arrest somebody, it should not have been shooting and stampeding the rural community, because the entire community do not have problem with them. Secondly, the security force should always conduct proper
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investigations before taking any action. CEHRD condemns this. Egberipapa, Senior MEND CommanderArrested by JTF On Sunday, December 28, 2008, Sobomabo Jackrich popularly called Egberipapa, leader of the People's Liberation Movement (PLM), one of the affiliates of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) was arrested by the Troop of the sector 5 of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Op flush out 3 stationed in Buguma town in the Asari Torlu Local Government Area, Rivers State. According to Alhaji Dokubo-Asari, leader of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Egberipapa was arrested by the troop at the premises of the palace of His majesty, the Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom, Prof. Theophilus Jacob Princewill, where he went in the company of Asari. However, scores of persons CEHRD spoke to said they were not aware that Egberipapa was in the monarch's palace and that the king was not aware that Egberpapa was around. They said Asari was in the palace to discuss his chieftaincy title rites. He left the militant leader downstairs and the king was not even aware that Egberipapa was around. Dokubo Asari said that it is not true that the king, Princewill was not aware that Egberipapa was around. He accused the state government as the brain behind the arrest. Chief Albert Horsfall, the ex-spy chief and chairman of the Rivers State Peace Committee told the press that he was not aware of any peace meeting at the Amanyanabo's palace in Buguma. So, who set up the dreaded militant leader? Jomo Gbomo, MEND spokesperson said Egberipapa was set up by Rivers people, while some of Egberipapa's fighters CEHRD spoke with accused Dokubo-Asari and the government as setting him up. His boys promised to do violence if he is not released. Egberipapa has been implicated in several kidnappings and violence in the state. He is of the Jackrich compound in Buguma. Chevron Soldiers Shoot Peaceful Itsekiri Protesters On Saturday, November 20, 2008, heavily armed soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) attached to the operational headquarters of Chevron Nigeria
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Limited in the Ughorodo community at Ecravos in the Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State shot deadly live bullets at hordes of unamed women and men. The peaceful protesters had arrived at the Chevron Tank Farm with placards and leaves, to protest what the villagers called marginalization of Itsekiri people in employment of workers into the Escravos Gas To Liquid (EFTL) project. Mr. Ayiri Emami, the Public Relations Officers (PRO) of the Ughorodo Community Trust (UCT) told CEHRD that immediately the protesters arrived the facility in speed boats, and the security officials knew that none of the protesters were armed with any weapon, and because the Ughorodo community had informed the company about the peaceful protest, they started firing live bullets at the protesting Itsekiri folks. Various protesters received various degrees of injuries. The vice-chairman of The Delta Waterways Security Committee (DWSC) and also an Ugborodo youth leader, Mr. Isaac Botosan said, Peaceful protests is a civilized and acceptable way of making demands any where in the world. The oil companies and the Nigeria government should discourage the use of violence and always encourage dialogue. CEHRD visited Miss Toju Akitikoru, John Toghanrose, Anthony Mene, James Arubi ans Samuel Majebi on their sick beds in a hospital in Warri. They were in critical conditions. They are victims of the shooting by Chevron soldiers. Following widespread condemnation of the shooting by the JTF soldiers, Barigadier General Nanven Rimtip, Commander of the JTF in Delta State who said has visited Escravos in the wake of the shooting, lied to journalist that armed youths invaded the facility and his men merely defended themselves and position there. CEHRD condemns this and urges the Nigerian government, oil companies and security agencies to always encourage dialogue rather than violence. One of the factors responsible for the violent emergencies in the Niger Delta region today is the violent antics of the government towards demand by its citizens. JTF Shot Dead Ijaw Youth Leader in Bonny
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On November 23, 2008 Mr. Alex Pepple the chairman of the Ijaw youth Council (IYC) in charge of the Ibani clan (Bonny kingdom) had reportedly gone to the base of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Bonny Island, to report illegal bunkering activities in the area. And that the officials of the JTF there asked him to go verify the authenticity of his claim and bring feed back to them. CEHRD was told that as Pepple had turned his back, and started going when one of the soldiers fired his gun at him.Alex Pepple died instantly. Col. Sagir. Musa, the JTF spokeman described the story of the killing as an outright cooked-up story commenting further, Sagir said, From the JTF headquarters and Bonny and other sectors in the areas of our responsibility and I found out that nothing like that happed. The JTF did not and will not engage in extra-judicial killings, despite any confrontation. It is against our training, culture and standing instructions. Another official of the IYC, Nselefa-a Paul-Whyte described the killing of Alex Pepple as extra-judicial. We can not lie against the JTF. Is this the first time they are killing innocent persons in the delta? We callfor full scale investigation into member if you think we are lying. Killing of innocent persons must stop Sagir's claim contradicts a lot of cases of extra-judicial killings soldiers of the JTF had carried out in the delta. The family of the deceased told CEHRD that Alex Pepple was shot dead by the JTF which really contradict the JTF's spokesman claim. The extra-judicial killing of Mr. Alex Pepple was coming at a time the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) was putting finishing touches to plans toward a grand celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Kaiama deelaration. The killing of Pepple was also happening at a time, Okoloma Ikangi, a new militant formation had emerged mid November, 2008, around the Bonny Island, and was threatening the king (Amanyanabo) of Grand Bonny, King Edward Dappa Pepple. The Bonny monarch has said won't appear before the Justice Kayode Eso-led Rivers State Trugh and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), arguing that he (Amanyanabo) is next to God. The Okoloma Ikpanji which is led by Wadonye Amibinye want the king because the king Pepple had used the Assistant Inspector- General of police (AIG) Zone 6, Calabar to arrest,
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detain and tortured Mr. Kingsley Adonis Pepple, the chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) who had written a petition to the Eso's TRC accusing the king, Pepple and his council of Chiefs of fraud and corruption in the royalties paid by the oil companies doing business in the island. Instead of the king Pepple to respond to the allegations he resorted to sheer use of the police and other security agencies to intimidate the peaceful youth activists who are demanding for accountability from him. Justice Eso subpoenaed the king Pepple, he said won't attend the panel, during the commission resumed sitting in Port Harcourt, Kayode Eso said, A display of tyranny and despotism by the king of Bonny, who has been accused of such and so much, should come to the commission to deny the accusation. Eso warned, The arm of law is long but my own is longer by six feet of blade so when you go, tell his majesty (king of Bonny) that the arm of the law is very long. It has dealt with crowns in this country. I have had occasions to sentence a crowned king to prison myself, go and tell him so. King Pepple did not appear, the matter was later settled out of the panel. Ibaka Chief Shot Dead ByAssasin in Military Uniform In early December, 2008, about 10:30pm (in the night), a gunmen in military uniform appeared in the house of Chief Emmanuel Tamunowunafuro Inemikabo Kalaru, the high Chief of the Ibaka community in the Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State and shot him dead, and wounded his 3-year-old girl of the deceased. Community people told CEHRD that the gunmen clearly a hired assassin, got to the house of the late Chief Kalaru, the head of the Kalaru war canoe house, he saw Kalaru relaxing with his family member in front of his house at Ibaka at about 10:30pm, and shot him dead at point blank at his chest. Chief Kalaru bled and died instantly. They said by the time the soldiers stationed there arrived the scene, the assassin had fled unhurt. The 49-year-old Chief Kalaru was installed as head of the war canoe House on April 26, 2003, though the immediate cause of the action is not known, but those who spoke to our investigator said there has been a lingering kingship tussle in the Ibaka community.
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CEHRD learnt that for the past 20 years, two families Kalaru 1 and Kalaru II have been fighting over the Ibaka stool. The murdered Chief Emmanuel Tamuno Wunafuro Inemikako Kalaru was supporting the Kalaru I. The deceased had reportedly escaped death 3 times, this time around was not lucky again. With guns and gangs every where, no one is safe.
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Violence, Insecurity and Non-State Armed Groups and Proliferation of SALWs
(3) Violence, Insecurity and Non-State Armed Groups and Proliferation of SALWs
Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly, no person shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment - Section 34 (Right to Dignity of Human persons), chapter iv of the 1999 Nigerian constitution Soldier Killed, German Worker Seized On Wednesday, March 5, 2008 around 11:00am, unidentified gunmen shot dead a soldier attached to a site being run by Julius Berger, the German construction company and kidnapped a German expatriate worker who was inspecting the construction work in Rivers State. The German national was released that same day unhurt. The then Rivers state police spokeswoman, Ireju Barasua said that the victim was handed over unhurt to government officials overnight. No group claimed responsibility for the action. Julius Berger is one of the construction firms handling the dualisation of the East/West Highway awarded by the Federal Government. The site where the soldier was shot dead and German kidnapped is along Rumuji in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State. Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the main militant group was largely responsible for the upsurge of violence that climaxed in the Niger Delta in 2006. Later, other criminal gangs and cartels joined in the lucrative business of kidnapping of people and demanding of ransom. Ateke's Fighters, Naval Officials Killed in Fierce Battle inAlakiri On Saturday August 16, 2008, the naval unit of the Joint Task Force (JTF) clashed with militants from the Tom Ateke led Niger Delta Vigilante Movement (NDVM)/Niger Delta Patriotic Force (NDPF) which led to the death of some NDVM/NDPF fighters and naval officials.
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Some NDVM/NDPF combatants told CEHRD that they were holding a meeting at one of their camps along the Alakiri River in the Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State when 8 naval gun boats fired their guns sporadically at them. And that in response, Ateke gave order for a counterattack. Its fighters were mobilized in two speed boats, a fierce battle ensued between the militants and the navy. CEHRD was told that 3 naval officials and 4 militants were killed in the attack. When JTF spokesperson, Lt. Col. Musa Sagir was contacted over the incident, he said that he was not aware of the incident, adding that it must have been the Nigerian navy. The Navy spokesperson, Olabisi Wey disclosed that the militants were killed when they ambushed naval patrol teams returning to their base. The navy claimed that they killed some militants and recovered 2 General multi Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), AK47 riffles and 388 rounds of ammunition from them. It is important to note that in the wake of the incident, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye while briefing his men at the Eastern Naval command headquarters in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, said: The navy actually suffered some loss of officers and men in our operations adding that the officers should not allow the death of their colleagues to lower their morale or deter them from performing their duties. He further advised them to be more courageous and security conscious at all times. Often times after any bloody incident between militants and security operatives operating in the region, both engage in propaganda. This act is quite misleading, and does not give a true picture of things. Wey Olabisi, the Public Relations officer of the NNS Pathfinder claimed to have killed 12 militants; however, from the information CEHRD obtained exclusively, the militants who were confronted by the navy were just 8 in 2 speed boats including their drivers who are also combatants. On the part of the militants, they refused to give the number of the casualties, but only issued a public statement through its spokesperson, Tamunokuro Ebitari saluting the gallantry of its fighters, This indeed, is a demonstration of might. We congratulate them and urge them to try harder.
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GoergeAdumu, JTF Soldiers Clash inAndoni On Sunday, October 26, 2008, Soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and heavily armed fighters of George Adumu clashed along the Ngo river in the Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, which led to serious injuries on both side. CEHRD can't confirm independently whether anybody died on both sides. For sometime now, George Adumu, about 6 feet tall in his early 30s, had been on the surveillance list of the intelligence unit of the JTF over the killing of Frank Kpande who hailed from the same community with George. The late Kpande, a staff of the Rivers State government-owned RisonPalm Limited, had arrived the above community to inspect his house project in the village when George Adumu and his fighters killed him and took away his corpse. CEHRD gathered that the late Frank Kpande has been very vocal in criticizing George's activities and had reported him severally to security outfits like JTF and George has placed him on his group's list of those marked for elimination. CEHRD gathered that a JTF patrol team ambushed a convoy of speedboats escorting the gang leader and as usual George Adumu ordered scores of his body guards and fighters to return fire against the JTF troops. 4 of his body guards were seriously injured, and George himself. Doctors were brought from Port Harcourt to Asarama, the nearby community where emergency treatment was given to Adumu and his wounded fighters. Adumu, the target, was shot in the neck, stomach and buttocks. 3 military officials were seriously injured too. We learnt that one of the injured soldiers later died, but we could not confirm it. Military authorities contacted didn't want to comment on the issue. CEHRD investigators met the Adumu after the attack, who is a senior official of the Tom Ateke's Niger Delta Vigilantee Movement (NDVM)/Icelander (German) confraternity in the Andoni axis. While, one Mr. Batholomew who hails from Unyeada in the same Andoni Area is the head of the NDVM/Icelander in the Andoni Area. Adumu is said to have been involved in several cases of kidnapping, violence and killings in the
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Andoni areas and its environs. On Tuesday, September 2, 2008, one of his comrades-in-arms, Samuel Okwa from Unyeada was arrested by security operatives and is still in detention at the time of this report. George Adumu who is now an active member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), CEHRD gathered, was a quiet and peaceful person, but the advent of criminal politics affected him as he metamorphosed from a mere PDP thug into full blown gang leader, gun smuggler, kidnapper and cultist. Majority of his body guards and fighters are young people. He initiates children even below 18 years into his gang. He operates two camps in the Andoni axis. One, in the deep Okukpor forest where he built 25 houses and another at Ogbente, a village settlement betweent Ibotirem and Dema, all in the Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. George Adumu like other gang leaders in the region is the creation of the desperate politicians. ManAbducts 6-year-old Boy from Church On Sunday, April 27, 2008, 6-year-old Master Madamzi Chinda, son of Dickson Chinda, an ex-supervisory councilor of Works and Transport in the Port Harcourt city Local Government Area of Rivers State, was lured from the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Amazing Grace Assembly, located off Abacha Road, GRA, Port Harcourt at about 10:00 am by a man identified as Mr Sunday Ogbu who was holding a bible in one hand, pretending to be one of the church officials. The victim was taken from the children's section of the church and shortly after the boy was abducted, the kidnapper called the father on telephone and demanded a ransom of undisclosed amount, threatening to kill Ndamze if he fails to bring the ransom money. CEHRD gathered that the boy was lured out of the church premises by the kidnapper who promised to buy biscuit for him. The kidnapper later took the boy to a storey building somewhere in Igwuruta near the Port Harcourt International airport and was later transferred to a church for safe keeping since he could not even feed the boy. He asked a church to help him with some money to feed his hostage, claiming that he
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saw him, Ndamzi, along a road in the area, and contradicted himself by claiming that the child is his. The church gave him N700, to feed the boy. Suspicious of the genuineness of his claims, the church later contacted the police and he was arrested. As at the time of compiling this report, the suspected kidnapper, Mr. Sunday Ogbu, was still being held by the police. Margaret Idisi, Wife of Oil Magnate Kidnapped. In the early hours of Sunday, April 20, 2008, Chief (Mrs.) Margaret Idisi, wife of Chief Humphrey Idisi, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Lonester Drilling Nigeria Limited, a well-known indigenous oil services company, was abducted by a group of kidnappers numbering about 10. The kidnapers who clearly wanted ransom invaded the family house of the oil magnate at Rumuokwurushi in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital and took her away. One of the aides of Idisi narrated the incident to CEHRD that on that day, 10 of the kidnappers, all youths, climbed the high walls that surround Idisi's sprawling compound with the aid of a ladder through the back fence. As they gained entrance into the compound, they headed for the back iron door and broke it open with heavy metallic objects they came with. They shot their guns sporadically and detonated dynamites at intervals to scare away people. They later gained entrance into the bedroom where Margaret Idisi was hiding and collected her because none of the children of the oil chief was around. They also made away with some undisclosed amount of money. Few hours after the incident, the kidnappers opened communication with the family without revealing their identities and their location. No group claimed responsibility contrary to media reports that fighters of the Tom Ateke led Niger Delta Vigilantee Movement (NDVM) was responsible for the kidnap. Speaking to CEHRD, Ateke Tom denied out rightly and exonerated his groups. No person was killed during the kidnappers operation in Idisi's compound. Spokesperson of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt. Col Musa Sagir confirmed the incident and said that the kidnappers did it for money and that his men were dispatched there because of a distress call they go from the affected family.
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The invasion of Rumuokwurushi home of Chief Humphrey Idisi during which his first wife was taken away was similar to an invasion of the heavily protected home of chief Lulu Briggs, chairman of Monipolo Limited, an indigenous oil/gas exploration company and kidnapped his wife by heavily armed kidnappers. The kidnappers later placed a N500 million ransom on her. The kidnappers of Mrs. Idisi were initially demanding N1 billion naira, but later reduced it to 500 million naira. Mrs. Margaret Idisi, as at the time of her abduction, was a grand another and was said to be hypertensive. In the early hours of Saturday, April 3, 2008, Mrs. Margaret Idisi, regained her freedom after a big undisclosed amount was paid to the kidnappers as ransom. CEHRD confirmed it independently. She was released some where in Bayelsa state rather than Port Harcourt in Rivers State where she was kidnapped from. CEHRD gathered that the kidnapping of the woman was one of the most organized kidnapping that has taken place in recent times in the history of kidnapping. And that about 10 gunmen carried out the kidnapping in Port Harcourt who later joined with 30 other of their colleagues in Bayelsa state. Source told CEHRD that over N5million was spent on logistics during the preparation for the operation by the kidnappers. MEND Launches More DeadlyAttacks on Oil Facilities. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the mainstream loose coalition of armed groups operating in the swamp of the oil and gas rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria, has launched more deadly attacks on the Nigeria's oil industry under its new military campaign codenamed Operation Cyclone. Under this program, MEND restated its resolve to cripple the Nigeria oil export industry, Jomo Gbomo, its spokesman revealed in a widely circulated e-mail. MEND which said it had earlier declared ceasefire disclosed that the renewed hostilities were in response to the arrest and detention of one of its leaders, Henry Okah in September 2007 in Angola and its extradition to Nigeria to face a secret trial in Jos, plateau state, in the northern part of
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Nigeria. MEND has been pressing for his release by resuming its characteristic hostility against the oil industry. In the month of April, 2008, MEND claimed responsibility for 4 major attacks on oil facilities. First, was at Olero Flow station owned by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) in Delta state where, after the attack, scores of soldiers and militants died in a serious gun duel said to be one of the deadliest. Militants seized several weapons belonging to the Joint Task Force (JTF). MEND provided logistical support for the Deadly Underdogs, a militant formation which operates mainly around the Warri-North West Local Government Area of Delta State. Ezekiel Awala who led the Deadly Underdogs fighters under the high command of MEND died on Monday, April 28, 2008 from fatal gun injuries he got during the deadly fight in a MEND camp in Bayelsa state. After the death of Awala, some commanders of the Deadly Underdogs told CEHRD in an interview that Awala was not part of their team and its fighters were not indigenes of the area. JTF later attacked the Opuama community in search of arms and the Awala who is confirmed dead now. Commander Okoro Owei, is the new leader of the group. In the early hours of Friday, April 25, 2008, another attack took place on a trunk pipelines operated by the Anglo-Dutch Shell PLC in Nembe in the Nembe Local GovernmentArea of Bayelsa State. On Saturday, April 26, 2008. MEND also coordinated another major attack on the Ekulema oil facility belonging to Shell too. The facility is located in Akuku-Torlu Local GovernmentArea of Rivers State. On Thursday, April 24, 2008 at about 22.18 hours, MEND said its heavily armed fighters provided cover for its detonation engineers who successfully sabotaged the Adamakiri and Soku pipeline in the Akuku-Torlu Local GovernmentArea of Rivers State. On Monday April 21, 2008 MEND also coordinated attacks on the Isaka
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Shell pipelines located in the Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State. Born in January 11, 2006, MEND's deadly attacks on the nation's oil facilities have led to a serious cut down on oil production quota as well as hike in oil prices in the international market. MEND said the attacks will continue until their leader, Henry Okah is released from detention. Attacks are being carried out by a faction of MEND loyal to Henry Okah. Youth Election Claims 3 Lives in Ekpan The bloody crisis which enveloped the Ekpan village community in the Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State got to its peak on Saturday, April 5, 2008, with the death of 3 youths of the affected community. When CEHRD visited the area, the following names were given as the casualties; Henry Ojonea, Benneth Sakutu and Richard. Succession to youth positions through election has always been a major trouble in many communities in the Niger Delta, especially oil producing comminutes because of pecuniary benefits accruable from it. Ekpan community was factionalized along youth body contending for leadership body of the central youth body of Ekpan. The three youths died during a tough gun duel between 2 youths factional groups struggling for positions in the community youth executive body. As gun violence intensified in the community, a Chief of the community and one of the factional youth leaders were arrested by soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and later handed over to the police. The security operatives later said it discovered an armory in his residence containing assorted arms and ammunition. CEHRD was not been able to confirm this independently. The youth leader was first detained and later interrogated at No. 93 Battalion Effurun, the headquarters of the JTF and later transferred to the Delta state police command inAsaba, the capital of Delta State. Gunmen Kidnap Ekeneoreawaji, 2 Missing inAsarama. At about 10 am on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, heavily armed gunmen numbering about 12 traveling in 2 speed boats landed at the jetty at the
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Asarama community in the Andoni Local government Area of Rivers State. On berthing, they fired gun shots sporadically from their AK47s and G3s. The wild gun fire stirred tension in the community and poor locals ran for safety as the guns barked. Amidst the sporadic gun shots, the gunmen went straight to where Mr. Andrew Ekeneorewaji, a 36-year-old man who is a native of the community had ran to hide and took him away. Earlier before the abduction of Ekeneoreawaji, precisely on Saturday, April 12, 2008, at about 11pm, Obulu Owens and Rainbow, both natives of Asarama community too, were whisked away by gunmen. Villagers who spoke to CEHRD in the community said majority of the gunmen identified hail from the community. Asarama has been rocked by violence and the community is accessible by road and water and is now a sort of operational base for cultists and militants. Mother of Tai Caretaker Chairman Seized in Kira On Sunday, April 20, 2008, at about 12:00 midnight, Mrs. Rose Deemor, the mother of Engineer Gideon Deemor, the out-gone Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State was kidnapped by seven gunmen who sneaked into her unfenced house in the Bue-Nghaa area of Kira community. CEHRD gathered that as the kidnappers were going away with the woman, one of the children of Mrs. Rose Deemor met them on their way out of the compound and pleaded with them to spare his mother, but the kidnappers refused and took her away. Later in the afternoon of the same Sunday, Mrs. Rose's captors sent a coded text message (sms) to her son, Gideon Deemor, asking for millions of naira as ransom in return for the release of the woman whose health was said to be deteriorating. Commissioner's Son Spends 7 Months in Captivity On September 28, 2007, Master Inieruna Nam, Son of Mr Asara A. Asara, the special Duties Commissioner for Bayelsa State who is from the Bayelsa East senatorial District and a student of the Igbinedion Educational Centre,
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Benin, Edo state capital, was kidnapped by gunmen while on his way to his school. Few hours after the kidnap incident, Mrs. Damini Asara, wife of Mr Asara received a phone call from anonymous persons stating that her son was with them and demanded N27 million ransom before he would be released. The father of the kidnapped boy, when contacted, said he did not have such amount of money and could not pay the said amount. After spending seven months in the captivity of the commercial kidnappers, the boy was released unhurt. CEHRD can't confirm whether any form of ransom was paid or not before his release. OdukwuAssasinated inAhoada On April 4, 2008, Mr. Ameka Odukwu, an indigene of Ochigba community in the Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State was assassinated by 3 heavily armed gunmen. The deceased was a private businessman. He was assassinated along Hospital Road in Ahoada town in the Ahoada East Local Government Area while leaving his office at about 8:00pm. The then Police spokeswoman, Mrs Ireju Barasua, a Deputy Superintendent of police confirmed the killing to CEHRD and said police has set up a serious investigation into the matter. In spite of any provocation, no body should kill anybody; such act violates local and international human rights laws and standards, CEHRD condemn this out rightly. 8-year-old child of a Widow Kidnapped inAsaba Kidnapping and demanding ransom has gradually become part of the daily life in the oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region and other parts of Nigeria by all sorts of armed criminal bandits. In Asaba, the capital of Delta state, on Friday, April 25, 2008, heavily armed kidnappers who arrived in a brand new Honda car maneuvered themselves into Joy Chichi crescent, off Ministry of Agriculture Road, a highly secured area protected by high security walls. The Kidnappers subdued a female domestic worker with the
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family of the 8-year-old boy and snatched the boy from where he was playing with his peers. The 8-year-old boy is the son of Mrs. Nnamdo who lost her husband few years ago. The kidnappers had reportedly demanded N3 million from the widow. Delta state police command in Asaba told CEHRD that the police were on the trail of the kidnapers. As at the time of compiling the report, they were still at large. Two Toddlers Seized inAleto On Thursday, April 10, 2008, two toddlers, Francis and Deborah, children of Mr. Uduak Sunday Effiong, an executive member of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), were kidnapped from their residence in Aleto community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers state by gun men. The victims were abducted from the oil marketer's house at about 10:30pm on Wednesday, April 9, 2008, in an operation that lasted till the following morning, Thursday, April 10, 2008, without any resistance. They ransacked the house, taking any property that cut their eyes. The gunmen demanded a whooping sum of 10 million naira before releasing the toddlers. The local police confirmed the incident to CEHRD. CEHRD investigations reveal that those taking to kidnapping for ransom are actually ex-thugs of politicians who before were being taken care of by politicians who enlist their services, but when such politicians are no longer in power to continue giving them money for sustenance, the thugs are hungry and go desperate. They resort to hostage-taking and kidnappings as means of sustaining themselves. Mistaken Identity; Lawmaker's Wife Snatched by Gunmen, In the early hours of Sunday, April 6, 2008, four heavily armed gunmen driving in a Mercedes Benz car intercepted a vehicle conveying Mrs. Patricia Asita, wife of a House of Representative member representing Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni/Ahoada West constituency, and kidnapped the
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woman along Okilton drive located along Ada George Road in Port Harcourt on her way to church. PatriciaAsita was driving with her husband and other members of her family when their vehicle was intercepted and she was ordered by the gunmen to move over to their (gunmen) vehicle. The husband watched helplessly. There was no resistance and no gun shot too. Few hours after the gunmen vanished with the lawmaker's wife, they phoned the lawmaker apologizing that her wife was not actually their target, and that the husband should just give them some token of money. They did not however disclose who their target was. They did not also state what the amount, but just wanted the husband of the victim to part with some money. Bloody Violence Engulfs Bonny Island. The authorities of the Nigerian Army have decried the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), saying it threatens peace and security in the country, particularly in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Lt. General Luka Yusuf, speaking on Monday, May 20, 2008 in Kaduna, the capital of Kaduna State at the opening of a four-day seminar/workshop, as part of the activities marking the 2008 Nigerian Army day celebration, said the ugly trend, if not checked, might eventually lead to anarchy. A day after the army chief's expression, gunmen engaged men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) also called Operation Flush out III, in Bonny Island, home of the multi-billion dollar Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLG) and major oil and gas terminal in serious gun battle, killing a soldier attached to the JTF. A Naval gunboat was destroyed, while several military officials sustained serious injuries. Spokesperson of the JTF, Lt. Col. Musa Sagir who confirmed the bloody incident described the attackers as bandits who have been terrorizing Bonny. The gunmen stormed the island in speedboats. According to police sources, the intention of the gunmen was to rob a commercial bank close to one of the jetties in the island, but were disappointed that the bank had relocated. About 10:00am on Thursday, May 29, 2008, gunmen also engaged the navy unit of the JTF in intense gun duel, in a bid to attack TANGO MARY, a security vessel working for Total. The vessel was sailing to Total's Amenam
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field, about 3 nautical miles west of Bonny. The attack failed as the gun men were unable to board the vessel. The failed attack was coming at a time that MEND issued a fresh threat to launch more attacks on oil facilities and military positions throughout the delta starting from May 30, 2008 but MEND denied that it was involved in the Tango Mary attack. In response, the JTF had dismissed such threat. CEHRD gathered that two Naval officers were killed during the Bonny attack, but could not confirm this independently. At about 10:30pm, on Wednesday night, May 28, 2008, Chief Idala Polyn, while having dinner with members of his family, at his Kalibiama community in the Bonny Island met his death in the hands of gunmen. Someone had invited him outside the house for a discussion. As he came out he saw four gunmen who opened fire on him. They reportedly shot his head several times until he was dead before disappearing with their waiting speedboat through the creek channels. The deceased was a stalwart of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) and was involved in some contention over the ownership of some portion of the oil rich Cawthorne channel, although the matter was resolved long before his death. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Bonny, Mr. Aliu Garba (CSP) confirmed the killing, but declined further comments to CEHRD. On Thursday, June 26, 2008, no fewer than 3 passengers on the Port Harcourt Bonny creek route were killed by gunmen who attacked a passengers' boat. Those killed include the driver and two passengers. The attackers thereafter hijacked the boat and sailed it away to unknown destination in the Bonny Island. The new Rivers State Police spoke person, Mrs. Rita Inoma-Abbey confirmed the attack and said many were wounded but those who survived had been rescued, while the dead were deposited at the mortuary. On Sunday, May 29, 2008 suspected militants attacked a house boat owned by Shell in Oloma area of Bonny Island, killing 2 soldiers of the JTF. They later moved to Bonny Island and engaged men of the JTF in a gun duel that lasted several hours. During the shoot-out, stray bullets struck a pregnant
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woman and several others. No group claimed responsibility for the attack. JTF spokesman, Musa Sagir confirmed the attack, saying that there was an attack on JTF position by suspected militants in Bonny Island which led to an exchange of gun fire between the suspected militants and JTF troops deployed there. Sagir said that one soldier was wounded, a civilian beheaded and two militants killed during the encounter. Musa Sagir's claim is contrary to what CEHRD gathered reliably. CEHRD gathered that two soldiers were killed, a pregnant woman hit dead by stray bullet and 3 others wounded. And that no militant was killed. In a dramatic twist, spokesman for the Anglo Dutch Shell, Mr. Precious Okolubo said Olomo flow station was not attacked and that it was still operating. In the wake of the incident, there has been a mass exodus of residents in the Island, especially non Bonny natives who had arrived the Island to do various contract jobs following the massive industrialization of the area. Speaking to a CEHRD monitor, 52year-old Margaret Bassey, a restaurant operator in the island lamented; at those early days when they just started building the LNG, I arrived here (Bonny Island), to run my restaurant business. It was doing well. I had plenty customers and I was making profits. But, when violence started, I lost a lot of customers. I am leaving this place by the end of June 2008. I am returning to continue my business in my home state, Akwa Ibom. I don't want to die now because I have children and others to take care of. The violence is becoming too much. Every day you hear gun shots as if we are at war Cultists Kill 10 Innocent Persons inAShooting Spree In the early part of May 2008, 3 gunmen suspected to be cultists stormed a drinking spot at No. 13, Stallion Road in the Rumuodu community in Elelenwo in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers state in a desperate search for members of a rival cult group, killing innocent persons. CEHRD monitor gathered that when the 3member cult gang, armed with Ak47, stormed the drinking spot, the rival cult members on sighting them escaped by jumping over a fence there. The angry cultists, who, as CEHRD gathered, came from the Eleme area in the state, angrily fired sporadically.
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At the drinking joint, the rampaging cultists opened fire on people there and 4 persons died instantly. Those who died were in their nearby shops. They include: Uche, a tailor and two barbers. The incident took place at about 8:30pm. Also in the shooting madness, two lovers who were relaxing in one of the chalets at the joint were killed, bringing the number of victims to 6. As if not satisfied, the cultists moved to another drinking spot at Rumudani, another part of Elelenwo (the water front, Mango Estate) in a futile search for their targets and killed another four innocent persons. CEHRD investigation revealed none of those killed were members of the rival gangs the cultists were looking for. The police command in the state confirmed the bloody incident. Bayelsa Prison in Rivers State Stinks The Federal Prison located in Ahoada town in the Ahoada-East Local Government Area of Rivers State is over-congested and breeding ground for diseases. CEHRD recent visit to the prison revealed a horrible situation. Inmates do not have access to drugs; there is epileptic power supply; there is endemic skin diseases on inmates, no mattresses to sleep on, most of the inmates fall sick without care, poor nutrition and worst still, about 80 inmates are occupying a room. The situation painted above is the same with the Port Harcourt prisons and even the one near Asaba in Delta State, which CEHRD visited lately. Recently, following several petitions about the state of prisons in the Bayelsa state, the Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Kate Abiri ordered the release of 12 inmates awaiting trial at the Federal prison in Ahoada which is being used by Bayelsa state to keep inmates from the state, though is located in Rivers state, outside the Bayelsa territory. The 12 inmates were among 300 inmates, out of which 247, including 3 females, are awaiting trial. One of the female inmates is charged for murder. An inmate who refused to give his name at the prison spoke to CEHRD monitor: we are treated like animals. We are living in a very bad condition. We don't eat good food. Some of our colleagues die on daily basis because of poor heath conditions. Please help us (to CEHRD) and tell the government
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keeping us, some of us are even innocent person. Gunmen Kidnap 2 Lebanese, One Syrian Construction Worker On Sunday, May 18, 2008, 6 fierce-looking, AK47-wielding men driving in a jeep along Ubima town, overlooking the Port Harcourt Elele/Isiokpo Highway in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, kidnapped three foreign workers (2 Lebanese and one Syrian) working for JMS company Limited; a construction company based in Rivers State. The new Rivers state police spokesperson, Mrs Rita Inoma-Abbey confirmed the incident, but told CEHRD that the details of the incident were still hazy as at the time of this report. The abduction of the expatriates coincided with the abduction, (on Friday, May 16, 2008) of the wife of Deputy General Manager of ELF Petroleum, Mrs. Ijeoma Anozie. She was kidnapped near her residence from church. The monstrous rate of kidnappings has seemingly forced owners of expensive cars in Rivers State to abandon their big cars and resort to using motor bikes and taxi cabs, to escape the dragnet of the commercial kidnappers on the prowl. Ex-Rivers Commissioner'sAgeing Mother Snatched On Monday, May 12, 2008, 6 gun men traveling in Toyota Camry car invaded the sleepy town of Ulakwo 2, a rural village community in the Etche Local Government Area of Rivers state and kidnapped the ageing mother of Chidi Nweke, the ex-commissioner for Agriculture under the Celestine Omehia government in Rivers State. The wild gunmen stormed the community at about 1:00am (in the night) and headed straight to the aged woman's apartment where she was lying in the sitting room due to excessive heat in the area. For 6 months, the area has been in total blackout. When the gunmen arrived, they broke the door and dragged the poor woman into their waiting Toyota Camry and escaped to unknown destination. Chidi Nweke was not around when the incident occurred. A community youth activist who gave his name as Comrade Nelson spoke to CEHRD
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monitor in Ulakwo 2 community. The Niger Delta region is moving towards something else; day in and day out you hear one kidnapping story or another by youths like us who have turned criminals. Something needs to be done to stop this. This is not helping us. The government and the oil companies are not helping matters too. In the midst of wealth, every body is suffering, why won't people turn to criminal thugs? No group claimed responsibility for the kidnap, but CEHRD learnt the act was carried out by one of the criminal gangs operating in the delta looking for money. Bloody Violence Soak Delta State Local Government Election Just as violence, destruction and killings featured during the Rivers State local government election in April 2008, the same characterized Delta State local polls. On May 10, 2008, the Delta State local government elections were held. Killings and gun violence characterized the local elections. At Ward 17 in Ohwarovwon community in the Ughelli North Local Government Area of the State, 4 persons were killed. Three of the victims are identified as follows: - Ayoko Ohwroro, Agrey Useh and Frederick Omoyigbo. Those who sustained serious gun injuries were Aboni Ureri and Joseph Okonigbe. Among those killed, CEHRD gathered, 3 were members of the ruling Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), while one was a member of the Labour Party (LP), an opposition party. CEHRD also gathered that high level violence trailed local government polls throughout the state. CEHRD was told by a victim who suffered minor gun injury that when Mr. Francis Obireh and his supporters were seen in wild jubilation that he was returned unopposed by the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), violence erupted. The Delta State police command confirmed the violence and said corpses of the victims were deposited at the Ughelli Central Hospital Mortuary. In spite of controversies that trailed the local government council poll, the state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, on Tuesday, May 12, 2008, amidst tight security sworn in the chairmen, a total of 24 chairmen in the
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state, except the chairman of Ughelli North council. PDP was said to have swept all the positions. CEHRD is extremely worried by poor conduct of the elections. This really cast doubt on our democratic experiment. The chairman in turn swore in the councilors representing the different wards in the area. Gunmen Kill 2 Policemen, CartAway Weapons In the early hours of Sunday, May 11, 2008, barely 12 hours after the flag-off of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) governorship rally in Bayelsa state, heavily armed gunmen who were carrying out oil bunkering (oil theft) were confronted by the police over the illicit act. Two (2) of the policemen were killed by the oil bunkerers. They also made away with rifles belonging to the slain policemen. CEHRD got wind of the attack and informed journalists and others about the incident. CEHRD reliably gathered that the incident took place at Okiki community in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Ogbia in Bayelsa State and that when policemen on duty engaged the gunmen in gun duel, the policemen were overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the gunmen. An Okiki resident who gave her name as Tari who spoke to CEHRD in the community described the incident thus, we could not sleep since 4:00am. The gun sounded as if we were at war. No body is really safe. I am even afraid to go to my farmland today. I don't know the day this violence will end and we would live in peace as we used to, the poor Okiki farmer who was in her late 50s cried. The Okiki tragedy was coming at a time the Nigerian navy through its director of information, naval headquarters, Capt. Henry Babalolo had claimed at the navy headquarters in Abuja that armed groups in the Delta could no longer engage in illegal oil bunkering owing to naval operations in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The leading insurgent deltaic group, MEND was not responsible for this attack. In the region there are several armed cartels that engage in criminal activities. The attack on the police post and the carting away of the weapons was done by one of those criminal groups.
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The names of the affected mobile policemen are: Sergeant William Idiseye and Corporal Alexson Nengite. At the time of this report, their corpses were deposited at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Morgue in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital. The policemen were of the anti-sea piracy squad stationed at the area, Mr. Iniobong Ibokete, the police Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Bayelsa state police command told CEHRD. 3-Year-old Tonye George Kidnapped in Okrika On Saturday, May, 10, 2008, a 3-year-old Tonye George was kidnapped from his father's house in George Ama in the Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State. The Victim is said to be son of Daniel George. Few minutes after the abduction of little Tonye, kidnappers called the father to demand N5 million in order to release his son. When CEHRD contacted Daniel George, father of the victim, he said that the kidnappers mistook his child for another person. He wondered how a poor man like him can pay such amount of money to the kidnappers. He pleaded with them to release his child. On Sunday, May 11, 2008, children and mothers in Rivers state marched to the Rivers state government house to protest their ordeals in the hands of commercial kidnappers. Speaking on behalf of the state governor, Magnus Abe, the secretary to the state governor promised to address the issue seriously. Lawmaker's Mother Seized by Gunmen At about 11:00 am on Friday, May 9, 2008, , Mrs. Fedelia Chioma, a teacher with the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Primary School at Oromineke in D/Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State was kidnapped by six gunmen who stormed the place in a navy-blue Nissan Lancer car for the operation. CEHRD gathered that immediately the gunmen drove recklessly into the school compound, 2 of them stood at the entrance of the compound, while 4 others dashed into the classrooms searching for the target. They eventually found her and forced her into their waiting and steaming car and zoomed off with her.
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It was learnt that while the commercial kidnappers operation lasted, other teachers and pupils were keep at gun point by the untamed kidnappers. Ireju Barasua, then Rivers police spokeswoman, confirmed the incident. Chioma is the mother of a member of the Rivers state House ofAssembly. One of the demands of the kidnappers of Mrs. Fidelia Chioma was the immediate resignation of Godden Ngozi Chioma as, the Rivers law maker. The kidnap has some political undertone. 8 Killed in Gokana, Tai Shooting On May 1, 2008, 3 armed youths riding on a motor bike popularly called Okada in Nigeria, stormed a place in B-Dere community in the Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State and shot sporadically, killing 2 persons and wounding other persons. Those killed were Nenibarini Naanee (from B-Dere) and Lebura Kpenu (from K-Dere) communities. Few other persons were terribly injured. The gun used in shooting the victims was the Italian made Baretta pistols. Also, on Sunday May 4, 2008 gunmen stormed Kira community in the Tai Local Government Area and killed 6 persons. Two of the victims were identified as Elder Nlemaa Agbabee and Kuru, who hailed from Kira, while the third person who CEHRD couldn't get his name hailed from Sime and others from villages in their area. Over 18 persons were wounded. The Rivers State police confirmed the senseless killings to CEHRD and promised to bring to book those involved in the act. Nobody has been brought to book as at the time of compiling this report. NosaAigbangbe Kidnapped inAsaba On May 1, 2008, at about 9:30 am in Asaba, the capital of Delta state, Nosa Aigbangbe was kidnapped by gunmen. Shortly after, the kidnappers called the father of the victim and demanded a whooping sum of N20 million. On May 5, 2008, Nosa was released in Onitsha, Anambra State, about one hour drive from his hometown. The acting Delta state police commissioner, Jacob Oshiomogbo confirmed the incident and said his command arrested some suspects in connection with various crimes in the state and said his men recovered some arms
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includingAK47 riffles. Kidnappers of Ndoki Chief Demand N42m Ransom On April 28, 2008, Chief Peter Edujoko Josiah of the Okoloma Ndoki (Afam) in the Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers state was kidnapped by seven heavily armed gunmen who stormed his compound barely an hour the victim arrived from his journey from Calabar, the capital of cross Rivers State. The victim was driven away in his own car to an undisclosed location. Before the kidnap incident, Josiah has some long-standing rift with some other chiefs of the community. CEHRD can't confirm whether his kidnap is the fall out of the rift. At the time of this report, the Chief was still with his captors. Ship Captain, EngineerAbducted in Bonny Waterways Just as the London-based maritime watchdog, International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said Nigeria's waterways are the most dangerous in the world for seafarers, although the Nigerian navy says with correct arms and ammunition in its hand, the waterways will be a safe, an expartriate ship captain was abducted in Bonny waterway, one of the dangerous Nigerian water ways. A Nigerian engineer was also abducted. The incident took place at about 11:00am on Saturday, May 3, 2008, 15 miles north-west from the Bonny Island in Rivers State. Lt. Col. Musa Sagir, the spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Rivers, confirmed the incident and said the attack took place outside its area of responsibility. Of late there have been several attacks around the Bonny Island by several armed groups which litter the area. The victims were later released, but CEHRD could not confirm whether ransom was paid or not. MENDAttacks Shell's Facility in Bayelsa Gunmen loyal to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the most formidable insurgent group in the region on Saturday May 3, 2008, attacked the Diebu creek flow station belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) in the coastal area of Peremabiri in the southern Ijaw Local Government Area of
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Bayelsa State. The gunmen who MEND said were from one of their militant cells empowered by it to carry out the attack over-ran the heavily fortified Shell flow stations, destroying the facility such as 3 well heads (13, 15 and 16), while the inlet manifold and one separator including delivery lines were reportedly blown up by the MEND gunmen. This attack, MEND said, was part of its Operation Cyclone campaign. Shell's spokesman, Precious Okolobo, as well as Bayelsa State Police Command, confirmed the attack. sHowever, MEND in an online message it sent out expressed happiness over the release of Edward Oritsebugbemi Atatah who was arrested on September 3, 2007 with Henry Okah, in Angola, but said there will be no peace until Okah is released. MEND said during the Diebu Creek attack, one of its attackers sustained a minor injury. Gunmen Hijack Vessel, 9 Nigerians, 2 Expatriates On Tuesday, May 13, Gunmen seized a vessel belonging to Tide waters carrying 9 Nigerian, two expatriates (a Portuguese and a Ukrainian), which render supplies services for the American oil company, Chevron Nigeria Limited. The vessel called Lourdes Tide was traveling from Onne in the Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers state to Escravos in the Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State when it was intercepted by gun wielding men on the high sea and diverted to an unknown location. CEHRD gathered that during the attack, there was no casualty, but the gunmen were demanding N30 million as ransom before the vessel and hostages would be released. Army spokesman, Lieutenant Col. Musa Sagir confirmed the incident and said efforts were on top gear to uncover those behind the hijack. Jomo Gbomo, Spokesperson for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said its group was not responsible for the attack. We are aware of those behind the attack and do not support their motive. However, we will not see ourselves working on the side of the government in
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aiding the release of the hostage, MEND stated. Cult Violence in Uniport, 8 Killed, Others Wounded In May 2008, when the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) Rivers State did its matriculation, the event was marred by extreme cult violence that led to the death of 8 persons and injuring of several others. Youngsters suspected to be cultists wielding AK47 invaded the school and started shooting sporadically. Sadly on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at about 11.00am when fragile peace seems to have returned to the school, suspected cultists struck again. This time around, they were coming for the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the school, Mr. Wali Amadi at his office in Delta Park. The assailants came on motor bikes and started shooting indiscriminately. They shot dead Dr. Charles Ozuru of Curriculum Studies Department in the Faculty of Education of the University who ran into the office of the CSO. Also, a girl working for a private security firm in the University, a boy and a trader at the scene were killed. The CSO was shot, but he managed to escape with the gun injury. A distress call from the University got to the JTF shortly after the shooting spree, and they arrived. The JTF reportedly engaged the suspected cultists in gun battle, killing 2 of them and arresting one. Both the military and police authorities in the state confirmed the incidents. CEHRD investigation reveals that trouble started at the University when Ejoor Owoicho White, a student of the History and diplomatic studies department of the school, Skull executioner (Boss) of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC) command of UNIPORT did not like the way Mr. Wali Amadi, the school's Chief Security Officer (CSO) was operating, without enlisting the cult's service and without placing the Vikings on monthly allowances like most schools in Nigeria do, to maintain peace. White was angry and he mobilized other SVC suicide squad (fighters) and strike Chiefs (Hitmen) in the school. Also mobilized was their street equivalent, the Icelander (German), another notorious street cult founded by Tom Ateke in 2000 with support from the Dr. Peter Otunaya Odili's government. Both White's SVC and the Icelander flared violence in the ivory tower which led
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to the death of several innocent persons. The SVC was founded at the University of Port Harcourt in 1984 by a history student from Okrika, an Ijaw community in Rivers State. All over the schools in Nigeria, there are several cult groups unleashing violence and reprisal attacks against one another. This ugly scenario had turned the academic institutions into ganglands. In the wake of the cult violence, the Rivers State police spokesperson, Mrs. Rita Inoma Abbey released a list of those suspected cultists who carried out the violence. They are Ejoor Owoicho White of the department of History and Diplomatic studies, Evans Arinze Nwabufo of Petroleum Engineering, Opuada Opusunju of Mechanical Engineering and Harrison Mac Amingo. Others are Wugate Henry Bariua of Petroleum Department, Collins Amughan, Boma Dan Isokariari, Kingsley Osuji and Viemene Batom Bari. Some persons, classified as non-students who allegedly participated in the cult violence are Stanley Okpako, Emeka Jonathan, Preye Okonipiene, Ahiwe Henry Chinedu and Richard Whiteman Ohakwu. Kidnappers Demand N1 b to Free Expatriate Workers On May 28, 2008, two expatriate staff, George Cerri, a Maltese and Muhammed Asif, a Pakistani, working for Lonestar Drilling Company, an oil service company, were taken hostage by unknown gunmen who waylaid them between their camp site and their work site while executing a contract for Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), the Italian oil giant in Rivers State. The driver to the victims told CEHRD that they were intercepted and led to a waiting bus by gunmen who later transferred the hostages into a waiting speedboat, which ferried them to an unknown destination in the creek. The wife of Philip Cerri, Mrs. Phina Cerri later said she established contact with the kidnappers but did not know their exact location where her husband was being held. According to her, the commercial kidnappers were demanding a whooping sum of N1 billion before they could be freed. Just recently, the wife of the
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Chief Executive Officer of Lonestar Drilling Company, Chief Mrs. Margaret Idisi was kidnapped and released upon payment of some huge amount of money as ransom. Former Bayelsa State Commissioner Kidnapped At about 9.00am, on June 1, 2008 Mrs. Augustine Ekeowei, the wife of Chief Godwin Ekeowei, ex-commissioner in the administration of former governor DiepreyeAlamieyeseigha was kidnapped. The victim was abducted from inside the Dosa Family Church in Abuloma area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The husband of the victim was recently tipped as the new Secretary to the State Government under the re-elected Governor Timipre Sylva government. The Rivers State Police command spokeswoman, RitaAbbey confirmed the kidnap incident. The Ekeoweis hail from Azuzuama community in the Southern Ijaw Area of Bayelsa State. Chief Ekeowei said that soon after the abduction of his wife, callers suspected to be the kidnappers called him and demanded N1 billion from him as ransom before they would release his wife. Naval Officer Killed in Militant ReprisalAttack Following the attacks coordinated by JTF on its camps throughout the delta region, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and others that promised to avenge the attacks became desperate. Jomo Gbomo, MEND's spokesperson in his usual online statement said in further launching reprisal attacks against the Nigerian state and its collaborators would unite all armed groups and elements in the Niger Delta to fight for a common cause. The groups MEND want to unite range from cultists, real militants, oil thieves (bunkerers), sea pirates and others. On Tuesday June 10, 2008, heavily armed militants in two speed boats attacked a security vessel some 40 kilometers from the Nigeria coast, killing a Nigerian naval officer and injuring four other Nigerian seamen. The attacked vessel belongs to Addax Petroleum. Same day, ferocious guns of the militants boomed several hours in the Ogbudugbudu creek in the Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State. They later engaged the soldiers of the JTF there in serious gun duel. CEHRD also gathered that few
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soldiers were fatally injured, but the attackers left unhurt. One of the leaders of The Deadly Underdogs told CEHRD monitor that the soldiers have murdered sleep and therefore will not sleep any longer. We shall take the battle to any where they might be. Brigadier-General Rimtip, the head of the Joint Task Force (JTF) said that his men repelled the attack by a bunch of criminals in the name of MEND. Gunmen Kill Security Guard, Kidnap Oil Magnate's Father On May 11, 2008, gunmen numbering about 15, at about 3.00am, invaded the Opobo Island in the Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers state in two speedboats. They shot dead Mr. Friday Uranta, a security guard to Mr. Festus MacPepple, and Later kidnapped him. Local people told CEHRD that the armed men entered the island shooting sporadically and detonating explosives suspected to be dynamites for several hours before breaking into the house of Senibo Festus Macpepple fondly called Adaface, an Octogenarian, and took him to an unknown destination. The victim is the father of Henry MacPepple, the chairman of Adamac Industries, an indigenous oil company headquartered in Port Harcourt. A man who gave his name as Emmanuel Epelle who said he is a high school teacher and who hails from the community told CEHRD on phone, No where is safe. Even Opobo that used to be a quiet place is not at peace too? Those who buy gun for our young one to be doing this are wicked. The kidnapping of Festus Macpepple was done by one of those criminal gangs operating in the delta. The yet-to-be-identified kidnappers that kidnapped 80-year-old Mac-pepple are demanding N350 million ransoms before releasing the man. Another security guard at Mac-pepple house called Ozoemena Jaja was also shot by the rampaging gunmen. Though, not dead, Lt. Col. Musa Sagir confirmed the incident. Prince Igodo of Bayelsa State, Others Killed in Violent Clash On Sunday, July 13, 2008, Commander Prince Igodo, whose real name is
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Gibson Kala operator of a major militant cantonment clashed with some of his disloyal fighters led by Ogunbos at Prince Igodo's camp at Opuama in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, which led to his fleeing the community to Emete in the same Southern Ijaw Area, where he received treatments for the gun injuries he received during the clash. During the clash, several persons said to be innocent in the community were hit by the flying bullets of the warring gangs. CEHRD gathered that trouble in the militant command started over sharing of ransom money accruing from kidnap. Igodo was said to have cheated Ogunbos and other of his fighters who were involved in the deal. Ogunbos who is one of Igodo's fearless and daring fighters felt cheated and led a rebellion to break away to establish his own camp which Igodo opposed. There was problem and Ogunbos who seemed to have been prepared braved the challenge, chased out Igodo, injured him and burnt his camp at Opuama. Igodo later escaped to Emete. Ogbunbos and his loyalists traced his former comrade-in-arms (Igodo) to where he was hiding in Emete. On Friday, June 27, at about 4.30pm, Commander Prince Igodo met death by installment as his two legs were cut off and left to bleed to death under the supervision of his disloyal boys led by Ogunbos. Ogunbos also enlisted the services of some Tom Ateke's boys in the area in confronting Igodo. The late Prince Igodo hailed from Opuama clan in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He was 32 years old, father of two children, but no wife. A secondary school drop out, average height, dark in complexion with a shooting goatee beard. He was trained in the camp of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF) operated by Dokubo-Asari between 2003 and 2004. It is important to note that the late Prince Igodo of Bayelsa state is different from the Prince Igodo of Rivers State. What a coincidence of name? The later was like that of Bayelsa State. That of Rivers State hailed from Tombia community in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. He was in his mid 30s. He was the leader of The Deebam cult group, a notorious street cult founded in Rivers State in 1991. Prince Igodo of Rivers State was
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killed on May 29, 2007, in a reprisal attack carried out by Soboma George's The Outlaws, another notorious cult group and Prince Farah Dagogo of the Niger Delta Strike Force (NDSF), a militant formation allegedly sponsored by Rivers State Government under Sir Celestine Omehia. Both Soboma and Farah are commanders of MEND, although they are estranged now. When CEHRD visited his Opuama community, those it spoke to never said good things about the late militant leader (Prince Igodo of Bayelsa State). A youngman who spoke to CEHRD described the late Prince Igodo of Bayelsa as a criminal, he was terrorizing our community. You can't really say he was a militant. He was just a criminal doing criminal things to make money. We are happy that he is dead. He was not fighting for any body. He was fighting for money. He was also selling arms no body knows where he got them from. Abducted Permanent Secretary Found Dead On Friday, July 27, 2008, Dr Epariba Apiri, a permanent secretary in the Governor's office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen at about 1.00pm at Okodi community, a riverine settlement in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa state was found dead floating in the creek of Okodi. The deceased, was a staff of the Ministry of Budget and planning in the state before his appointment as a permanent secretary and posting to government house in Yenogoa called, CREEK HAVEN. CEHRD spoke with villagers from Okodi community. Mr. Nelson Preye, a native of the Okodi community said, I suspect that it was not a kidnap case. There has been some crisis in the community and if it was a kidnap they wouldn't have killed him. I saw his dead body with bullet wounds. I don't think this is a kidnap case. The victim was hale and hearty before the incident, his co-workers told CEHRD. He was at a wake keep in his village to attend the pre-burial ceremony of the father of Vice President's ADC's father, he was said to have left for his house in the village alone when kidnappers lurking around swooped on him. The Bayelsa police spokesman, Ibokette Iniobong
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confirmed the incident, but gave the assurance that they would take the investigation into the matter seriously. If they actually did, the result is yet to be seen, as the killers are still at large as at the time of this report. 3 Killed as GunmenAttack Gov. Uduaghan's Convoy On Thursday June 27, 2008, three persons including a policeman were killed and two others wounded when gunmen attacked a convoy of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the governor of Delta State that was heading to the Warri Stadium ahead of the governor and his team. On that day the governor was to attend a football match organized to honour Austin Jay Jay Okocha, the Nigeria's footballer. As most politicians do in Nigeira while traveling on the bad roads to a place, they first send an advance team which contain both uniform and plain cloth security operatives. At about 2.30pm the governors advance team encountered a group of gunmen along Pamol Estate in Ogbara community near Sepele before Warri who engaged them in serious shoot-out killing 3 persons including a policeman in the team. The affected Uduaghan's convoy left Asaba, the capital of Delta state. The Delta State police commissioner, Jacob Oshomogho confirmed the incident, but in a statement he issued, he said, Militants attacked a bullion van at Oghara. The governor's advance party made up of military personnel ran into a hail of gunfire resulting in the death of a driver in the police escort. However, Sunny Ogejere, the Chief press secretary to Uduaghan described the attackers as armed robbers operating along pamol Estate, Oghara. Violent crimes, attacks etc occasioned by misuse of small arms have become out of control in the delta region of Nigeria. MENDAttacks Shell's Bonga Oilfields The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 0045 hours overran the supposedly protected Bonga oilfield, an off-shore facility operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), the Anglo-Dutch oil giant in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Mr Basil Omiyi, the managing director of SPDC was quoted to have boasted
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in the wake of the sweeping attacks carried out by armed groups in the region on oil facilities that Bonga oilfields was out of reach of the deltaic militants. Jomo Gbomo, MEND spokespersons said, after the attack, the location for today's (Thursday, June 19, 2008) attack was deliberately chosen to remove any notion that off-shore oil exploration is far from our reach. The oil companies and their collaborators do not have any place to hide in conducting their nefarious activities. On Sunday June 8, 2008 the Joint Task Force (JTF) attacked camps believed to belong to militant groups in Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo and Edo States. In response to the attack, MEND and other armed groups in the region threatened to avenge the attacks, even the Ijaw Youth Leadership Forum (IYLF), not an armed formation, but an umbrella body of youth leaders in Ijawland, in protest against the attacks withdrew from the government initiated peace process. MEND said the main computerized control room responsible for coordinating the entire crude oil export operations from the fields was their target. Gbomo said they couldn't achieve that. The armed group said they kidnapped an American worker, Captain Jack Stone from a supply vessel, TIDEX they met while returning to their base from the attack on Bonga. The two seamen on board the vessel were injured in that attack. MEND said in order to prevent corrupt officials of the Nigerian government from using the kidnap case of Stone to make money while saying that they are negotiating for the release of the hostage, it released him immediately. Shell's spokesman, Olav Ljosne confirmed the attack. CEHRD learnt that Bonga produces 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day which represents 10% of Nigeria's 2 million barrels of crude oil production per day. Shell shuts down the facility after the attack. From land to Bonga oil field in the Atlantic Ocean, is about 85 miles. CEHRD further gathered that a camp of MEND loyal to the detained Henry Okah operated by Victor-Ben Ebikabowei, popularly called Boyloaf coordinated the attack on Bonga oil field, a floating oil facility. The situation calls for serious concern. FridayAniefiok Killed, 3 others WoundedAs Deebam Storm Suburb On Saturday, June 21, 2008, a group of heavily armed young men
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numbering about 10 sneaked through the creeklet at the Njemanze waterfront and started shooting sporadically killing Mr. Friday Aniefiok, a poor passerby. Three (3) other innocent persons were also injured during the attack.. Members of the Deebam, a notorious street gang operating in the area carried out the gun violence which lasted for about twenty five minutes and which claimed the life of an innocent person and injured others. Speaking with an official of the Deebam, he said that, actually there was no target, but just to show that we are still around. You told me about the dead of an innocent person and 3 others wounded. They were unfortunate. The shooting spree of the Deebam caused tension and panic which started about 11.30am, and led to closure of business premises along Njamanze area, an over-crowded neighbourhood and its environs like Nsukka street etc in Port Harcourt. The Deebam cultists who stormed the area in two speed boats, fled through the waterfront and disappeared into the creeklets of Njamanze as a team of police arrived. None of them were arrested. Such pattern of violence is a frequent occurrence in several parts of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria nowadays that guns are out of control. The Njemanze Slum has witnessed very violent and bloody attacks several times launched by rival cult gangs fighting one another for territory control, dominion and supremacy. The Deebam is a street wing of The Klansmen Konfraternity (KK). The KK is a university cult founded at the University of Calabar, Cross Rivers State in 1983 by 5 students who tagged themselves none jaw-jawed men. Another name for KK is Eternal Fraternal Order of the Legion Konsortium (EFOLK). In the early 1990s, the battle for territory control and supremacy among rival campus gangs (cults) became bloody. There was spill over to the streets, and The Deebam was midwifed. The Deebam in KK's communication code mean Be strong. In response, the Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC) founded at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State by a student of the history department from Okrika, an Ijaw community Rivers State formed its street wing called The Deewell about 1992. In SVC's code, Deewell means Be well. These twosome street
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gangs with their parent bodies at the campuses have been involved in very bloody battles for dominion in the creeks, streets and campuses. Other groups like Family Confraternity a.k.a. The Campus Mafia etc maintain their presence on campuses, secondary schools and the streets. 6 Killed as Farah Battles Soboma George On Sunday, June 29, 2008, heavily armed gunmen loyal to Prince Dagogo Farah of the Niger Delta Strike Force (NDSF) and a top commander in the military hierarchy in-charge-of the eastern command of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), invaded Abonnema in the Akukutorlu Local Government Area of Rivers, Killing Mrs. Gieka Pius, a poor trader while in search of Hassan, a top commander of The Outlaws led by Soboma George. CEHRD investigations revealed that Farah's fighters were transporting heavy shipments of assorted types of guns ranging from AK47s, G3s, FAL and Rocket Propelled Grenades(RPGs) through the creeks of Krakrama to their base in Tombia, in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State when they came under heavy gunfire. They were able to beat off the unknown attackers and moved safely to their base in Elem Tombia. The cache of arms was so massive that it has to be transported for two days. The second day was late May, 2008 of the transport of the dangerous small arms procured by the MEND chief, his fighters while traveling in the creeks also came under heavy gunfire too. Like the first day, Farah men did not run but they dared the unknown attackers and killed 4 of them, and captured one alive. The one captured alive revealed who has been behind the attacks on Farah's men when they were transporting their arms through the creeks. The hostage who is a Soboma fighter mentioned Hassan, they went back to their camp and reported the incident to Farah, who immediately ordered that, Hassan should be produced before him dead or alive Hassan is a top fighter of The Outlaws, a notorious cult group led by Soboma George which was founded in 2005. On Saturday, July 5, 2008, acting on intelligence information, Farah's fighters stormed Abonnema town and visited a place called Bad Boys
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Joint formerly called After 5 and was operated by the wife of Alabo Tonye Graham. And to be sure that they won't kill innocent person like the first day, they stormed the area on Saturday, June 29th, 2008. Upon arrival at the Bad Boys Joint, they met a group of young men who were drinking liquor. They were said to have asked, who is Hassan? Hassan who was drunk stood up and boasted, I am Hassan, and I am the person that no body can touch. Farah's gunmen went back and returned there and asked again. The Hassan repeatedly identified himself. As they were very sure, they pumped several rounds of gunshots from their new AK47s into Hassan's chest. He fell and died instantly while those around scampered for safety. The fighters returned to their base to inform Farah that they have killed Hassan, but Farah rebuked them and ordered them to go and bring his corpse, and as a result of sporadic gunfire from Farah's boys, men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) took over the Abonnema town, so when Farah's boys returned there to take the corpse of Hassan, the corpse of Hassan was already taken to the mortuary there. They retreated and went to the mortuary in the night and removed Hassan's corpse and took it to Farah at his base. No body knows what he did with a decomposing corpse of Hassan. Following the incident, Farah has reportedly asked the chiefs of Abonnema to expel Soboma George from the town or face his attack. Soboma was exsecond in command to the Tom Ateke's Icelander cult also called German and also MEND commander who was one of the closest persons to Farah. Farah, who has many young people as his fighters, in 2005 led a major attack on the Port Harcourt prison to rescue Soboma who was facing murder charge and was held there. Also, when in January, 2007 the police arrested Soboma from a church in Port Harcourt, Farah also led his child soldiers and rescued him. Both of them are MEND commanders of the Henry Okah's faction. They are both declared wanted by security operatives. Soboma who, since 2007 ran to Abonnema to dwell recently reconciled with Tom Ateke, his estranged boss. CEHRD investigations revealed that Soboma is seen more with Ateke nowadays, but as the Farah offensive smells closer with his new weapons who will stop this looming bloodshed of poor innocent children who would have been useful to this society? But, as the report was getting out to the
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public, relief is said to be on the way as somebody has volunteered to broker a traue, and is yielding some fruits. Journalist Receives Death Threat In the late part of June, 2008, Charles Bikume, a reporter with The Neighbourhood, an independent and critical local weekly newspaper based in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital has received several death threats from persons suspected to be linked to Tonye Harry, the speaker of the Rivers State House ofAssembly. In the mid parts of June, 2008 Charles Bikume has carried a critical report of a demonstration staged by youths of Harry's Degema constituency, where the youths reportedly said that for the past 8 years, Harry has been representing the Degema constituency and has not brought any development to the area, but rather violence. Immediately the newspaper containing the report hit newsstands, several faceless callers started calling the private mobile phone of the reporter threatening to deal with him and queried why he wrote the report. A frightened Bikume has reported the matter to the police, but the threats kept on coming. Bikume has told CEHRD, I don't know what to do. My editor asked me to go and witness the demonstration which I did and reported what I saw. I never knew that I will be facing this problem. I fear for my life. Tonye Harry was accused recently at the Rivers State constituted Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) sitting in Port Harcourt of maintaining a band of cultists. He was also accused of being responsible for the assassination of Chief Dr. Marshall Sokkari Harry, the vocal opposition politician from the Tonye's constituency (Degema). Testifying at the TRC, Mr. Inye Harry, son of the murdered politician, told the TRC under crossexamination, and later presented some evidences of Tonye's meeting with the late Prince Igodo, the Deebam Chief, thug and kidnapper from Tombia community in the Degema Local GovernmentArea of River State. Govt.Agents terrorise opponents during Rivers Local Council Polls On Saturday, March 29, 2008, Local Government Elections were held throughout the oily Rivers state in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, to elect
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chairmen into the 23 local government areas and councilors into wards in the state. CEHRD monitors, in conjunction with the Directorate of Public Affairs and Education, carried out civic education in the Tai Local Government Area and deployed monitors to monitor political parties campaigns in few local government areas. CEHRD raised some concerns about the election relating to intimidation of political opponents by suspected thugs of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). On March 29, 2008, the day of the election, CEHRD, with support from her partner, Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), deployed monitors into Gokana, Khana, Tai, Eleme, Okrika and Ikwerre Local Government Areas. CEHRD is gravely worried that the ruling party, PDP and other parties have not imbibed basic ethics of democratic elections. There was wide scale thuggery, hijacking of ballot boxes, killings of political opponents and others. CEHRD observed that the electoral malpractices were carried out by the ruling PDP with connivance with security officials and officials from the Rivers state independent electoral commission. In Eleme, one person was killed; PDP had a field day thumb printing and stuffing ballot boxes with it. This was the practice throughout the areas CEHRD monitored. In Tai Local Government Area, the PDP chairmanship candidate, Mr. Barry Mpigi, ex-Tai Local Government chairman and former commissioner for youth Affairs in the state, flooded the rural area with heavily armed thugs from Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state. On the day of the election, the house of Mr. Perkin Pelo, the chairmanship candidate of the opposition party,Action Congress (AC) in Bunu community was razed down to ashes. In Borobara community, the house of Mrs. Lekue Aminikpo, an AC supporter, was also razed by rampaging PDP hoodlums. In Koroma, the electoral officer of his area was abducted and his whereabouts remained unknown until he yielded to the PDP terms of signing a document that there was election in the area. Report has it that the situation was just the same through the state. The election was cancelled in Five Local Government
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Areas following public outcries that greeted the controversial election. The affected areas include Oyigbo, Degema, Ahoada, Bonny and Opobo Nkoro. Another election was fixed and held in the affected areas on April 19. It was also marred by irregularities that disenfranchised the electorate. People's rights to vote and be voted for were violated with impunity by the state government which ensured that only its candidates were imposed on the people. Abducted Female Oil Worker Disappears from Kidnappers On Monday, February 22, 2008, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Nkwo, a senior staff of the Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited (EPNL) was kidnapped by gunnmen from Port Harcourt and taken to one of the communities in the Khana Local Government Area of Rivers state. The victim (Mrs. Oluwatoyin's) husband is also the manager, training services with EPNL. Following the kidnap of the woman, reports have it that some villagers who noticed that the woman was kept in the community went and reported to the security officials who started being on the trail of the kidnappers. The victim however managed to liberate her self from the net of her captors. CEHRD gathered that when one of the kidnappers' armed guards went on a surveillance of the neighbourhood, the kidnapped woman took a tablet of soap that was within, put it in water and robed on her ankles to facilitate the removal of the chains from her ankles. It worked and she succeeded in removing the chains and she escaped. Sources told CEHRD that she ran into the nearby bush before the armed guard returned and later found her way to the Bori central police station. In this case no ransom was collected. Police authority in the area confirmed this to CEHRD. Dorothy Otele Rescued from Commercial Kidnappers On March, 2008, 6 gunmen dressed in mobile policemen uniforms struck at a hairdressing saloon located on Ada George Road, Port Harcourt owned by Mrs. Dorothy Otele, wife of the bayelsa state House of Assembly lawmaker representing Yenagoa constituency III, Mr. Franklin Otele and Kidnapped
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her. The kidnappers took her to an unknown location. But through a combined effort of the Bayelsa sate government, the Niger Delta Peace and Rehabilitation Committee (NDPRC), the Joint Task Force (JTF), the State Security Service (SSS) and the police, the area where she was being held hostage after spending over a week in the gunmen's captivity was located around Eneka, a suburb of Port Harcourt. An intense military operation was conducted. In the cause of the operation to rescue the woman, there was exchange of gun fires between the commercial kidnappers and the soldiers. The kidnappers also attempted to escape with Mrs. Otele to another location, but were forced to abandon her before escaping unhurt. She was later rescued alive and handed over to her husband, Franklin Otele. CEHRD further learnt that the kidnappers demanded the sum of N200 million before she would be set free. Father of Raped Girl reports to CEHRD Mr. Azikiwe Orukwo, a resident of the Okposi community in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers state reported to the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) that his 7 year-old daughter (name withheld) was mercilessly raped by 58-yearoldAnthony Oko Ogu, a staff of the NigerianAgip Oil Company (NAOC). CEHRD gathered that Ogu saw the little girl while she sleeping on a wooden bench in Mr. Orukwo, the victim's father's parlour and carefully carried her down to the bare floor, drew his elongated penis and pierced it into the poor girl's vagina while she was deep asleep. The pain of the exercise forced the girl to wake up. When she woke while the man was still on top of her, the victim was unable to disengage the cruel Anthony Oko Ogu from her self in spite of her struggling. She bled profusely through her vagina. Further findings revealed that after the nefarious act, in a bid to appease the defiled girl, Mr. Ogu reportedly gave her N20 to buy biscuit which the girl refused and reported to her parents and other neighbours around. Orukwo, father of the victim said that Ogu later contacted him with a sum of N60, 000
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and other items, saying that he was sorry. CEHRD was told that the matter was reported to the Omoku Divisional Police Headquarters and that the girl has made statement to the police. But, CEHRD had tried to contact the police to confirm the incident but has not been successful as at the time of the report. Pregnant Woman gives Birth in Captor's Den On Thursday, March 27, 2008, heavily armed gunmen struck at the home of Mr. Stanley Oforegbu, an assistant personnel manager with Globstar Nigeria Limited, an oil firm at Igbudu, Delta state, kidnapping his pregnant wife, Mrs. Oforegbu due to deliver a baby soon. Eye-witnesses told CEHRD that the gunmen in commando style forced the victim into a waiting car and sped off. A day after the abduction, the woman delivered a baby in the kidnapper's den inside a bush. After the safe delivery, the kidnappers called her husband on phone and demand a ransom of one million naira. Further findings revealed that it was actually the husband that they wanted to kidnap but the abductors reportedly failed several times to achieve their mission. They later decided to kidnap the wife. The kidnappers are believed to have come from the firm's host community (Igbudu). They were said to be unhappy with the way and manner Mr. Oforegbu was handling employment opportunities provided by the company (Globstar Nigeria Limited). Sources told CEHRD that the companies have been having problems with the Igbudu community. Politician's Children Kidnapped On Tuesday, March 4, 2008, two children of Ephraim Nwuzi, the exchairman of the Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, were kidnapped by gunmen in front of his house. The gun, CEHRD gathered frightened the driver conveying the 2 kids between the ages of 2 and 6, with wild gun shots before taking the kids away rights in front of their house.
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Nwuzi who returned to the Etche council as chairman after a local election which is widely condemned as not free and fair said his travails are politically induced. The politician further said that he is not indebted to anyone and has no problem with any body that would provoke such action. He said his victory at the primaries of the ruling PDP can be said to be linked to his ordeal. Why did they not come while I was in office? Why did they not come when I left? They came just after I won primaries for re-election. This is bad and wicked. Politics should not be played this way Nwuzi cried to CEHRD monitor. The state of violence perpetrated by criminal gangs on the loose in the area, kidnapping of children and others and demanding ransom has become worrisome in recent times. The children were later released to their parents after an undisclosed amount was paid as ransom to the kidnappers. Abducted Man Dies It was really a tragic end for Mr. Njo Amadi who died on March 8, 2008. Heavily armed gunmen had in late February kidnapped Amadi at Rumuolumeni community in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers state and took him to a hidden place while calling his family to pay them a ransom of N8 million naira. The kidnappers had actually collected part of the ransom money and told the family members where they could meet and receive the hostage. Anxious members of the victim's immediate family rushed to the agreed place but were shocked to see the lifeless body of the abducted Njo Amadi. Amadi's widow, Justina, lamented to CEHRD about the agony of her dead husband. Rivers state police spokeswoman confirmed the incident and said it was the victim's wife who informed the police about it and that the police will investigate the matter. She further said that following Amadi's abduction, one of the deceased sons was arrested by the State Security Service (SSS) for interrogation.
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11- Year-old Girl Raped by Beer Parlour Owner An eleven-year-old girl was raped by a 25 year old beer parlour operator, Ebuka Ginika. CEHRD gathered that on Monday at about 12 noon, the little girl had gone to the shop opposite their house, a three storey building along Ojiegbu road, mile 3 Diobu to buy puff-puff. When she got to the gate and was beckoning on the shopkeeper to come and sell something to her, the little girl saw nobody. She was about going back, when the rapist came out and told her that puff-puff was inside. As she got in to collect the stuff from him, the rapist began to make advances towards her and as she rebuffed him, he over powered her and forced himself on her after covering her mouth. An alarm raised by the girl as she battled him drew the attention of a customer whose knock at the gate forced the rapist to release the girl. On being released, she ran to the mile three market nearby to alert her mother, whose attempt to get him to explain what had happened attracted the attention of neighbours who later helped her to get the police to arrest him. A source close to the parties concerned told CEHRD, it was about mid day Monday, January 14, 2007 that a neighbour, a lady who sells at the mile three market rushed back from the market accompanied by her crying little daughter of about 11 years old. I heard the woman ask the beer parlour operator directly opposite her what he has done to her daughter. As the man in her 20s replied wetin I do?, the woman grabbed him by the waist and stared screaming, you must say wetin you do my daughter. You must say wetin you do my daughter. That attracted neighbours around who came in to intervene. When they found that it was rape case, they urged the aggrieved woman to release him to allow then question him in private. The crying little girl narrated how he led her into the shop while nobody was around and after asking why she did not go to school, pretending to wipe away water from her body, he started making unwanted advances and as the girl rebuffed him, he covered her mouth, dragged her inside and forced himself on her. While the neighbours were interrogating him to get the truth out, the police was called in who handcuffed and took him to the Olu Obasanjo police station.
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CEHRD gathered from the police station that the girl was taken to the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital, BMH where the doctor confirmed forceful entry into her private part and there were traces of semen indicating rape. The police who were coercing the parents of the girl to accept a settlement following their insistence on going to court, were however to receive a request from the hospital that the rapist himself should be brought for HIV/AIDS screening. He was taken to the hospital in handcuffs on Tuesday and the result was out, Thursday. It is not clear what his HIV status was at press time. The police had earlier tried to prevail on the girl's parents to accept a monetary settlement while the boy should buy something for the girl, a suggestion the girl family rejected. The family insisted on going to the court. Ateke's Groups Destroy NNPC Gas Pipeline On Monday, August 12, 2008 heavily armed fighters from the Tom Ateke's Niger Delta Vigilante Movement (NDVM) and Niger Delta Patriotic Force (NDPF) destroyed a major pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The pipeline transfers gas from the Alakiri gas flow station to the Port Harcourt refinery. According to Tamuno Ebitari, spokesperson for the NDVM/NDPF, This particular one was chosen to demonstrate our might in going beyond sea level to sabotage oil facilities. This is one of our plans to cripple the economic base of Rivers State, since Governor Rotimi Amaechi said he has over a N100 billion in banks and could not develop Rivers State because of our leader, Tom Ateke, we will stop him from accumulating more money to be stolen. Ateke's action was happening at a time when there were cracks in militant's camp over call for dissolution of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by some militant groups. The Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), a militant clearing house had called for the dissolution of the NDDC board over the involvement of its former board chairman, Ambassador Sam Edem in voodoo scam. The western delta command of MEND who is said to have received substantial amount of money from NDDC condemned the call openly.
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Same period, the State Security Services (SSS)'s secret report revealed that many weapons used in Liberia were in the hands of the Niger Delta armed groups. According to the report, There arms were kept in crate but how they found their way to the Niger Delta is what we are probing. We are suspecting the looting of armory by some armed force personnel and they must have sold the arms to these militants The SSS report is rather belated. The Liberia source, CEHRD can authoritatively assert, is just one of the sources of arms in the region. Josiah Onaro, 54-year-Old Tanker DriverAbducted On Monday August 11, 2008, Mr. Josiah Onaro, a 54-year-old petroleum tanker driver was kidnapped at Eku on his way from Warri, the slummy metropolis of Delta State. Onaro, a father of 12 children hails from Umunede community in the Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State. Of late, around Asaba, the capital of Delta State and its environs, like Ika North-East Local Government Area, there has been increase in kidnapping incidents. Following these incidents, heavily armed soldiers were deployed to Agbor, headquarters of Ika-South Local Government Area and OwaOyibu, headquarters of Ika North-East Local Government Area, in Delta State. Gunmen Kidnap Ship Crew, Youth Corper On Sunday August 24, 2008, gun men numbering 10 in speedboat armed with General multi-purpose machine guns (GMPMG) and AK-47 assault riffles hijacked a vessel belonging to the West Africa Off-Shore Limited (WAO), a service and repair firm. The vessel tagged, WAO Benue was returning from Agbaim in Delta State to Onne in Rivers State when gun-wielding men swooped on the vessel and kidnapped 8 crew members who are all Nigerians. The vessel was attacked near Forge Island along the Bonny channel. Credible sources revealed to CEHRD monitors that the vessel and the kidnapped crew members are at a camp at Elem Krakrama in the Tombia area in the Degeme Local GovernmentArea of Rivers State.
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The affected vessel was hired by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL). Though, no group had claimed responsibility for the kidnap, groups that are very prominent in the area include Soboma George's The Outlaw, Soboma Jakirich aka Egberi papa of the People's Liberation Force (PLF) and Farah Dagogo of the Niger Delta Strike Force (NDSF); all commanders of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in the eastern delta command. Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Rivers State confirmed the incident, but said that the vessel had no security escort on it and that is why the gunmen succeeded in taking its crew members away. The reason for the action, CEHRD reliably gathered is to get ransom from the boat owners. In a separate incident on same Sunday August 24, 2008, Miss Ifeanyi Oweneke, a youth corper and daughter of Mr. Mathew Oweneke, a senior official of Halliburton Nigeria Limited, a major oil service company was on her way to where she was posted when ransom-seeking gunmen kidnapped her. On Monday August 5, 2008, she was released after her father paid the kidnappers some amount of money. Egberi Papa, Soboma George's violence spreads To Port Harcourt as 15 Feared Dead On Tuesday July 29, 2008 Soboma George, leader of The Outlaws and Soboma Jakirich aka Egberi Papa clashed in Abonema community in the Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State; other parts of Rivers State also witnessed some violence arising from theAbonema Mayhem. On Monday night, August 2, 2008, violent war of attrition between the twosome gang leaders erupted in the dockyard area of Port Harcourt. The gang violence later spread to Bende Street, Ibadan, Borokiri and Degema watersides, all in major streets and slums in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. In the various clashes, 10 persons were reportedly killed; among the victims was a pregnant woman. When the fighting groups advanced towards Nembe waterside they ran into a heavily built military barricade set up by JTF who
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engaged them in fierce battle. Some of the Igberi Papa and Soboma's fighters were killed. Same day, Igbari Papa's camp in Obonoma/Miniama near Abonema in the same Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State was burnt down by Soboma's fighters. CEHRD gathered during the violence that Soboma George had gone to Tom Ateke, leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante Movement (NDVM) and Niger Delta Patriotic Force (NDPF) and solicited his help to fight Igberi Papa who had the support of Faala Benibo, better known as Dagogo Farrah, leader of the Niger Delta Strike Force (NDSF) who also doubles as a MEND commander in charge of the eastern axis of the delta. It was further learnt thatAteke called Sogboma and Egberi Papa and advised them to stop the madness and that they should create a unifying force to confront the Nigerian state and its allies which is their enemy. In an online message, which was made available to CEHRD, Ateke's NDVM/NDPF's spokesperson, Tamunokuror Ebitari said, I am highly disappointed that two sons of Buguma town (Soboma and Egberi Papa) would tear themselves apart because they want to do the biddings of politicians. I want to express disappointment over the recent attacks and counter-attacks on one another by people I call my children in the Niger Delta struggle. I want to express my apology on behalf of my children to our people and other innocent people in the state for this unwanted disturbance. I am offering myself to put an end to it. I want the public to know that what is happening is traceable to a failed political system where franchise of the people has been sacrificed on the alter of political intrigues by vicious politicians who impose their choice candidate on the people Ebitari revealed. Few days after Ateke's public statement, the violence ended. General Egberi Papa is the leader of the People's Liberation Force (PLF) and also a MEND commander in the eastern delta command. One Killed By Gunmen in Police Uniform, School Principal Kidnapped On Tuesday August 26, 2008. gunmen in mobile police uniform shot a
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youngman dead in Rumukalagbor community in the Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State. The youngman who was gunned down, CEHRD gathered, hailed from one of the Ijaw communities in Rivers State. The mobile policemen had stormed the community to attack the deceased's elder brother, who at the time the gunmen visited was not around. They shot dead his younger brother and escaped. CEHRD spoke to witnesses. Hear a youngman in the rough neighbourhood who pleaded that his name should not be mentioned, I think the killing is cult related. Those boys are cult boys. They were on a revenge mission. I suspect that they are members of the Deebam. The police in the area confirmed the incident and said they are investigating it. Also, that same August 26, 2008, gunmen in an unrelated incident kidnapped Mr. Charles Amadi, the principal of Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Alesa-Nchia community in the Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. Amadi was kidnapped from his residence in Port Harcourt. The kidnappers were demanding N10 million naira initially, but CEHRD gathered that the victim's relatives paid some undisclosed amount before he was released, but not the whooping N10 million naira, the kidnappers demanded for. Kidnappers of Toddlers Demand N30M On Thursday August 21, 2008, six heavily armed gunmen traveling in an unmarked old model Volkswagen passat car struck at the premises of Victory Supermarket along Ada George Road in the Obio/Akpor Local GovernmentArea of Rivers State and kidnapped twin Toddlers. The toddlers whose names are Ebiere and Tarilla Don-Kennedy, both 18 months old were abducted from their father's Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep parked at the premises of the supermarket. Their parents had gone to the supermarket to purchase some items when the kidnappers sized the children from the jeep and transferred the victims into a fairly new Mercedes Benz car they had snatched from another person. The kidnappers escaped unhurt. As usual, few hours after the kidnapping incident, the kidnappers called Mr. and Mrs. Don-Kennedy to demand for a whooping sum of N30 million. The
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Rivers State police spokeswoman confirmed the incident, and said the police was combing every where to track down the kidnappers and rescue the kids. When Tom Ateke of the Niger Delta Vigilante Movement (NDVM) and Niger Delta Patriotic Force (NDPF) was contacted over the incident, he denied the involvement of his groups in the act, and promised to liaise with other armed groups in the delta, to fish out the culprits. CEHRD gathered that the 18-month-old twins, sons of Don Kennedy, a Private businessman and Ijaw nationalist was later released without payment of any ransom. 18-Year-Old Hannah Mgaji Raped and Murdered inAbraka In the early hours of Monday July 14, 2008, at the Abraka community in the Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Miss Hannah Mgaji, a hairdresser was raped and murdered by the rapist. On the fateful day, Hannah, the deceased who hailed from the Tiv tribe of Benue State in the north central part of Nigeria, had received a call on her mobile phone from her friend, Evelyn to come to her house to fix her hair. CEHRD gathered that after fixing Evelyn's hair, at about 10.00am Hannah wanted to return to her home, but a man broke into the room where Hannah was making Evelyn's hair and pointed a berretta pistol at Hannah's head, seized her and took her to the house's verandah and raped her mercilessly, and shot her dead afterward. Hannah was the first child of her poor parents, her mother a farmer and her deceased father found dead by the road side at Abraka in 2006 after the poor man lost his job. As at the time of this report, the corpse of Hannah was still in a mortuary in Abraka. Mrs. Margaret Mgaji, the mother of the deceased told CEHRD that one Mr. Owholo Ovie had proposed to marry Hannah, but the said Ovie had a wife and wanted to take her as second wife. She said on Saturday, July 13, 2008, her dead daughter received several telephone calls on her phone, threatening to deal with Hannah if she doesn't leave her husband, Owholo Ovie alone. And that on Monday July 14, 2008, she was raped and killed. CEHRD investigations into the matter revealed that all suspects (Evelyn
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and others) arrested in connection with the murder were released on bail by the police from their homicide detective unit at the police headquarters in Asaba, Delta State capital. CEHRD is aware that many times the police collect bribe in a matter like this and pervert the course of justice. Deeply concerned and saddened by the gruesome murder of Hannah, CEHRD wrote a petition to the police urging a thorough investigation into the matter. The letter was sent to the police on August 4, 2008, but the police neither repplied to the letter nor take the matter seriously because the poor Mrs. Margaret Mgaji could not afford a day meal for herself not to talk of paying bribe to the police. Israeli Worker Kidnapped as itsAmbassador Visits Port Harcourt On Wednesday August 27, 2008, Moshe Ram, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria visited Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. He attended a dinner Gala Night organized in his honour by the state government. The Israeli diplomat blamed the mass media for orchestrating the insecurity in the state and the entire Niger Delta region, and declared myself and my delegation feel very secure, the media hype was because, newspaper have their main task to sell. In an interview with journalists after the dinner, the ambassador boasted that given the presence of an Israeli private security expert in his delegation his country could partner with Rivers State in the area of security. Not up to 30 minutes after Ambassador Moshe Ram's declaration, 60-year-old Ehud Avni was kidnapped from his No. 3Austine OparaAvenue, offAbacha Road residence in Port Harcourt at about 11.10pm by three heavily armed kidnappers as he just returned from the dinner in honour of the ambassador, Ram. Mrs. Rita Inoma-Abbey (DSP) confirmed the incident and said a manhunt was unleashed on the trail of the kidnappers. Speaking to CEHRD, Ogbonna Nwuke, the Rivers state commissioner for information described the action as a calculated attempt to embarrass the government and people of the state. No group claimed responsibility for the kidnap, but the movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said it located where Ehud Avni was held and offered to secure his release.
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But MEND later opted out of the process of securing the release of the Israeli hostage when the group (MEND) said an Israeli National News (Arutz Sheva) described MEND as a terrorist group. MEND will only plead with his captors to be humane but will not intervene to allow the security operatives earn their pay by finding and negotiating his release Joma Gbomo, MEND's spokesperson said. Mr. Ehud Anvi, is the project manager of Gilmor Engineering Company, an indigenous servicing firm based in Port Harcourt. Anvi's construction company is handling the construction of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) branch building in Port Harcourt. The 60-year-old Israeli was released later after the payment of ransom. CEHRD was told by security officials that the state government paid the kidnappers 40million naira and that some government officials were said to be involved but refused to disclose their names. CEHRD gathered that the Chief Executive Officer of the Israeli construction firm, Eli Golder facilitated the payment of the money. Cult Violence Left 3 Dead in SeparateAttacks in Bayelsa On Monday June 31, 2008, members of the Deebam and Dewell, the two notorious street cults engaged one another in a fierce shoot out at Swali, a sprawling suburb in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The violence led to the death of two. As the cult violence spreads, residents of the area fled while primary and secondary schools in the area shut down as the cultist's guns barked. When CEHRD visited the area, a police Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) and other police vehicles were sited along the main road in the Swali area. On Sunday July 6, 2008, the Deebam and Dewell also clashed in Akaba community in the same Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. CEHRD gathered that sophisticated weapons like the Russian AK47 and Italian Beretta pistols and dynamites were freely used by the warring cultists. A 55-year-old woman, Emilia Audu was roasted to ashes when her house was set ablaze. The Dewell and Deebam are street cult groups with their links to other campus confraternity.
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Gunmen Kidnap Two French Expatriates in Onne On Sunday August 3, 2008, heavily armed gunmen numbering about 10 kidnapped French nationals at a popular drinking spot in Onne community in the Eleme Local GovernmentArea of Rivers State The heavily armed gunmen had entered the drinking spot and behaved like any other clientele by ordering few bottles of chilled beer that evening while waiting for their preys (expatriates) who usually come to the place to drink. At about 9:30 pm they fired few gunshots around the area and in the stampede quickly seized two French nationals that were drinking there and jumped into their waiting speed boat and zoomed off. The scene of the incident (drinking spot) is located a hundred metres from a check point mounted by soldiers from the Joint Task Force (JTF), and also closer to a navy training school. An eye witness told CEHRD that the gunmen who came in a 14 seater Mitsubuishi bus also fired sporadic gun shots at the gate of the naval school, set their bus ablaze when they got to Onne waterside and jumped into their boat and spirited into the creek. Lt. Col. Sagir. Musa, spokesperson for the JTF confirmed the incident, but claimed that his men (JTF soldiers) gunned one of the fleeing gunmen to death. This is contrary to what the locals told CEHRD. Musa could not also present the corpse of the dead gunman to the public. No group claimed responsibility. In Nigeria oftentimes one can not differentiate between who is authorized to carry gun or not, as some times one sees policemen in mufti wielding gun dangerously. CEHRD was reliably informed that ransom was paid to the kidnappers by their employers, but don't know the amount. Rising Ekennoa Kidnapped in Rumuolomeni On Wednesday July 30, 2008, at about 8:30pm heavily armed gunmen entered the compound of Chief Rising Ekennoa, the traditional ruler of Nbuochohia village in Rumuolomeni in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State and abducted him. The kidnappers numbering 3 entered the Chief's compound under the guise of looking for his relative. They later pulled out their guns and ordered
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Ekennoa at gun point to march to their waiting boat stationed at Eagle Island River and escaped into the creeks. CEHRD investigation revealed that the traditional ruler has been at loggerheads with other community members over royalties paid to the community by Saipem, the Italian oil servicing company. Chief Ekennoa is also a contractor to SAIPEM. CEHRD cannot establish whether his ordeal is linked to the community problems. The Rivers State police command confirmed the incident to CEHRD, but said the kidnap of the traditional ruler might have been one of the commercial kidnapping cases. Kidnappings and ransom demands are a violation of the victim's rights and this ugly trend has been on the increase in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria in recent time. Several gangs operating in the region have taken advantage of the weak security system in place, to unleash such pattern of violence. The massive poverty, unemployment, corruption and bad governance in the country have not helped matters. CEHRD is worried that this abnormal situation will continue for a long time if the Nigerian government did not put up a sincere, genuine and sustainable effort to address the situation. Five Civilians, One Police Killed as MilitantsAttack Shell's Facility On Wednesday July 30, 2008, at about 4.30pm gunmen numbering 8 invaded facilities belonging to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at the Cawthrone Channel III in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers state, killing 6 persons including a mobile policeman. Narrating the ordeal to CEHRD, a staff of Oil Serve, an oil service company to Shell said the gunmen numbering about 8, invaded our house boat and started shooting sporadically. Everybody ran for safety. Several people working at the facility were injured, while we recorded 6 casualties. The gunmen went away with two double engines belonging to Oil Serve. Both the military and police authorities denied knowledge of the attack, which was described by eye witnesses as fatal. It would be recalled that Shell facilities at Nembe trunk line at the Kula community and Rumuekpe
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were simultaneously attacked 3 days ago by gunmen. MEND Calls off Ceasefire,Attacks Major Pipelines in Nembe From the midnight of Saturday July 12, 2008, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the deltaic most prominent insurgent group called off its unilateral cease-fire, and vowed to continue attacks against British interest in the region. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown had earlier promised to give military assistance to Umaru Yar Adua of Nigeria at the G8meeting held in Japan early in the month, to fight against what he called, Blood Oil. Around July 22, 2008, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)'s Group managing director, Abubakar Lawal admitted that the corporation held talks with militants in Delta State and even paid them N1.4 billion ($12 million) two months earlier before they allowed the corporation to repair an NNPC's pipeline which they destroyed in Chanomi creek in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State which they destroy in 2006. CEHRD learnt that the same payment was made to Tompolo, a factional leader of MEND; The Henry Okah faction of MEND had threatened to resume attack, destroying the pipeline NNPC is paying some militants to protect. On Monday July 28, 2008, MEND used explosives and attacked the Nembe creek trunk line, a major oil facility operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). The attack led to Shell shutting down its production of 130,000 barrels of oil per day. Another Shell's Oil facility in Kula was also attacked by the militants. 8 Expatriates Kidnapped On Saturday July 26, 2008, at about 3.00am, expatriates on an LPG tanker were kidnapped by gunmen off the turbulent Bonny River and taken away, while 2 civilians aboard the vessel was killed during the attack. Those kidnapped were 2 Russians, one Lithuanian and 5 Latvians who are staff of Global Gas Services Limited. CEHRD gathered that on Sunday July 27, 2008, the hostages gained their freedom.
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In spite of the claims by the government that no money was paid in line with government policy of non payment of ransom to free hostages, CEHRD gathered from security officials that a whooping sum of N15 million was expended. The money was delivered to the kidnappers around the Abonnema creeks in Rivers State early Sunday morning. The expatriates were later freed. The attack on LPG tanker stationed at the Yellow platform located at Buoy 38/39 along the Bonny River, happened barely 12 hours after 5 Russians were abducted by gunmen from a Swedish Marine carrier, Herkules, which was on charter by Saipem, a subsidiary of ENI group. Herkules was moving towards Akpo Oil field, operated by Saipem Nigeria Limited, when the gunmen captured it 19 nautical miles towards the shores of Bonny. 11 Russians and one Ukrainian were aboard Herkules, but five were abducted. Gunmen Kidnap 2 Oil Engineers On Friday July 25, 2008, more than a dozen gunmen in speed boats kidnapped two oil engineers, one from the Philippines and one, a Nigerian in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. The victims were working for Damas Oil and Marine Services, an offshore oil services firm, and a private security contractor in the oil industry. The hostages are Mr. Ben P. Marciales, a Phillipino and Samuel Omoboyewa (Nigerian). Later on Thursday July 24, 2008, gunmen also attacked an oil services vessel traveling from Port Harcourt towards the Akpo oilfield operated by France's Total. Gangs have taken advantage of the weak security in the states, funding themselves through a lucrative trade in stolen crude oil and frequently kidnapping businessmen, local politicians and expatriates for ransom. The kidnap of the oil engineers happened at a time an armed rebel group, Niger Delta Defense and Security Council (NDDSC) led by Commander Ebi Dari coordinated an attack on Cameroonian soldier's position at the
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Bakassi Peninsular. Some Cameroonian soldiers and insurgents were reported to have been killed in the attack. Few weeks after, the area was handed over to Cameroon. CEHRD investigations revealed that there is strong connection between the Bakassi insurgents and militants in the Niger Delta. Government HouseAccountant Murdered On Tuesday July 22, 2008, Mr. Austin Ogbobio, an accountant attached to the governor's office in Bayelsa State was between 2:45pm and 2pm shot dead by yet-to-be identified gunmen. CEHRD gathered that the gunmen trailed him to his newly rented apartment along Erepa road, at Yenizue-Gene area in the Yenogoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The police couldn't provide an insight into what led to the act, but said they are still investigating the matter. Father of Delta SSG Kidnapped, N50 Million Paid as Ransom Mike Okiro, Nigeria's Inspector-General of Police has decried the increase in the spate of commercial kidnapping in Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, saying that it is impossible for the police to halt the act. According to him, the police cannot attach its personnel to the 140 million Nigerians in the country. And that what the police can do is just to investigate. Before long Chief Arthur O.U. Okowa, a People's Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart was kidnapped. CEHRD gathered that the 76-year-old Okonwa had just returned from an early Sunday (July 20 2008) church service at the Anglican Church at Boji Boji Owa, at about 10:30am, and was in his bedroom when his domestic worker informed him that he had some visitors. As a traditional ruler of the Owa kingdom, he asked his staff to bring into his house the visitors who were carrying bags and said were on business trip. When Okowa emerged from his bedroom the 4-men gang carrying bags and on business trip pulled out their guns and asked Okowa, to follow them or they will shoot him dead. The gunmen who were lurking around the
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neighbourhood for about 6 hours tied Okowa's hands and sealed his mouth and led him into his (Okowa's) Opirus Hyundai Executive Saloon (with the bold inscription, Ojujagbe on the plate number), and whisked him away. Also, the gunmen tied and locked Okowa's domestic worker in one of the toilets in the house. The victim is the father of Chief Ifeanyi Okowa, the secretary to the Delta State Government. The Opirus car which belongs to the victim and which was used for the operation, was later abandoned in Agbanke, in Orhrionwon Local Government Area of Edo State, few kilometers way from his Boji Boji Owa home in the Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State. Few hours after the kidnap of Okowa, as usual they called his son to demand for a whooping sum of $6 million as ransom. Just as the governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan was boasting that his government won't pay a kobo for the release of the victim. CEHRD later gathered that the same government later paid N50 million to the kidnappers and Okowa was released. Nornu, Yobo's Brother Kidnapped On Saturday July 5, 2008, heavily armed gunmen kidnapped Nornu Yobo, the elder brother of Joseph Yobo, the Super Eagles football star while returning from an all-night-party in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. Rivers State Police spokeswoman, Rita Inoma Abbey confirmed the incident to CEHRD. Few days after the kidnap incident, the Rivers State Police Command arrested 3 persons in connection with the abduction of Yobo's brother. The police authority in the state claim that Nornu was threatened by the 3 suspects over a plot of land belonging to Joseph Yobo in Port Harcourt, which was allocated to him by Dr. Peter Odili, ex-governor of Rivers State. CEHRD could not establish whether those who threatened Nornu earlier are the same gang who kidnapped him and were demanding for ransom. CEHRD reliably gathered that 5 million naira was paid before Nornu was set off his kidnapper's nook.
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Lawmaker's Father Kidnapped On Saturday July 19, 2008, Pa Cornelius Ihunwo, the father of Hon. Victor Ihunwo, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly representing Port Harcourt constituency was kidnapped by gunmen on the eve of Victor's wedding. Pa Ihunwo was seized from his Wobo street residence in Port Harcourt by the commercial kidnappers. He was released after ransom was paid. Though, CEHRD couldn't determine how much was paid to the kidnappers. 30 Gunmen Kill Soldier, Kidnap German Workers On Friday July 11, 2008, about 8:30am, 30 gunmen in military fatigues armed to their teeth with General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) and AK47 riffles stormed Julius Berger camp at Rumaji community located in the Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State. The gunmen who arrived the area in 3 vanagon volkswagen buses shortly after 3 German workers working for the Julies Berger, a German construction company came in and rained bullets sporadically and consistently; an eye witness told our monitor. CEHRD gathered that before the arrival of the gunmen, a commercial taxi cab with no persenger except the driver had arrived and parked some where near the company's camp and was alleged to have been making phone calls from his private cell phone there. The driver was there until the ransomdemanding kidnappers shot dead a soldier attached there and seized the German hostages. The Julius Berger affected site is located near the Rumuji Divisional Police Station and an over-crowded market. Narrating the incident to CEHRD in Pidgin English, Mrs. Stella Nwabueze, a trader at the Rumuji market said, I thought it was war. The market was about starting I thought they were military people. It was like war. They came in 3 buses, broadcested men. I was afraid. I am still afraid because of what I saw. I tried to run but I fell down and lay in my market stall until the shooting ended. 49-years-old Nwabueze revealed. The above is a translated version of her
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interview. The Rivers State Police Spokewoman, Mrs. Rita Inoma-Abbey confirmed the incident. Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the state confirmed the attack, corroborated the police account that the armed men abandoned one of the buses and escaped into the mangrove swamp of the delta. Shortly after the incident, the kidnappers reportedly called the company and demand N32 million ransom before releasing the kidnapped expatriates. CEHRD also gathered that though the incident took place in Rivers State, the German hostages were kept in Bayelsa. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) later said they will facilitate the release of the abducted Germans, MEND Jomo Gbomo said in an online statement made available to CEHRD. Like any armed groups anywhere who raise money to fund their struggle unconventionally, CEHRD believes that some of these kidnappings must have been stage-managed by MEND to fund their insurrectionary campaigns in the delta. The German firm is constructing the Rivers State wing of the East/West Road, re-awarded by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2007. Following the kidnap saga, the company withdrew its workers from all its sites across the Niger Delta in protest. But, recently after much pleadingbftjhvvgs, it (the company) promised to return to their sites to continue their construction works. Violence Swallows Jakpa Community The Jakpa community in the Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State is no longer at peace following a rebellion put up by some youths of the community who said they worked as thugs for the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) and that the same party they worked for now disbanded them. During the Local Government Council Election which was held in May, 2008, the Jakpa community was a flash point of electoral violence, killings and hijack of electoral materials. The new council Chairman who emerged out of that process recently disbanded a youth group in the Jakpa
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community. The youth group said they were used by politicians to get to power, only for them to disband them, and enlisted the service of another youth group who never worked for them. The scenario degenerated into bloody violence between the disbanded one and the patronized group. The crisis has resulted into burning down of houses, wanton looting and rape by the warring restive Youths who freely usedAK47 riffles and explosive against one another. Meanwhile, JTF had deployed heavily armed soldiers to the Jakpa community to put a stop to the violence. Major O. Ochagwaba confirms the incident and subsequent deployment of troop to CEHRD. It is a common practice during elections among the political elites in the Niger Delta region and other parts of Nigeria to recruit, train and arm youths to do their election biddings, only to turn around and abandon their thugs after the election. Most of these youths end up constituting themselves as criminal bands-sea pirates, armed robbers, kidnappers, etc. Assassins Murder Man, Wife A couple Resident in Port Harcourt had their right to life violently crushed by a gang of killers armed with automatic riffles. The sad incident which threw the residents of Chukwunka Street, Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt into agonies, fear and confusion, occurred on Tuesday August 26, 2008 at about 10:30pm. The couple, identified as Samuel and Maria from Abia State but resided in Port Harcourt was sent to their early graves when the killer gang of three gunmen believed to be hired assassins paid them an unscheduled visit at their residence in Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt. The gun men walked away undisturbed after successfully executing their victims and have remained at large. The motive for the murder is yet to be known as at press time. Police sources have disclosed that although the assassins are yet to be apprehended, the police are on their trail and are hell-bent on capturing them. The remains of the slain couple who are from Abia State, South-East of
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Nigeria, have been deposited at the mortuary in Port Harcourt awaiting burial. Assassins Kill 26-Year-Old Deebari Mabani in Kpite In the early hours of Monday September 22, 2008, yet-to-be identified gunmen broke into a grocery shop operated in Kpite community in the Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State by Mr. Deebari Mabani, a 26-yearold Kpite native, secondary school leaver and trader after dismantling a protector on one of the windows and shot him dead. Deebari's corpse was deposited at the General Hospital in Bori, the headquarters of the Khana Local GovernmentArea of Rivers state. The victim is the son of Patrick Nteptep, a former councilor in the defunct Tai/Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State; CEHRD could not establish why the poor 26-year-old Deebari was killed. Did the deceased have a disagreement with any one or group that led to his death? Did he know one of those who broke into his shop when they swooped on him? With dangerous Small Arms and Light Weapon (SALW) out of control in the delta region and a terrible state of insecurity, Kpite community where the violence took place has been a flashpoint of armed electoral violence in several elections. The police in the area confirmed the incident to CEHRD, and said they are working in conjunction with the JTF to track down the culprits. Noble Diri Kidnapped at Kalaibiama On Saturday September 6, 2008, at about 2:00am heavily armed gunmen stormed the Kalaibiama community in the Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State and kidnapped Chief Nobel Diri to an unknown destination. Alabo Nobel Diri is a wealthy popular community leader. He was taken from his home at Kalaibiama and the kidnappers later contacted the victim's family. Diri, the Opobo high Chief, a pharmacist with the Rivers State owned Braithwaite Memorial Hospital was later released after money exchanged hands, though the victim and his family members denied ever paying any ransom to the commercial kidnappers.
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Samuel Okwa, The Icelander Chief inAndoniArrested. On Tuesday September 2, 2008, Samuel Okwa, a 35-year-old chieftain of the Icelander (German) Confraternity in the Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State was nabbed by security operatives at the venue of the Rivers state Local Government Election petition tribunal sitting in Port Harcourt. Okwa, who completed his secondary education from Government Secondary School in Asarama in the Andoni Local Government Area in 1994, hails from Unyeada town in the same area. He is an active member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and his Icelander cult has been responsible for a lot of bloody violence which soak theAndoni area. Following the arrest of the Icelander cult leader, heavily armed soldiers later raid Asarama, Unyeada and Ajakakak village communities where the cult cells exist. During the security operation in the poor community, without proper and correct intelligence information, innocent villagers were tortured and harassed. CEHRD is gravely concerned about this. CEHRD investigations revealed that Samuel Okwa was at several times funded by PDP politicians in the area. Icelander is a street/creek cult which started in 2001 with financial and political support from the then government of Sir Dr. Peter Odili in Rivers State. Tom Ateke is one of the founders of the Icelander. Gunmen Overrun Okoroba Community, one Dead, 15 Injured. On Friday September 5, 2008, heavily armed gunmen in seven speed boats attacked the Okoroba community in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Over 15 persons were fatally injured as a result of indiscriminate gunshots. The victims include Chief Bihabo Andrew Inko who was abducted and taken to an unknown destination by the rampaging irate gunmen. Others wounded are Benjamin Egberi, of the Okoroba Community Development Committee (CDC); Awudun Youpele Levi and Topman Nuoyefa. One person was killed instantly during the attack. Trouble started in the community few days before the incident when a youth of the Okoroba community allegedly stole 3 hunting dogs and the sum of
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Twenty one thousand one hundred and fifty naira (N21, 150) from a female teacher in the community, right from her house. The community's practice outlaws stealing, and the boy was arrested and flogged at the village town square. The disgraced youth later fled the community to Oruma, his father's hometown in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa state. Community people told CEHRD that the disgraced boy was not banished from the Okoroba community and that he left because he was ashamed. The mother of the affected youth was extremely bitter. She later misinformed her elder brother that his younger brother was killed. The elder brother who have links with armed groups in the area mobilized his colleagues in arms and carried out the attack. Okoroba community is the home town of Oronto Natai Douglas, the ex-commissioner for information to the Bayelsa State government under Chief (Dr.) Diepreye Alamieseighe, and currently special aide on research and documentation to the VicePresident of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebelo Jonathan. Police Rescued Port Harcourt Local Government Boss, 2 kidnapped About 2:30pm on Thursday September 1, 2008, CEHRD investigations revealed that kidnappers had lodged in the Landmark Hotels and posed as guests. They later kidnapped Mr. Humphrey Olaka, the assistant general manager of the hotel owned by his brother who is a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Eleme/Oyigbo/Tai constituency. Kidnapped along side Olaka was Chief Harry Onugwe. The victims were taken from the hotel and escaped through Iwofe jetty located on the southern axis of Port Harcourt into the creeks. Security officials told CEHRD that the hostages were taken through a forest around Bukuma and Tombia. They said they monitored the kidnappers through a police helicopter. The victims were later released after ransom was paid. Few hours after, a police team rescued Azubike Nmerikini, the chairman of Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State who was kidnapped. The kidnappers had abducted the council boss when the police battled them and rescued the hostage.
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Prof. Fakae Seized By 6 Gunmen On Sunday September 21, 2008, 6 gunmen wielding AK 47 riffles and pistols, after firing wild gun shots intercepted a Rover Jeep carrying Professor Barineme B. Fakae, the Vice-Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), and his 3 children at Bunu Bagha community junction in the Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State at about 5:30pm. The professor of Animal Science was whisked away through the Kono/Opobo waterfront to an unknown destination in the creeks, while his children were abandoned. The police public relations officer in Rivers State, Mrs. Rita Inoma-Abbey, a deputy superintendent of police confirmed the kidnap incident to CEHRD. The military spokesperson in Rivers State, Col. Musa Sagir, also confirmed the incident, and issued a public statement. Sagir said, I can confirm that the vice chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology was abducted at about 5:30pm at Bunu Bagha community in Khana Local Government Area. While we appeal to members of the University community and the general public to remain calm, we wish to state that the JTF under the leadership of Brigadiar General Sarkin Yarkin Bello is determined to ensuring the protection of the lives and property of the citizens, visitors and those doing business in the state. We are also intensifying efforts to locate the VC and effect his release after he was taken to the creeks through Kono-Opobo waterfront. At the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Nkpolu, Port Harcourt, the various academic and non-academic unions met following the kidnap of their vice-chancellor and condemned the act. They also suspended all academic activities in the school until further notice. CEHRD visited the university on Tuesday September 23, 2008 at about 9:30am; all the institutions major gates were under lock and key, while vehicular and human movements to and from the school campus were restricted by stern-looking security operatives. Fakae was released after ransom of about N50 million was paid to the kidnappers, though government continue to deny that it never paid any kobo for his release. A security official revealed to CEHRD about the ransom payment.
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6 Filipinos Kidnapped in Bonny On Monday October 4, 2008, heavily armed gunmen kidnapped 6 Filipinos in a vessel called MV Avero off the coast of Bonny in Rivers State. The sea vessel was attacked around 6:30am. The crew members, all Filipinos on board, include the captain, 2 engineers, Chief Officer and two able-bodied seamen. On same Monday October 4, 2008, two other hostages earlier seized Mr. David Melford, a Briton and Mrs. Panla Magani, wife of a staff of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) were released separately. Three students of a private school run by the wife of a former deputy governor in the state were also kidnapped. The police told CEHRD that the kidnappers gained entrance into the school compound on Woji Road in Port Harcourt where they were kidnapped by rampaging gun-wielding men. They were later released after money exchanged hands. Cult Clash Claims the Life of Sunny On Monday October 6, 2008, members of twosome cult groups, Eiyee and Man-Fight clashed at about 6:00pm in the Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, which led to the death of Sunny, a 26-year-old electrician from Rivers State. The deceased was a staff of Mark-Co Electrical Nigeria Limited; he hails from one of the Ikwerre communities in Rivers State. Mr. Anthony Ezendu, a colleague of the deceased spoke to CEHRD at Irri community. I learnt that man-Fight and Eiyee, both cult groups were fighting at an evening market called Yanka. We were on a motorbike going to Irri when stray bullet from one of the groups hit Sunny and he died instantly. We are not members of any of the groups. We had returned from Ugheli where we went to do electrical installation for a client at the village. When we finished his job he took us to a bank there to collect money from his ATM account which he was not successful, he later dropped us at the Oleh motor park where we took a motorbike to return to Irri to spend the night, Sunny was so unlucky. He was killed; my bike was just closer to him. The rival cult groups were armed with cutlasses and different brands of
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sophisticated guns like locally made pistols and AK47s. CEHRD also gathered that scores of innocent persons sustained various degrees of bullet wounds. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area, Mr. Amman Sale Rigan confirmed the incident and said they were already on top of the matter. The corpse of the victim was deposited at the Oleh general hospital mortuary. Eiyee is a campus-based cult formed in western Nigeria around late 1970s, while man-Fight is another notorious street gangs founded around early 2000 around Delta State. But, Eiyee like other campus based cult groups has extended their recruitment, membership and activities beyond the campuses to the streets. GunmenAbduct Timber Merchants, Publisher On Thursday, October 16, 2008, two kidnap incidents took place in the Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State. Five heavily armed men stormed timber market at Diobu and kidnapped three timber traders. One of the victims is Mr. Job Obire, the chairman of timber traders association. The kidnappers escaped with the hostages into the creeks. In a separate incident, four gunmen stormed the house of Mr. Fred Iruanyenama, who owns Smart publishing House. Iruanyenama house is located about 20 metres away from the mile one divisional police headquarters. CEHRD gathered that as police officers on duty heard the barking of bullets from the kidnappers' guns they switched off all the lighting point at the station and ran into hiding. Mrs. Rita Inoma-Abbey, Rivers State police spokeswoman confirmed the above two separate kidnap incidents and appealed to members of the public to co-operate with the police in their fight against criminals through the provision of useful information. Soldiers, Militants Killed in a MajorAttack in Bonny Island On Wednesday October 15, 2008, scores of militants armed with General Multi Purpose Machine Gun (GMPMGs), AK47, sub-machine guns, dynamites, charms and amulets clashed with equally armed soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) operation flush out III near the Nigeria Liquefied
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Natural Gas (NLNG) terminal in Bonny Island in the Bonny Local GovernmentArea of Rivers State. CEHRD gathered that the armed group wanted to launch a surprise attack on the troops there comprising navy, police, air force, SSS, army personnel to take their weapons and snatch some gunboats and there was an intense gun battle. Two of the militants' speed boats were sunk and its occupants drowned. Four of the boats escaped, as 7 of the militants were killed while, one soldier lost his life. MEND, the main militant association denied involvement of his fighters in the attack. The militants were said to be part of a budding armed group around the Bonny area. The military authority confirmed the incident JTF spokesperson, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa in a press release said, We also recovered one GPMG, one AK47, one sub-machine gun and assorted ammunitions and dynamites. Niger Delta-Bakassi Group Kidnap 10 Oil Workers In late October 2008, a group which called itself Bakassi Freedom Fighters (BFF), and members of the Niger Delta Defense and Security Council (NDDSC) kidnapped 10 oil workers including 6 French nationals 2 Cameroonians, one Tunisian and one Senegalese were kidnapped from a vessel off the coast of Cameroon. BFF, led by Ebi Dari and the group is based at the Bakassi Pennisular which was ceded to Cameroon in August 2008, had threatened to kill the hostages, but later said in an online message it distributed that, we are not going to kill them. We have changed our mind after a meeting, The Bakassi group launched devastating attacks in June and July 2008 on an out post of Cameroonian troops killing 7 of them and a local. BFF is opposed to the ceding of the oil-rich Bakassi peninsular. Ebi Dari, BFF's spokesman further said, There is no deadline any more. But we will not release them until we get what we want; talks with the Cameroonian government. We want to see them; we want to speak with them. Nigeria handed over the Bakassi Peninsular to Cameroon in August 2008 after a ruling by the international court of justice brought to an end a 15-year
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dispute over the peninsular including the rights to its oil fields and fishing grounds. The hand over was peaceful, but armed groups and unarmed locals opposed the change of soveireignty and threatened attacks. CEHRD investigations revealed that Bakassi Freedom Fighters (BFF) is a small armed group linked to the Niger Delta Defence and Security Council (NDDSC) which is also linked to victor-Ben Ebikabowei, popularly called Boyloaf, a senior commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in the central delta and Farah Dagogo Ipallibo, another senior MEND Commander in the eastern delta. NDDSC is said to have masterminded the attacks in June and July 2008 on the Cameroonian troops position; their killings and seizure of the weapons and hardwares. Gunmen Kidnap Two Sisters On Tuesday October 21, 2008, Chinoso, 9 years old and her younger sister Uchechi, 7 years old, both daughters of Mr. Ajanaku, a senior official of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) were kidnapped from their school gate located along Peter Odili Road in the Abuloma neighbourhood in Port Harcourt by gunmen numbering about 5 in a tinted glasses, black spot utility vehicle (SUV). The police command in Rivers State confirmed the kidnap of the helpless girls to CEHRD, and said they have placed their men on the watch out for the victims with an aim of rescuing them and arresting the criminals. The commercial kidnappers took the hostages to an unknown destination. They were later released after payment of ransom by the victims' parents, though they denied to have ever paid any amount. With guns out of control, kidnapping and ransom demand has been on the increase. The victims are students of Day and Infant Nursery Spring School located at 22 Gospel Avenue,Abuloma. Pastor Bassey, Sola Demi kidnapped 6-year-old Collins Roberts On October 16, 2008, 6-year-old Collins Roberts, son of Ebidawowai Roberts, an accountant with the Bayelsa state treasury office of the Ministry of Finance was kidnapped by a gang led by Shola Taiwo Saka and Femi Okunola from the boy's home at Amarata axis in the Yenagoa Local
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Government Area of Bayelsa State. The victim was moved to a hideout arranged by Pastor Bassey Archibong, the head of Psalm 26 International Church based in Port Harcourt. The kidnappers demanded for a whooping sum of N50million as ransom before the boy would be released. The Shola who led the kidnap of little Collins Roberts is a family friend of the Roberts family. When Roberts's father couldn't meet the N50 million demands, the kidnapper later scaled down their demand. Luck ran out on the kidnappers when the victims paid some money, and Sola and his men who had promised to pay the pastor 5 million naira later changed their minds. The initiator of the plot told the pastor that since Collins did no pay the expected N50 million they will be coming to the pastor to pick up their victim from the pastor's custody. The man of God was angry after keeping the boy for 8 days and he won't be paid any money. The clergy man angrily took the boy to the police in Port Harcourt whose officers later arrested him (pastor) and took him to Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State where others were arrested by the police. Collins, the captive was able to identify his lead captor, Shola. The commercial kidnappers are still in police custody in Yenagoa. 62-year-old Moses Irimisose Kidnapped On October 25, 2008, chief Moses Irimisose, the vice-chairman of the Delta State chapter of Host Communities of Nigeria (HOSTCOM) was kidnapped by a 5-man armed gang from his office along PTI road in Effurun in Warri Delta State. The police in Delta State confirmed the incident. On November 2, 2008, the victim was released unhurt, shortly after his group, HOSTCOM held a meeting and threatened, We do not want to subscribe to the belief that the recent suit being instituted by Urohobo against the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) has generated this ugly event. We are desirous of peace in the polity since we are capable of destabilizing the existing harmonious environment being enjoyed by all in the state.
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Godwin T. Omamogbo and Asite, Simon, chairman and secretary respectively of HOSTCOM, who signed the press statement, also issued a 48-hour ultimatum, not long after that Irimisose was released. GunmenAbduct Lebanese Construction Worker In the early hours of Monday, November 3, 2998, unknown gunmen in a Mazda 626 car, kidnapped a Lebanese national working for Human Engineering Company. The victim was supervising the on-going road construction work at Owhipa axis of Choba town in the Obio/Akpor Local GovernmentArea of Rivers State, which his firm is handling. Eyewitness told CEHRD that the gunmen came in a colour Mazda 626 above with a Lagos registration number, pulled to a halt as the rampaging gun zoomed out and fired wild gun shots sporadically in the air. CEHRD gathered that one person was hit by the kidnapper's stray bullet, amidst the attendant confusion, the gunmen abducted the Lebanese worker, abandoned the Mazda car, and escaped with the Lebanese national with another vehicle. Meanwhile, the main militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said their fighters were not involved in the kidnap, but pledged to assist in the release of the construction worker. The kidnapper of the Lebanese was greeted with serious criticism because the victim is working for a construction company in the state. Lt. Col. Musa Sagir, Spokesperson for the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Rivers State condemned the act, How can people yearning for development continue to kidnap those working for the good of society. The motive is pecuniary and no group has claimed responsibility yet. Security agencies have been alerted and charged to work towards rescuing the victim and apprehend the culprits In the Niger delta region of Nigeria, there are scores of armed groups that are formed and operate mainly as a criminal band, this different from some that are militant groups. In terms of the membership and composition of some of the groups, even those that are now Niger Delta natives belong too. MEND later said it located where the victim was held and released him. The Lebanese citizen has been released, CEHRD can confirm this.
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Zenith Bank manager Kidnapped On Sunday, November 2, 2008, gunmen seized Mr. Patrick Akoroja, a manger of the Zenith Bank Plc, Omoku branch in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Rivers state. Zenith bank is one of the new generation banks in Nigeria. On Tuesday, November 4, 2008, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) issued a public statement which it circulated widely on line that MEND's commando unit rescued Mr. Melad Nasari, a Lebanese who is a worker of Homan Engineering Company, a construction firm. Nasari was kidnapped on Monday, November 3, 2008. MEND Spokesman, Jomo Gbomo said it will assist in the rescue of Nasari where his abductors has kept him in a bush as purely a good will gesture and not a move to parley with the government in any way. MEND Gbomo said that During the course of the operation, they heard a frantic shout for help from an individual who introduced himself as Patrick Akorodu, a manager with Zenith bank, Omoku branch in Rivers State. He said he was a victim of the criminal gang that abducted the Lebanese national. He further said both men are in the safe custody of our men and are now en route to the drop off zone where they will be handed to contacts from the State security Services (SSS) Patrick Akorodu, the victim who was kidnapped at his residence at Eagle Island in Port Harcourt by heavily armed kidnappers disappeared with him through the waterways. CEHRD can't confirm whether ransom was paid or not. However, CEHRD is extremely worried about the massive proliferation of arms and groups misusing them. Armed groups (non state armed groups) always raise money to fund their activities through unconstitutional means, and one reasons that sometimes that MEND as a non-state armed group that has undertaken kidnap several times can also kidnap people and claim to rescue them. The negative consequences of these, is what CEHRD fears. But MEND claims that it does not kidnap children, elderly people etc except oil workers who are critical to the resolution of the Niger delta impasse. Shell Workers Kidnapped in Bayelsa, Delta On Sunday November 2, 2008, heavily armed gunmen in a dark blue
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Mercedes Benz 190 E car trailed two workers of the Shell Petroleum development company (SPDC) from Port Harcourt, the Capital of Rivers state to the Okordia/Zarama road in the Yenegoa Local government area of Bayelsa State and kidnapped them. CEHRD obtained the full identities of the kidnapped workers from the Police command in Bayelsa State. The victims are Mr. Michael Obikaun and Mrs. Favour Dappah of the inspectorate division of SPDC in Port Harcourt. The Police Spokesperson in Bayelsa State, Mr. Iniobong Ibokette confirmed the incident. On Friday, November 1, 2008, 3 Staff of Shell facility at Uzere community in the Isoko South Local GovernmentArea of Delta State were abducted. However, CEHRD's findings can't actually establish this to be a kidnap case like the one above. Prior to the incident the Uzere community and SPDC were rocked is a conflict over a N150 million compensation to the poor community. Those who spoke to CEHRD in the area said Shell has a bad company polluting their environment and treating the locals with utter disregard. The Delta State Police Command seems not interested in arresting those who abducted the Shell officials. They were released to the police. Delta State Police Spokesman, Charles Muka confirmed the release of the officials to CEHRD. At the time of the incident, the Delta State House of Assembly was investigating the activities of SPDC in the State. Retired Methodist Clergy Kidnapped in Gokana On Wednesday, November 5, 2008, gunmen invaded the quite home of Rev. G.AGborogbosi at the Barako community in the Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers state and took the aged and frail looking retired Methodist Clergyman to unknown destination. The gunmen who were said to be 6 in number broke into the Barako house of the man with a hard object and took the man from his sleep around 2:00am. The divisional police headquarters in Kpor, the headquarters of the Gokana Local Government Area confirmed the abduction of the poor clergy and said they don't know the intention of the kidnappers, saying that the Gborogbosi
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is a poor man. 4 Naval Officers, Shell Worker, 5 others Killed in Attack in Nembe On Thursday, November 6, 2008, heavily armed youths and naval officials clashed at Basambiri Community, the home town of Chief Timipre Sylva, the governor of Bayelsa State which led to the death of 4 naval officials, Mr. Dennis Kupkup, a Worker of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and five youths who hailed from the Basambiri in the Nembe Local GovernmentArea of Bayelsa State. A resident of the Basambiri community who called CEHRD office to inform about the incident revealed that the local government election was billed to hold earlier, and that the governor had chosen a candidate. And that the favoured candidate of the government while campaigning had mobilized a naval unit in the area, to maintain peace during the electioneering campaign. A rival candidate had mobilized armed youths too and as the favoured candidate concluded his campaign to leave the area with the naval entourage, the youth landed attack on the naval team. Four naval officials in the boat were killed instantly, a shell official also lost his life, while 5 of the rampaging youths were also killed when naval officers returned fire and scores of naval officials killed. Commodore David Nabaiga, the director of naval informations confirmed to CEHRD about the incident, There were casualties on both sides after our men returned fire following the attack by youths. A community youth suspected to be one of the armed warring Basambiri faction who said his name shouldn't be mentioned told CEHRD in Yenegoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, They want to impose their candidate on us and intimidate us with their navy. The navy should go and bury their bodies we have buried ours. More shall die if they don't change their ways. In the wake of the blood bath, CEHRD gathered that the governor of the State, Sylva who also hails from the violence ridden community and the Basambiri council of chiefs called an urgent meeting of all male children of the community above 18 (excluding women), to discuss how to restore peace in a place wreck by criminal and violent politics where gangs and their
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sponsors hold sway. CEHRD sympathy is with the poor Basambiri locals who are always the victims of violence and bad politics and policies. Also, in a different incident, gunmen suspected to be militants in 3 speedboats same Thursday, November 6, 2008, attacked a military unit guarding a Chevron oil facility at Robertkiri in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State killing an army and a naval official while the gunmen escape unhurt. The Spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt. Col. Musa Sagir confirmed the incident, he said, The attack did not affect the Chevron facility, no group claim responsibility for the attack. Same day, militants in 20 speedboats attacked JTF location at Clough Creek in the Ekeremor Local GovernmentArea of Bayelsa State killing civilian. CEHRD can't confirm whether the incidents are related to one another. MEND Opens Camps in Delta State, Threatens more Violence In the early parts of November, 2008, CEHRD was exclusively informed of the opening of a new camp by John Togo, a militant leader in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Togo is another warlord on the watching list of the Joint Task Force (JTF) due to his alleged violent activities along the Delta State waterways. CEHRD investigators reliably gathered that John Togo recently received from monetary and material (guns) support from Boyloaf, a popular militia leader and senior commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in the central delta, to set up the camp. Militia source told CEHRD that MEND command encourage the setting up of the camp by John Togo so that when order is given to carry out violence the western delta will participate too. The setting up of the camp had reportedly angered Tompolo, another senior MEND commander in the western delta region who has been receiving massive patronage from the Delta State government. Just as the tension generated by John Togo had hardly settled down who had
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vowed to make delta state ungovernable so as to receive the largesse of militancy that the state governor pays Tompolo, MEND issued a fresh threat to launch operation, Hurricane Obama and return to the trenches to wage another oil war. The JTF had in a public statement accused Boyloaf, of being behind the abduction of two Crewmen from the Borifish Hercules Vessel belonging to Offshore Nigeria Limited. Boyloaf couldn't deny this, but when JTF secret planned a reprisal attack on some camps in the delta, the plan leaked to MEND and it threatened to further destroy oil pipelines and facilities in the delta. On Sunday, November 16, 2008, hordes of heavily armed gunmen suspected to come from Tompolo's camp hijacked a vessel conveying oil materials to the Escravos Gas-to-Liguid (EGIZ) project. The vessel captain and 10 crew members kidnapped. The vessel code-named MV Galaxy Tour was on its way from Warri, Delta State to Singapore when the armed militants struck along the turbulent Escravos creeks. The same group of irate militants who hijacked the oil vessels was said to be responsible for the blowing up of a pipeline belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited at Abiteye community. CEHRD gathered that the oil vessel was held at Okerenkoko community in the Warri South West Local Government. Though, a community leader from Okerenkoko denied that the MV Galaxy Tour, is detained at his Okerenkoko community, the denial is just to avail any military reprisal. The military authority in Delta state corroborated the story and boasted that if dialogue fails they will use force to rescue the vessel and its occupants. CEHRD was told by a militant there that the action was to protest against the arrest of a vessel suspected to carry bunkered oil off the coast of Escravos. The cargo registered as MTAkuada allegedly took delivery stolen crude oil from an oil field in the area when naval sea patrol craft from the naval command in warri intercepted them. The MT Akuada which had 12, 500 tonnes of crude oil and 21 Filipinos on it. They were arrested and detained. CEHRD also gathered that the vessel is official registered as MT Akuada, while the inscription on it is MTAKUA Shortly after the interception of the vessel and arrest of its occupants in the morning hours, in the later part of the day was the hijack of the Galaxy Tour
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and attack onAbiteye Chevron facility in retaliation. Also these took place in an area (the Warri South West Local Government Area) under Tompolos' control. It was later revealed to CEHRD that the Delta State government and others settled the matter by giving the militants some money and Galaxy Tour and its occupants were released. 74-Year-Old Mrs. Benamiasia Kidnapped On Saturday, November 8, Mrs. Accruere Lily Benamiasia, the mother of chief Joshua Benemiasia the former coordinator of the Bayelsa Volunteers, the state government-owned outfit was kidnapped by heavily armed gunmen from her Asamabiri community in the Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The gunmen who invaded her home in the early hours of that Saturday shot a woman in the compound in the leg before taking their victim to a waiting boat. The aged woman was later whisked away. CEHRD gathered that a tip off from some locals to the police from the Bayelsa state Command led to the invasion of the kidnapper's hideout where the woman was kept in a forest somewhere in Odi in the Kolo Kuma Opokuma Local Government Area of bayelsa State. She was released by the police. Mr. Abayomi Akerelemale, the State Deputy Commissioner of Police in the State confirmed the rescue of the 74-year-old Accraere to CEHRD in Yenegoa and said no ransom was paid before the victim was released. CEHRD spoke to the victim after her release in her native Ijaw dialect. This is the translated version of her interview in English. As they dragged me into a boat at the waterside they blind folded my eyes, I can't remember any where we passed, but I know we were in a boat and we later found ourselves in a forest. Even when I was hungry and I told them that I am hungry they did not give me food until policemen came and take me away.
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The police later arrested Oti Chub, a relation of the kidnapped woman and Daddyboy Tikobai as suspected kidnappers of the Septuagenarian woman. INTELS Boss Assassinated in Port Harcourt On Tuesday, November 11, 2008, gunmen stormed the entrance to the sprawling house of Mr. Chuks Ihuoma, Deputy General Manger of the Intergrated Logistic Services Limited (INTEL) in the Rumuibekwe Housing Estate in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State and shot him dead. Police source told CEHRD that the gunmen arrived the victim's house at about 9:30pm and called him on his mobile phone and when he was driving his car out without his usual police security details, the murderous squad hit him dead with theirAK47 riffles at close range. After shooting him, the gunmen left without removing anything from him. He was later taken to a hospital where doctor confirmed him dead. CEHRD was told that the deceased's wife has just been delivered of a set of twin babies. The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident and said the slain Chuks Ihuoma had just resumed work after his annual vacation in London with his family. The deceased was a lawyer. 14 Killed in Violent attack in Sangana Creek With assorted types of guns and those proliferating them being out of control, the greatest fear nowadays is the fear of not being killed in cross fire between the Soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and armed bands or armed gangs fighting one another in the struggle for territory control or supremacy. In mid November, 2008, corpses of youths flooded the creeks of the ancient Sangana town in the Akassa Kingdom in the Brass Local GovernmentArea of Bayelsa State. Boats of Sangana vigilante Youth patrolling the waterways came under a bloody and vicious attack from some militants who were also patrolling the creeks. Military sources confirmed that 14persons died instantly in the gun attack from the Sangana Vigilante who were taken unawares. Sadly, there was a burial ceremony going on in the community.
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CEHRD gathered that tension was building up in the riverine community as scores of Sangana youths were mobilizing for a revenge attack. The actual cause of the attack is not know yet. 5 Policemen, One Saipem Worker Killed by Gunmen in Rivers On Sunday, November 16, 2008, at about 11:00pm (in the night) gunmen dressed in police uniforms and heavily armed stormed Kaduna Street by Fruit Garden junction in Port Harcourt in Rivers state and shot dead 3 mobile police officers and took their AK47 assault riffles away with 30 rounds of live ammunition. Sadly too, a contractor Staff with the Italian Oil servicing company Saipem also lost his life. For sometime now, police had raised a checkpoint at the Kaduna Street. An eye-witness, Mr. Collins Nwako who said he was at the nearby Catholic Church gate told CEHRD, When the gunmen arrived they seem to have been fully prepared. Out of the four policemen there only one escaped. These armed men pumped bullets into the police officer, I don't know how the other person (Mr. Nekorsia Nyobana) was killed, because I saw as vehicles around ran when they heard the gunshots. No vehicle was coming. I suspect that guy was killed by irate police officers who just stormed the area and started shooting indiscriminately after their colleagues were killed. CEHRD obtained the names of the murdered policemen, the unlucky Saipem worker and the police officer who narrowly escaped the bullets of the gunmen. The victims are Mr. Ogidi Linus, Constables Yinka Tidinkpa and sergeant Sunday Okon, they were attached to the 48 Squadron of the Mobile Police Force (MPF) base in Ahoada, a semi urban area in the Ahoada-East Local Government Area, several miles away from Port Harcourt. One wonders what they were doing at a checkpoint in Port Harcourt before the met their death. while Constable E. Ipali, was lucky to have escaped when the gunmen struck. He was able to narrate the story. Mr. Nekorsia Nyobana, a native of Buan community in Khana Local Government Area, a contract staff working with Saipem Nigeria Limited, a final year Part-time student of the Department of Marketing of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Nkpolu was killed in
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a rather complicated circumstance. Policemen Killed in Opobo Water way. On Friday, November 14, 2008, policemen accompanying members of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) who were on tour of the state government project in the Opobo/Nkoro Local GovernmentArea of Rivers State were shot dead and scores of civilian wounded along the Opobo/Nkoro waterways by gunmen. The deceased policemen were of the Police Marine Waterways Division in the State. CEHRD has been criticizing RSSDA development approach, of touring the poor rural villages in the state like a political rally, where all sort of heavily armed security operatives and flashy cars, boats etc accompanying such attention seeking movement. The agency must show some level of sincere and serious commitment to development which should be people oriented rather than this flagrant display of money that the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) is doing. However, CEHRD further learnt that the gunmen who were said to have dressed in military uniforms were hired assassins looking for Maclean Uranta, the Chairman of the Opobo/Noro Local Government Area of Rivers State. They had laid ambush for the boats carrying the RSSDA team, thinkingg that Uranta was among the team. Kidnappers Seize Shell Workers, Demand N7 M On Sunday, November 16, 2008, Mr. Fidelis Akpoghiran, a staff of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) was abducted by three young men armed with AK47 assault riffles at Rumuodamaya, Port Harcourt in Rivers State. The incident took place at about 10:00am on that fateful day. The victim, Fidelis Akpoghiran and his wife had gone to visit his brother's fiancee's parents at the Rumuodomaya community. As they just entered the house and were still exchanging pleasantries with one another, the 3 kidnappers struck. They tied up everybody in the house at gun point and after confirming the identity of the Fidelis, took him away in his (Fidelis Akpoghiran) Toyota Camry car, 2008 model, ash colour with registration number EU 245 LSR.
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Immediately after the incident, the kidnappers called that they are militants looking for money to buy arms, they rather demanded for N7 million naira as ransom. CEHRD further gathered the kidnappers were not arrested and ransom was paid. The police command in Rivers State said the family and employer (Shell) of the victim had contacted them about the incident and that they were still investigating. Later CEHRD contacted them but they refused to comment on the matter Journalists also expressed such disappointment over the matter. Ibaka Chief Shot Dead ByAssasin in Military Uniform In early December, 2008, about 10:30pm (in the night), a gunman in military uniform appeared in the house of Chief Emmanuel Tamunowunafuro Inemikabo Kalaru, the high Chief of the Ibaka community in the Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State and shot him dead, wounding his 3year-old girl. Community people told CEHRD that the gunman clearly a hired assassin got to the house of the late chief Kalaru, the head of the Kalaru war canoe house, he saw Kalaru relaxing with his family member in front of his house at Ibaka at about 10:30pm, and shot him dead at point blank at his chest. Chief Kalaru bled and died instantly. They said by the time the soldiers stationed there arrived the scene, the assassin had fled. The 49-year-old the late chief Kalaru was installed as head of the war canoe House on April 26, 2003, though the immediate cause of the action is not known, but those who spoke to our investigator said there has been a lingering kingship tussle in the Ibaka community. CEHRD learnt that for the past 20 years, two families Kalaru 1 and Kalaru II have been fighting over the Ibaka stool. The murdered chief Emmanuel Tamuno Wunafuro Inemikako Kalaru was supporting the Kalaru I. The deceased had reportedly escaped death 3 times, this time around was not lucky again. With guns and gangs every where, no one seems safe.
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Assassins Who Posed As Photographers Shot Dead School Vice Principal On Wednesday, December 3, 2008, gunmen on motorbike called Okada who posed as commercial photographers broke into the venue of a send off party at Ime-Obi College, Agbor in Delta State and shot dead Mr. Paul Mafiana, the vice-principal of the colleague. The gunmen reportedly lied to the security men at the college's gate and when allowed into the college premises headed straight to Mr. Paul Mafiana where he was in his office to organize the send off party. The gunmen fired the man and when he died they left. The Delta police public Relations officer (PRO), Mr. Charles Muka could not say whether those who shot dead the vice-principle are armed robbers or not, but promised that investigation had commenced. The situation in Delta state, like other places, was so hopeless that the Federal Government on Saturday, December 13, 2008 deployed antiterrorism squad into the state, to tackle hostage-takers, oil bunkerers, hi-tech robberies and other forms of organized crime. But, in spite of that the situation has not improved. 14-Year-Old Stella Chinedu Raped To Death In early December, 2008 a police officer had called one of CEHRD officials to give information about a 14-year-old girl, Stella Chinedu who was raped to death in a bush at Ogwashi Uku in the Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State. CEHRD sent one of its investigators to visit the victim's family, police and others to find out the truth. A family member of the victim said the victim was sent on an errand to a neighbouring community by her uncle, Paul Oka, who works at the Delta State ministry of Finance. The poor girl did not know that 3 sex maniacs were awaiting her, they later forced her to a bush and engaged in a violent and ruthless sex which led to the girl collapsing and dying. The police officer revealed to CEHRD that it was Paul Oka who reported the
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case to the police and a search party was conducted leading to the discovery of the lifeless body of Stella with caked blood all over her private part region. He further disclosed that one Charles Okoro alias Obstacle was arrested and had confessed to have committed the crime with other 2 on the run. CEHRD visited the Charles Okoro in his cell where he is held, but he refused to say a word on the matter. The body of the girl, Stella is deposited at the Federal medical centre in Saba, Delta state. The police said they will do an autopsy before she would be buried. CEHRD is worried at the rising wave of such pattern of violence against women. TomAteke's Fighters Disarm JTF Soldiers at NNPC Depot, Eleme On Wednesday, December 3, 2008, scores of heavily armed fighters from the Tom Ateke's led Niger Delta Vigilante Movement (NDVM) arrived the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot at Alesa in the Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State with guns hidden under their clothes. On arrival, they started preaching the gospel about the coming of Jesus Christ and distributed Christian tracts. Every body there had thought they were real evangelical preachers, not knowing that they were gunmen. Shortly after they gained the confidence of everybody including that of the soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) stationed there, they disarmed the JTF and the huge General Multi purpose machine Gun (GMPMG) positioned there and disappeared into their waiting speed boats. When the militants swiftly retreated after the operation, they set fire on the bus they came there with, while shooting sporadically. They took the JTF by surprise. CEHRD learnt that a Youngman called Ismaila, a mobile set and phone vendor was killed by stray-bullet of the armed band. An official of the NDVM confirmed that they carried out what he described as lightning operation Lt. Col. Musa Sagir confirmed the incident, but denied the loss of GMPMG. Sagir's denial contradicts what a soldier at the
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unit told CEHRD monitor that they actually lost the GMPMG. Senator Lee Maeba'sAged MotherAbducted On December 4, 2008, gunmen struck at Luwa community in the Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State and kidnapped Mrs. Nowa Maeba, the 77-year-old mother of Senator Lee Maeba, representing the Rivers South-East Senatorial District (comprising Gokana, Khana, Tai, Eleme, Oyigbo, Opobo andAndoni Local GovernmentAreas, all in Rivers State). Villagers told CEHRD that a group of gunmen stormed the rustic community and forced the aged woman from her house into a wheelbarrow and whisked her away to an unknown destination. The spokesman of the Rivers State command of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt. Col. Sagir Musa confirmed the incident and said though no information about the where about of the victim had reached them, he promised to do his best for the senator's mother. It is sad for the aged woman and ironic somehow, that a lot of thugs used by politicians to steal elections and cause other forms of electoral malpractices and violence are the ones engaging in commercial kidnapping and proliferation of small arms. During the 2003 election, heavily armed thugs loyal to senator, Lee Maeba, CEHRD observed them hijack electoral materials and perpetrated other forms of violence in Bori, the headquarters of Khana, while the police watched gleefully. The 2007 election, Maeba was returned also witnessed such pattern of violence unleashed by Maeba's thugs. It may be recalled that after the election, scores of those thugs had series of problems with him for not paying them for their services during his election. Some of them later contacted CEHRD to help them ensure that Lee Maeba pays them, but since it is not part of CEHRD's objectives to negotiate payment between politicians and thugs we declined. Elder Sylvester Mbata Gunned Down in His Bedroom On Saturday, December 6, 2008, four able-bodied men armed with Ak47, pistols and axes broke into the private bedroom of Elder Sylvester Mbata, trader who traded on textile materials and shot him dead. Mbata, a father of 16 children from two wives was killed in his house in the Omunwei village in the Igwuruta in the Igwuruta area of the Ikwerre Local Government Area
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of rivers State. CEHRD spoke to a lot of villages; no body could really say why the man was killed. The Igwuruta divisional police was also evasive on the matter when CEHRD contacted them. After shooting Mbata dead in his bedroom, they did not collect any of his belongings. They were only after his life. We are worried at the rate of lawlessness and extra-judicial killing going on in the region either by state or non state agents. More Killed as Deebam, Deewell clashed in Ikwerre Community The Ibaa communities in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State had known no peace since the traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Eze Ohaka died. The community has witnessed unprecedented violence and senseless killings. The bloody event of Sunday night, December 7 December 8, 2008 seems to be the climax in the Ibaa bloody drama. CEHRD was told in the violence ridden community that Mr. Gowon, the councilor representing Ibaa in the Emohua Legislative Assembly had initiated a football match competition and bought a cup to be given to who wins in the foot ball contest. But The Deebam one of the gangs flaring violence in the community demanded that before the football competition should take place they (the Deebam), a notorious street gang should be paid a whooping sum of one hundred thousand naira as what they called matching ground fee. The match was later held though the money demanded by the Deebam was not paid. It was gathered that the chairman of the Emohua Local Government Council attended the event and donated Twenty thousand naira to some people around, where as the demand of the Deebam was not met. The following day hell was let loose in the community as the Deebam and Deewell resumed the hostility. The football stuff only sparked off the crisis. CEHRD documented the names of those killed. 12 youths including Mrs. Ego who had returned from Port Harcourt to attend the burial of her relation was killed. The Ibaa/Obelle Chieftaincy crisis had led to massive killings and destruction of properties in the communities (Ibaa abd Obelle). Chief Sampson Ovua and Chief Ejike Nyenke are two contenders for the stool. But
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ides employ the services of cult groups. PDPStalwart,AnotherAssassinated in Port Harcourt Same Day These are not normal times, in spite of the heavy presence of the security forces violence, blood letting etc still continued unabated. On Sunday, December 14, 2008, two men, Michael Stephen Mwikini and Neenaebari Frank were murdered at different locations in Port Harcourt, CEHRD can't really establish whether the tragic incidents were carried out by the same squad and for the same purpose. Mr. Michael Stephen Nwikina, was a leading member of the ruling people's Democratic party (PDP), ward II in the Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State. Nwikina hailed from Kwuwa. Gunmen came to his house and called him out and murdered him at his Elelenwo residence in Port Harcourt. Mr. Neenaebari Frank from the Ko community in the same Khana Local Government Area of Rivers was also called on his mobile pone and as he went out of his residence in Port Harcourt he was shot dead by gunmen who called him. Earlier on December 13, 2008, gunmen numbering about five, stormed the residence of Mr. Sunny Rima, an aide to Mr Kenneth Kobani, the former commissioner of Finance under the Governor Odili government in the state and murdered him. CEHRD gathered that the gunmen stormed the residence of Sunny Riman at Eliozu in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of rivers State and shot him dead. Chief WaleAdegboye Gunned Down in Port Harcourt On Sunday, December 14, 2008, Chief wale Adegboye, a Port Harcourt based business mogul and grand patron of the Rivers State sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) was gunned down by yet-to-be identified assassins who followed him as he was driving out of his house in Okporo Road and on his way to a catholic church in Port Harcourt. Chief Adegboye, a major contractor to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) was driving in his Toyota Infinity car with registration number- RV 307 RVC, and was driving into Rumuodara from Okporo Roads in the Rumuokwrushi area, when a vehicle blocked him. Some of the
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gunmen who were driving in another vehicle appeared from behind his vehicle and fired several bullets at his chest and head. Wale Adegboye died instantly. CEHRD learnt that he was traveling alone and that the attackers did not remove anything from his car. Police public Relations Officer (PRO), Mrs. Rita Inoma-Abbey confirmed the incident and promised to investigate the matter. The deceased was the executive officer of Wale and Dema Company Limited and a well-known philanthropist in the state. His corpse has been deposited at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital's Morgue. Russians, Ukrainian, Filipino Kidnapped in Rivers On Friday, December 19, 2008, heavily armed militants abducted a Swedish vessel called Herkules, off the Bonny River (about 19 nautical miles off shore) The vessel was sailing to Akpo oil field. CEHRD gathered that the Swedish vessel was on charter by Saipem, a subsidiary of Eni, the Italian oil and gas mogul. The suspected militants seized the huge oil vessel and commandeered it towards the Sommbereiro River, the militant enclave in the Akuku Torlu Local GovernmentArea of Rivers State. On board the affected vessel were II Russians and a 1 Ukrainian. The gun men later freed those on board and took five Russians as hostages. In the wake of the kidnap of the Swedish vessel, the deltaic insurgent group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) condemned the act and accused those responsible of not being part of the Niger Delta struggle. On same Friday, December 19, 2008, gunmen kidnapped a Filipino at the Borokiri area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The Joint Task Force (JTF) confirmed both incidents and said criminals are on the prowl. 3 Youths, 5 Soldiers Died inAttack onAgip Facility in Bayelsa State In the early hours of Friday, December 26, 2008, the crisis between Agip and
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Tebibada communities in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area got its peak as youths from the Tebibada community angered by the treatment meted out to them, invited some militants from a unit of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), to join them and deal with Agip. CEHRD was reliably informed that the some Tebibada youths had hired some fighters from GeneralAfrica Ukparusia's camp in the area, to join them and attack the facility of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC). General Africa is a top commander of MEN in the central delta (Bayelsa state), fitted its boats with assault and combats riffles they launched a surprise attack on the unit of the JTF guarding the facility killing 5 soldiers, and wounded 3, while 3 of the attacks were killed. In a rather dramatic twist, MEND disassociated itself from the attack saying that it was observing a ceasefire. MEND said that those who attacked the facility were aggrieved youths and not MEND fighters. MEND did not authorized it, but one of its units affected as mercenaries. CEHRD gathered that those killed and captured were community youths who fought along side with General Africa's boys, and that they led the MEND fighters to the place. Indeed, very dramatic. The Joint Task Force (JTF) claimed that no soldier died when sources within its military hospital confirmed to CEHRD that 5 of it soldiers lost their lives in the attack. The Nigerian media bought into the bait and reported JTF well on the matter. In the wake of the Tebidaba incident, Brig-General Nanven Kimtip, the JTF commander in Delta State commended newsmen for its success. Abducted Female Oil Worker Disappears from Kidnappers On Monday, February 22, 2008, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Nkwo, a senior staff of the Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited (EPNL) was kidnapped by gunnmen from Port Harcourt and taken to one of the communities in the Khana Local Government Area of Rivers state. The victim's (Mrs. Oluwatoyin's) husband is also the manager, training services with EPNL.
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Following the kidnap of the woman, reports have it that some villagers who noticed that the woman was kept in the community went and reported to the security officials who started being on the trail of the kidnappers. The victim however managed to liberate herself from the net of her captors. CEHRD gathered that when one of the kidnappers' armed guards went on a surveillance of the neighbourhood, the kidnapped woman took a tablet of soap that was within, put it in water and robed on her ankles to facilitate the removal of the chains from her ankles. It worked and she succeeded in removing the chains and she escaped. Sources told CEHRD that she ran into the nearby bush before the armed guard returned and later found her way to the Bori central police station. In this case no ransom was collected. Police authority in the area confirmed this to CEHRD. Gunmen Kidnap two Toddlers On Tuesday, February 27, 2008, gunmen heavily armed with AK47 kidnapped two toddlers, Chimaraoke and Kelechi Okocha aged two and one and half years respectively while on their way to the University of Port Harcourt Day care Centre in Choba. Widespread condemnation greeted the gunmen's action. On Saturday, March 1, 2008, the older one, Chimaraoke, was dumped at the Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, while the younger one, Kelechi Okocha, was abandoned at the Olobo Premier College, Choba, Port Harcourt. The victims are children of Rufus Okocha, a Port Harcourt based businessman. Kidnapping for monetary ransom by faceless criminal gangs in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and beyond has been rampant. The Gunmen had phoned the parents of the toddlers and demanded a whooping sum of N80 million. Though, officials of the Rivers state government interviewed by CEHRD denied that ransom was paid to the kidnappers, security officials who were involved in the negotiation for the release of the victims
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confirmed to CEHRD that huge ransom was paid for their release, but refused to disclose the amount. The ransom was allegedly paid by the Rivers State government. MilitantsAttack Police Station inAmasoma, CartAwayArms On Sunday, April 27, 2008, a group of militants invaded the Divisional Police station in Bonny Island in Rivers state. The militants numbering 10 and heavily armed with AK47s and dynamites traveling in 4 speed boats at about 7:30pm, went through the Amassoma waterside, into the Amassoma community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa and sacked the Divisional Police headquarters there. CEHRD reliably gathered that the gunmen carted away unspecified number of arms and ammunitions and mistakenly took away scripts of Biology practical question papers written last Saturday by candidates sitting for the General Certificate of Education (GCE) examinations. They had thought the bag contained money. They forced their way into the police station without any resistance. Their operation lasted for about 30 minutes and after shooting sporadically into the air, they quit the community through the same route they came in (Amassoma waterside). While responding to questions from pressmen, Mr. Iniobong Ibokette, the Bayelsa state police spokesman confirmed the incident. He said; yes, at about 7:30pm, some armed youths attacked the divisional police headquarters at Amassoma. They are not able to take 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 are capable of protecting lives and properties in the area. Militants Sack Bonny Police Station, Kill 5 Policemen, Free detainees. On Sunday, April 27, 2008, heavily armed persons suspected to be militants stormed the Divisional Police station in the Bonny Island, home of the Nigeria's multi-billion dollars Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and shot dead 5 police officers on duty, injured others and opened the Police cells to free detainees suspected to be their colleagues. Those police officers killed include an Assistant Superintendent of police
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(ASP), one inspector of police, 2 sergeants and a constable. Also, the gunmen carted away some cache of ammunitions. Sources at the Island told CEHRD that the incident might not be unconnected with the arrest of one of the militants. The suspected militants came in a motor vehicle and took the police by surprise. In the Bonny Island located in the Bonny local government area of Rivers State which has one of the nation's oil export terminals and home of the huge NLNG, in spite of a huge military presence on the Island, militancy and other violent crimes flourish. GunmenAbduct 11-year-old Chichi, Kill Driver, Escort. On Sunday, April 6, 2008, heavily armed gun men kidnapped Master Chichi Nzerim, an 11-year-old boy after killing the driver of the vehicle and a police escort attached to them. The mother of little Chichi was also shot in the arm by the gunmen. The vehicle which carried Chichi, the driver, the police escort and her mother was going to drop the toddler at his boarding School, Brookston International School located at Igwuruta Ali community in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. The incident occurred on Sunday at about 5:30pm. Apparently the gunmen were trailing the vehicle and when they got to a safe location they opened fire sporadically, killing the driver and the policeman attached to the boy. The kidnapped toddler is the child of an oil and gas company boss called DMS located in Onne, Rivers state. When contacted, the Rivers state police spokeswoman as at that time, Mrs. Barasua Ireju confirmed the incident to CEHRD. She said that no group claimed responsibility for the kidnap and that the kidnappers then had not established any contact with the family or any body as other kidnappers do and make ransom demand. 4 Soldiers, Others Killed as Soboma Jakrich Clashes with Soboma George On Tuesday July 29, 2008, around 12.00pm fighters from Soboma Jakirich, popularly called Egberi Papa launched a ferocious attack on Abonnema community in the Akuku-Torlu Local Government Area of Rivers State.
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The Egberi Papa's attack was directed against the community because Soboma George, the leader of the Outlaws, another notorious secret gang operating in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, was using the area as his base. Those who spoke to CEHRD said that the cause of the attack on Abonnema led by Egberi Papa was over the payment of N20million naira paid to Egberi Papa for the release of 8 expatriate staff he kidnapped on Saturday July 26, 2008 off the Bonny River in the State. The expatriates which Egberi Papa were alleged to have kidnapped were 2 Russians, one Lithuanian and 5 Latvians who were staff of Global Gas Services Limited, while their 2 Nigerian colleagues were killed during the attack. Egberi Papa was also accused of being responsible for the kidnap of Mrs. Seiye Lulu-Briggs, the wife of Lulu-Briggs, the multi-billionaire oil mogul sometime in January 2008. But, Egberi Papa told CEHRD that his clash with Soboma George was because of his criminal activities and that his fighters are always attacked along the waterways by Soboma George's boys. I am not a criminal; I am a freedom fighter, fighting for the liberation of our Ijaw and other Niger Deltans. It is Soboma George who is a cultist and who engages in criminal activities. The Abonnema battle paralyzed all commercial and social activities in the city. Property worth millions of naira was destroyed - including a security vehicle, while 4 soldiers of the JTF who had attempted to quell the clash between Igberi Papa and Soboma George were killed. Scores of innocent residents were also killed including militia men. Egberi Papa is one of the allies of Farah Dagogo, the head of the Niger Delta Strike Force (NDSF) and head of the eastern delta command of MEND. Some of his fighters fought with Egberi Papa during the Abonnema attack. Few weeks ago, Farah's fighters had attacked Abonnema too, in search of Soboma George's fighters. Following the frequent attacks in the area, a lot of people deserted the place. Gunmen Kill 3 Soldiers, 4 Civilians On Saturday July 20, 2008, a passenger boat traveling along the Obioku
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waterway in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, carrying unarmed soldiers in mufti and civilians were gunned down by rampaging gunmen. On Monday July 21, 2008, the bodies of the 3 slain soldiers and 2 other civilians were recovered in a joint search effort between Odioma community and the Joint military Task Force (JTF) (73 Battalion) of the Bayelsa command. The victims had boarded a commercial speedboat from Obioku in Nembe Local Government Area to Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State when gunmen on their trail murdered them in cold-blood and kept the corpses at a place along the waterways. CEHRD gathered that it was some local fishermen who saw the dead bodies and alerted their village; and the village authority alerted JTF. Spokesperson of the Bayelsa command of the JTF, Lt. Col. Chris Musa confirmed the incident to CEHRD and said they had declared Woki Abralafu popularly called Kitikata, a well-known militant leader, wanted in connection with the murder. Kitikata hails from Odioma, a riverine community administratively located in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. CEHRD gathered that the wanted militant leader was exiled from his Odioma community following his role in the murder of some councilors after a peace meeting between Obioku and Odioma communities in 2005. Odioma was razed down by soldiers in 2005 as a result of the killing. CEHRD further gathered exclusively that Kitikata and his fighters had been on the trail of the soldiers they alleged have been spying them. The deceased soldiers were of the military intelligence unit of the JTF. Woki Abralafu a.k.a. Kitikata and his fighters fled to join Farah Dagogo, the leader of the Niger Delta Strike Force (NDSF) and commander of MEND in-charge of its eastern Niger Delta command. The Obioku axis where the incident occurred is one of the most dangerous areas in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. There are a lot of rival armed gangs and cult groups operating there apart from the wanted Woki Abra
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Lafu a.k.a. Kitikata. Deewell cultists murder 67-year-old Thompson Enang On July 31, 2008, about 10 members of the Deewell, a notorious street gang (cult) armed with guns, bottles and machetes stormed the Olocha Estate in the Omueke community in Igwuruta in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State and murdered 67-year-old Thompson Enang. CEHRD gathered that the Deewell group was led by Bright Nwolu who allegedly killed the victim. Others in Nwolu's Deewell team were Eze Nwago, Kelechi, Chigozie, Chimdiebere and Chimankpa and 4 others whose names CEHRD could not obtain. The cultists raided the late 67-yearold Thompson Enang's home, in search of his son, Victor Thompson, but when they could not find Victor, they smashed broken bottles on the man's (Thompson Enang) head and face and also dealt several machete cuts on his head. When the poor man fell down, the Deewell cultists left him thinking that he had died. Some kind neighbours later rushed into his house and took him to Hagi Hospital along Agboga area of Igwuruta where the doctors at the private clinic tried to save his life, but he died later. His corpse was later deposited at the Bolingo mortuary in the area. Hassan Mohamed, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Igwuruta police headquarters confirmed the incident to CEHRD, but said they were still investigating the matter by the time CEHRD contacted him. He also claimed that they had made some arrests, but refused to disclose the identities of those they claimed to have arrested. Speaking to CEHRD, Victor Thompson, son of the deceased whom, the Deewell cultists were looking for, and later murdered his poor father said, I am not a secret cult member and I don't intend to join one. I have not had any previous quarrels with the boys. The only thing I can remember is that one of the Deewell boys forcefully collected my younger brother's cell phone the previous day. I met him and retrieved the phone. That is only what I can remember.
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MilitantsAttack Police Station, Kill One Police Man, CartAwayArms Gunmen on Saturday night, July 20, 2008, invaded a police station located in Sagbama in Bayelsa State, killing two police officers and carting away arms belonging to the police. The gunmen numbering about 12 over-ran the police station around 1:00am of that Saturday night, shooting sporadically into the air before gaining entrance into the armory of the police and removed the arms. Two police officers were killed in the hot exchange of gunfire between the militants and the policemen. The Bayelsa State Police Commissioner, Julian Kpaleke confirmed the incident and revealed that one of his men, an Inspector, was shot dead during the shoot out with suspected militants. He said that the intention of the invaders was to break into the police armory and cart away arms, but they were resisted. The police boss's claim is contrary to information obtained by CEHRD. Scores ofAK47 and G3 were carted away by the militants during the raid. One of the sources of arms proliferation in the delta by armed groups is attack on security outposts and removal of arms there from. Kidnapped Pa Jacob Odivwri Found Dead 6 DaysAfter While Professor Kuta Efakaurhobo of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) was still in captive with his abductors after being kidnapped from his Out-Jeremi Compound in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Pa Jacob Odivwri was kidnapped. 6 heavily armed men took him hostage. He was not as lucky as Professor Kuta who was released alive after paying N3million ransom. 6 days after, he was found dead at the Urhobo community of Emomu Orogun in the Ughelli North Local GovernmentArea. The deceased is the father of Mr. Eddy Odivwri, a member of the editorial board of The This Day Newspaper. He was kidnapped in December, 2008 and found dead same month. Shell Workers Abducted in Rumuodomaya, Kidnappers Demand 7 million naira Ransom On Sunday, November 16, 2008, Mr. Fidelis Akpoghiran, a staff of the Shell
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Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) was kidnapped by by three young men armed with AK47 assault riffles at Rumuodamaya, Port Harcourt in Rivers State. The incident took place at about 10:00am on that Sunday. The victim, Fidelis Akpoghiran and his wife had gone to visit his brother's fiancee's parents at the Rumuodomaya community. As they just entered the house while exchanging pleasantries with one another, the 3 kidnappers struck. They tied up everybody in the house at gun point and after confirming the identity of the Fidelis, they took him away in his (Fidelis Akpoghiran) Toyota Camry car, 2008 model, ash colour with registration number EU 245 LSR. Immediately after the incident, the kidnappers called that they are militants looking for money to buy arms, they rather demanded for N7 million naira as ransom. CEHRD further gathered the kidnappers were not arrested and ransom was paid. The police command in Rivers State said the family and employer (Shell) of the victim had contacted them about the incident and that they were still investigating the matter. Later CEHRD contacted them they refused to comment on the matter again, journalist also expressed such disappointment over the matter. Pidomson, Ex-Rivers SSG's Sister Kidnapped On Tuesday, November 18, 2008, Miss Anthonia Pidomson, the younger sister of Gabriel Brother Pidomson, the former secretary to the Rivers State government under the deposed governor Celestine Omehia was kidnapped by gunmen in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. A member of the Pidomson's family told CEHRD's monitor that the victim was in a private vehicle with her male friend moving along Ojoto Street in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt when four heavily armed men intercepted the vehicle and took her away leaving the boy in the vehicle.And that the boy who was with the victim in the vehicle is detained by the police as investigation continues into the matter. The victim, Anthonia is a final year student of the department of Secretarial
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Administration of the University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt Rivers State. RSUST Professor Kidnapped, Released After Payment of N3million Ransom Dr. Ade Abolurin, the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NDCDC) has described kidnapping as a form of local terrorism. On Friday, November 12, 2008, Professor Kuta Efakaurhobo of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) was kidnapped by gunmen who trailed him from Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, to his residence at Otu-Jeremi Village community in the Ughelli South Local GovernmentArea of Delta State. Kuta, the professor of Chemistry who was in his Out-Jeremi community to attend his daughter's wedding where he was kidnapped. The commercial kidnappers traveled in a red Volkswagen passat car with registration number EDO 31 UBJ which they set ablaze at the Ukwagbe waterside in the Ughelli-South Local Government Area, and disappeared into the swampy deltaic creeks in a waiting speed boat. Shortly after the vanishing of the kidnappers with their hostage, Professor Kute they called his aged father and demanded N50 million naira as ransom. They started bargain amidst protests by his ethnic Urohobo kinsmen until after spending 16 days with his captors, he was released unhurt after his family coughed out N3million to his kidnappers. The professor refused to talk to any person after his release. But CEHRD was in touch with some victim's family members over the incident. Emengini, Union Bank Manager Kidnapped On Thursday, November 20, 2008 gunmen kidnapped, Mr. Boniface Emengini, a Union Bank operations manager of the Kingsway branch in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. Emengini was kidnapped at the gate of his Ebi close residence, Agip Estate, Rumueme, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He was taken away into captivity by the ransom seeking kidnappers. The kidnap of Mr. Boniface Emengini was happening at a time when
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unknown gunmen also abducted Mr. Solomon Akiesi and his wife at RD Road in the Rumuokwurushi area of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. The couple later escaped from their captors. However, Akeisi sustained gun injuries from his abductors while escaping. The Union bank was later released though they maintained that no ransom was paid. Even when ransom is paid those who pay it still deny paying any money. Joy Iyaye, Rivers Sport Commissioner's WifeAbducted On Friday, November 21, 2008 unknown gunmen kidnapped Mrs. Joy Iyaye, the wife of Mr. Boma Iyaye, the Rivers State Commissioner for Sport. Joy is a staff of one of the new generation banks in the Trans Amadi Industrial Layout Area of Port Harcourt was abducted at about 7:30am along the Dr. Peter Odili way, Abuloma area of Port Harcourt while going to her office. The police said the kidnappers used their car to block that of Mrs. Joy Iyaye and placed her at gunpoint; she was dragged from her car into that of her captors, and taken to an unknown destination. The kidnappers later made ransom demand as usual. The commissioner's wife was later released. CEHRD can not establish whether ransom was paid or not. The nursing commissioner's wife, Joy was released on Thursday, December 4, 2008. Baron Wami Shot Dead byAssassins in His Office On November 21 2008 gunmen armed with AK 47 riffles broke into the office of Mr. Baron Nwennenda Christopher Wami, a 49-year-old businessman at Rukpokwu town in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State and assassinated him about 12:30pm (day). CEHRD gathered that the late Baron Wami was a major distributor to the Nigerian Breweries and one-time marketing manager of the Gas producers Nigeria Limited. The victim, Baron hailed from the Oroworukwo community in the Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State, he was chairman of the Oroworukwo community Development Committee. The Immediate cause of the assassination of Baron Wami could not be ascertained, but a member of his Oroworukwo community who informed
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CEHRD about the killing said could be business related. The Rumiokoro police statin that has control over the area of incident (Rukpokwa) also told CEHRD investigator that it could be business related, and that they are investigating the matter. Scottish Oil Worker Kidnapped On November 27, 2008, a Scottish man working for an oil servicing firm in Nigeria was kidnapped by gunmen in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state. The Rivers State police command confirmed it to CEHRD. The oil worker was held by his abductors, a security officials told CEHRD that ransom was paid by his company. On Monday, December 15, 2008, he was released unhurt. I can confirm that he was released. I don't have any further information Lt. Col. Sagir. Musa said. In the delta region, there are a lot of armed groups, no group claimed responsibility for the kidnap of the man. Pa Jacob Odivwri Kidnapped, Found Dead 6 DaysAfter While Professor Kuta Efakaurhobo of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) was still in captive with his abductors after being kidnapped from his Out-Jeremi Compound in the Ughilli South Local GovernmentArea of Delta State. Pa Jacob Odivwri was kidnapped. 6 heavily armed men took him hostage. He was not as lucky as Professor Kuta who was released alive after paying N3million ransom. 6 days after he was found dead at the Urohobo community of Emomu Orogun in the Ughelli North Local Government Area. The deceased is the father of Mr. Eddy Odivwri, a member of the editorial board of The This Day Newspaper. He was kidnapped in December, 2008 and found dead same month.
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A Dead Environment and a Finished People
(4) A Dead Environment and a Finished People
All peoples shall have the right to a general satisfactory environment favourable to their development Article 24 (Right to safe Environment) Of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights Shell's Toxic Waste Threatens Rural People The rural people of Orogun community located in the Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State are crying out against the Shell Petroleum Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), the Anglo-Dutch Oil mogul over wastes they dumped in the community which is suspected to be toxic waste. CEHRD investigations reveal that since 2003, SPDC has been secretly dumping re-injection waste materials, suspected to be toxic at its well 33 Orogun/Kokori Flow Station. Saddened by the bad odour the substance releases to the community and its negative implications, the Orogun community wrote a letter dated May 26, 2008 to Shell after a meeting of the council of Chiefs and community people held on May 25, 2008. In an interview with CEHRD monitors in the community, a member of the Orogun council of Chief who pleaded that his name should not be mentioned said: The Shell's waste is bad for our community. When rain falls, it washes the waste into our streams. When sun shines, the whole place smells. And Shell never considered it necessary to come and remove this danger. CEHRD tried frantically to contact SPDC, but somebody responded to CEHRD's phone call and said that SPDC did not dump toxic chemical in the community you are talking about. What we have there are debris of mud which I don't think is harmful. Community People Decry Shell Refusal to Clean Spill
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Edagberi also called Joinkarama IV community, a swampy agrarian community located in the Ahoada-West Local Government Area of Rivers state really smells of crude oil which covered the community's luxuriant swamps, lands and rivulets and streams. The crude oil has been oozing out of rusty pipelines belonging to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). The Edagberi hosts both Shell and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC). Shell Struck oil in the community since 1965, while NAOC started oil exploitation in the community in 1983. Shell has 44 oil wells in the community at its Adibawa oilfield. In May 2007, a major oil spillage occurred which led to the devastation of the environment. In August, 2008 was another major spill from Shell's pipeline. There was another one in January 24, 2008 at Shell's corroded flow line atAtauishi-Nya swamp. Hear the angry voices of the Edagberi community folks who spoke to CEHRD in the community. The oil companies don't have respect for our people. They enter out farmlands, swamps and streams without telling us, especially, Shell. The way they operate in our community if it is in other places they will have problems. I have heard Shell officials saying that our community people are very peaceful and good, but they treat us with disrespect. If you go through our community, you found out that all Shell's pipelines are old and needed to be replaced, but they won't do, only to be allowing their spills to devastate our farmlands 34-year-old Mr. Orugbani Distinction, second secretary to the Edagbebiri community Said. Any time you enter the swamps, streams every where you can't be comfortable, the bad ordour of crude oil will be disturbing you. In our community, women go to fishing too. When you go, you can't catch any fish. Fishes are dead. Even our crops are not yielding anything again. 51-yearold Mrs.Agatha Mathew, mother of 5 children told CEHRD. Oil Spill Destroys Otefe Community On August 4, 2008, a violent rupture occurred at a point on the Nigeria Gas Company's right-of-way condensate pipeline, (16-INCH OBEN TRUNK PIPELINE) in the swamps of the Otefe community of Ogbara in the Ethiope West Local GovernmentArea of Delta State.
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Madam Martha, a 59-year-old farmer cried to CEHRD at Otefe. Part of where this oil flows into is my farmland. All the crops, farmlands here are destroyed. The place is also closer to our stream where people bath and drink. There are also fish ponds and rafia plantation. The spill point is also close to the major Jamieson River you hear of. As at August 8, 2008, the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) which owns the pipeline had not clamped the affected point, but CEHRD gathered that the community people have informed the company. CEHRD noticed that the oil spilled into the adjourning environment and the entire area smells. The period the spill occurred there was characterized with incessant rainfall which pushes the lost products to other places. Meanwhile, Benjamin Enemeri, attorney for the Otefe community has written to the gas company urging them to stop the off site migration of the hazardous products and clean the environment as well as paying compensation to the people. Local People Cry Over Intimidation By Chevron's Soldiers The rural people of Aja-Omaetan community in the Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State have accused Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) of using armed security men to intimidate and harass them. Community people told CEHRD that due to persistent gas flaring in the community and other bad environmental practices by CNL, they have been protesting against it and that the oil company has been sending soldiers to intimidate them. CEHRD is in possession of a letter written to the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan by the community people. The effect of Chevron Nigeria Limited gas flaring in Dibi Field has taken a dangerous dimension as farmlands are being burnt beyond redemption; land, air and surrounding water are overheated with its attendant associated unknown ailments now prevalent in the community. The letter was signed by the community Chairman, Mr. Anthony Jemide, Richard Mogbolube, general secretary and AustinAyonronfo, Public Relation Officer (PRO) respectively. The above community representatives said they have written several letters
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to the oil corporation and that any time they sent such letters, CNL manager responded by deploying more heavily armed soldiers to the community. Shell Dumps toxic Waste in Orogun The people of Imodje-Oro gun, a village community located in the UghelliNorth Local Government Area of Delta State is literally at war with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) over the dumping in the community's land of substance suspected to be toxic waste. The substance which was spotted by local people at Shell facility (Well 33) located in the community in early July 2008, is said to be releasing offensive odour into the atmosphere. A 60-year-old woman who gave her name as Mercy who CEHRD met in the community during a field trip spoke to CEHRD on their predicament in her native Urhobo language. Below is the translation in English, since these people (SPDC) came to this community many years ago, our community doesn't know peace again. Our community used to be very peaceful and quiet. But, today on daily basis, noise, pollution and bad odour from what they are doing won't allow you to have rest. Following the incident, a community appointed representative, Chief Emmanuel Ogbobene also told CEHRD, Because of the waste Shell dumps in our community, we are suffering. Whether it is at their well or not, it is our community. We are the people suffering from it now. We have written to Shell demanding 2 billion naira compensation from the company for the damage they caused to our ecosystem. The amount is really small compared with the damage they have caused. Apart from the money we are demanding, we also want them to do proper clean up of the waste from our environment. CEHRD gathered that Shell is angry because of publicity given the issue by the natives. Though, they refused to speak to our monitor on the issue, Shell has secretly sent its officials to the site in the nights to remove its equipment such as caravans, compressors, cables, etc. What is left there is the Christmas tree. CEHRD's further findings revealed that the well is not producing much and the company is reconsidering the option of relocating.
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Shell's Unprecedented Spill Destroys Bodo Creek As Shell contractor threaten CEHRD officials over report. In late September 2008, local fishermen and women from the Bodo community in the Gokana Local Government Area of Ogoni, Rivers State came to CEHRD office and reported the oil spill in the Bodo creek. Consequently, CEHRD deployed its officials to visit the affected site, and a report was issued in late October 2008 entitled, Persistent oil spillage at Bodo Creek: unprecedented impacts on Ecosystem stability, biodiversity and food security of Ogoni communities. The report is on CEHRD's website (www.cehrd.org). According to the report, The Bodo creek spillage started since August 28, 2008. The source of the oiling is an impaired spot along the 28 inches Bomu-Bonny pipeline within the Bodo creek. The pipeline is a Trans-Niger trunk line running from the hinterlands through Gokana, having interconnections with the Bodo West flow station in the Mangrove swampland of Bodo creek, and linked to Bonny terminal. CEHRD spoke to local fishermen and women. Below are the translated versions of the interview from the Gokana dialect. Since late August, we started noticing the oil destroying our river which killed all the fishes, all the periwinkles, all the crabs, if you enter the mangrove forests every where is smelling of crude oil; if you want to go to fishing; you have to paddle for about 4hours through several rivers before you can get to where you can catch fish and the spill is lesser, but some of the fishes we catch when you open the stomach, it smells of crude oil. I don't have farmland. It is fishing I do and my family and a lot of people of this village depend on fishing for survival. Mr. Samuel Nadu, 50-year-old fisherman and father of 8 children lamented. CEHRD report was circulated widely; Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) responded to the report and declared that the spill was caused by vandalism and sabotage to the pipeline. On Wednesday, October 22, 2008, Chief Donald Gberesu, the Managing Director of Dok Liason Agency, a contracting firm to SPDC stormed CEHRD office in Eleme at about 2:00pm with some hired thugs with intent to deal with Zabbey Nenibarini, CEHRD's head of
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Environment/Conservation program who authored the report. But, when his planned abduction failed as Zabbey was out in the field as at the time of the invasion, the desperate Shell contractor sent a hate-motivated and poorly scripted letter to the Area commander of the Bori Area command of Rivers State Police Command, telling the Area commander to please invite him (Zabbey) for investigation. Gberesu's letter was entitled, Sabotage and Aiding of Sabotageous (sic)Activities in Ogoni. Worried by frequent occurrences of abductions, murder and all forms of hate-motivated violence in the state, CEHRD considered it very dangerous to dismiss the threat to the life of Zabbey and the invasion of CEHRD's office with a wave of the hand. CEHRD contacted other civil rights groups in the state who contacted the police to report the matter officially to them. On November 5, 2008, a team from Shell led by its Community Liaison Officer (CLO), Mr. Michael Sunday with Shell's engineer, Charles from its pipeline unit and officials from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), National Oil Spill Response and Emergency Agency (NOSREA), with heavily armed mobile policemen, sneaked into the site without informing the Bodo community. Courageous members of the Bodo Youth Council (BYC) led by Kpoobari Patta and other of its officials showed up at the site, and rebuffed the threat to kill them by Shell's heavily armed mobile policemen and protested. Shell officials later pleaded with them, to allow them repair the facility which they admitted openly that it was failure of their Shell's facility. Mr. Emmanuel Kpee, a member of BYC told CEHRD that Shell's officials there had asked them to sign some documents with them (Shell) and said that they will give the youths N10million, but the youth officials refused. Other members of BYC who were present during Shell's visit at the spill site corroborated Mr. Emmanuel Kpee's allegation of a N10million bribe. CEHRD later learnt that Shell promised to bring relief materials and pay compensation to the affected community. Sadly, up to the time of going to press with this report, Shell has not provided anything to the community who lost their source of livelihood to Shell's oil toxicity. Recently, a team of journalists from the US Cable Network News (CNN)
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and the London-based British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) visited the devastated sites in Bodo based on the invitation of CEHRD. CEHRD was shocked to hear from the journalists from CNN and BBC that Shell denied knowledge of any spill in Bodo, and that since the Anglo-Dutch company pulled out of Ogoni in 1993 following protests by Ogoni locals on the platform of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), led by Ken Saro-Wiwa which Shell is implicated to have masterminded his hanging and others, they are never allowed entrance into Ogoni territory. CEHRD is concerned with Shell's malicious falsehoods. The interest of CEHRD lies in salvaging the environment and its people and not the politics of oil and gas which Shell plays in Ogoniland and other Nigerian communities. However when they came under pressures they admitted that the spill was cause by failure of their falility. 3 Die in Agip Oil Pollution in Ikebiri The people of the Ikebiri clan in the Southern Ijaw Local government Area of Bayelsa state had contacted the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) over a major oil spill which occurred from a pipeline which belongs to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) since September 20, 2007. A Young man who walked into CEHRD's office and didn't want his name mentioned in any publication, and presented a lot of documents and pictures to CEHRD officials present when he came, gave details of the oil spill. In late September 2008, we started noticing that all our rivers and homes are covered with crude oil from oil pipeline installed since 1972 by Agip Company. The crude oil pollute our environment and smells and as you know in our community like other Ijaw communities in the delta, we don't have drinking water, the same water we use in drinking is what we use to take our bath. Since the spill, our people started dying. I can tell you that 3 persons are dead now as a result of the spill. The man promised to take CEHRD to the Ikebiri community which he did. CEHRD observed that the spill occurred from a corroded oil well in a swampy forest and the spill spread to several hectares of land. The entire area stinks and releases bad air. The affected site is located close to human
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habitation and water from the swamp is used as source of drinking water by locals. you see Mr. Toru Ebi, chief Paebi Samuel and Mrs. Ruth Oweifa just died because of inhaling of harmful gaseous chemicals from the pipe. The farming and fishing activities including our swamps, rivulets, palm trees and entire ecosystem have been destroyed by the oil spill. HRH Francis Timi Ododo, the monarch of Ikebiri cried to CEHRD. CEHRD also called Mrs. Funmi Coker, the Public Affairs general manager of NAOC in Lagos about the spill; she refused to pick her call and did not return the call. Even NAOC Spokesperson, Mr. Hardine Orife declined comment on the Ikebiri tragedy. CEHRD later gathered that since the spill occurred, the Italian oil firm had not visited the site or contacted the locals. CEHRD encouraged the community to take legal action against the company. But, the community people that CEHRD advised said that you can't win any case againstAgip in the Nigerian courts due to corruption. Agip Dumps Toxic Waste in Delta Community The Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) has dumped several tones of substances suspected to be toxic waste in the Emu-Ono community in the Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State. The chemicals which NAOC heaped in the rural community have been releasing offensive ordour and have polluted the Emu-Ono village community's source of drinking water. In the wake of the toxic waste dump, the locals of the community had staged several protest marches against the company over such ecological damage. Speaking to CEHRD, a resident of the community who didn't want her name mentioned because of fear of reprisal from the firm, said, The company dumped the chemical in a place closer to where our houses are, and at a time rain falls regularly and it washed all the chemical into our water. Our demand is not about paying compensation to us, but about our health. They should come and remove it because we don't know what it contains. Officials of the Italian oil firm contacted over the mater refused to comment on the matter but rather said that they are meeting with the community head
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and leadership to resolve the matter. In Nigeria, because there is weak environmental law, corruption and enforcement problem, the international oil corporations cash in on that to treat the environment and people of the areas where they operate with utter contempt and impunity. 6 Shell Workers Die in Pipeline Explosion, Others Injured. On Thursday, November 13, 2008 at about 2:30pm at Iriama Village community in the Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, out of 18 contract staff of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and a supervisor, working on a ruptured Shell Pipeline there, 6 were killed when the pipeline exploded. When the tragic incident occurred, the management of Shell attempted to keep it secret from public knowledge, but when the deafening explosion which resulted into fire occurred, Iriama villagers who went to the scene to find out what was happening, called their relatives in cities like Warri, Port Harcourt and Lagos. It was one of their relatives in Warri who called CEHRD to inform her and CEHRD immediately informed the media. One journalist who earlier contacted Shell said they initially denied knowledge of the incident. Precious Okolobo, Shell's Spokesman later confirmed the incident, a fire broke out in the course of ongoing work by an SPDC contractor who was repairing a leak on the line. SPDC is saddened that 6 people working for the contractor died in the unfortunate incident. We are very sad at the incident and loss of lives and have launched a full scale investigation. SPDC firefighters have extinguished the fire. Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased who lost their loved ones. A local of Iriama village who gave his name as Joshua Onoma told CEHRD in pidgin English, this is the translated version, There has been several leaks on the pipelines, but shell won't tell us as the owners of the land their facilities is located. They will just enter there and do what they like polluting our land and river. I pity those who die, also the gods of Iriama was also exposing them. Do you know that after the incident, they wanted to hide the corpses and disappear if not that our villagers came and raised alarm and the
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news spread. That is the way Shell is Shell Spill Ravages Ikarama Community On Saturday, November 16, 2008 a major oil spill occurred at the Ikarama community in the Yenogoa Local Area of Bayelsa State from a ruptured on a pipeline operated by the Shell Petrolem Development Company (SPDC). Chief Simeon Okah, the deputy head of the Ikarama caretaker committee spoke to CEHRD, Since the spill occurred Shell has not come to clean the spill from our rivers and farmlands and as you can see we are peasant farmers and fishermem and women. This spill has done a lot of damage to our community. We have a lot of problem from the oil Spill. Apart from the bad ordour and discomfort our youths and women also tell us that we are not doing enough to bring Shell to live up to its responsibly, please you, (referring to CEHRD monitor) kindly go and tell Shell to come and clean the spill. A senior officials at the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, CEHRD contacted said they are aware of the Ikarama spill, he lamented that Shell is supposed to mobilized them to the there, to do assessment of the level of site damage to the environment, but that has not been done. At the time of this report, Shell has not commented on the incident.
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About CEHRD
The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) is a non-profit organization based in the Ogale-Nchia Community in the Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers Sate in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It was founded on August 15, 1999 as the Niger Delta Project for Environment Human Rights and Development (NDPEHRD) and re-incorporated under its new name Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) in 2005 following its board decision. CCEHRD'S work is to forge a common link with the rural Niger Delta communities primarily, through research, outreaches participatory trainings, campaigns and advocacy on the problems confronting them. Equipping them with the basic knowledge of their situation and encouraging them to non-violently address the issues themselves. ADVISORY BOARD Judith Robinson Special Project Director, Environmental Health Fund (EHF), USA. Scott Pegg Associate Professor, Indiana UniversityPurdue University, Indianapolis, USA. Scott H. Baker, Ms FacultyAssociate Professor, Champlain College, USA. BOAD OF DIRECTORS Ms. Jereoma Ikomi Member Ms. Constance Meju
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Member Patrick Naagbanton Member Ms. Ibiba Donpedro Member Mrs. Caroline Obediah Member Mr. Styvn Obodoekwe Member Mr. Zabbey Nenibarini Member Mrs. LindaAkinsaya Member SECRETARIAT Mr. Patrick Naagbanton (Coordinator) Styvn Obodoekwe (Human Rights) Mrs. Caroline Obediah (Rural Health & Population) Mr. Zabbey, Nenibarini (Conservation and Environment) Ms. Comfort Philip (Rural Health & Population) Michael Gbarabe (Project Officer, Human Security in Conflicts
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and Emergencies) Mr. Sebastian Kpalap (Special Project Officer) Mr.AnthonyAalo (Project Officer, Conflicts and Peace Building) Miss Rhoda Shelly Viyone (Admin Officer) Miss Nwawuru, Ugochi G. (Admin Officer) Mr.Alexander Wikina (Transport) Mr. Bariela Baraol (AdminAssistant)
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Some Other Reports by CEHRD (They are on the organization's website www.cehrd.org) AHarvest of Guns August, 2004
Impacts of Extractive Industries on the Biodiversity of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria - September, 2004 The Big Disarmament Gamble; The Comeback of the Small Arm and Light Weapons (SALW) - September, 2005 Report of the training of rural conservations to carry out Revegetation of mangrove forest in a crude oil pollute swamp in BaraNwezor village, Bodo, Ogoni, Rivers State - December, 2005 Bodo War ofAttrition a briefing paper on the Bodo, Ogoni crisis - July 31, 2006 Scooping Oil for Survival; NNPC Celebrates Ecosystem Hazards in the Niger Delta - August, 2006 Militant'sAction, Military Rage in Nigeria's Niger Delta; over 3, 000 Urban Poor Rendered Homeless - August, 2006 Small Scale Shrimp Fisheries in Nigeria February, 2007
The Challenges of Sustainable Shrimp Fisheries in Nigeria - May, 2007 Climate change & flooding; Fate of Riverine communities in the Niger Delta - 2007 Conflicts Resolution and Peace Building in the Niger Delta; The Role of government institution & Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) - 2007
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Trust Betrayed; a report of the Rivers state Local Government Council Elections - Monday,April 21, 2008 CEHRD'S Report on theApril 2007 Nigeria Elections Report on the Bodo Oil Spill Exporting Shrimp Farming to Nigeria 2008 2008
The proliferation of Small Arms, Armed Groups and violent conflicts in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria - 2008
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Human Rights
Mobilize and Organize around it. Defend it, Protect it and Advocate for it in a non-violent manner. Join CEHRD today, to fight for a just society with an enabling environment for the realization of the People's fundamental human rights.

Human Rights Report 2008

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Scorecard for 200

SCORECARD FOR 2008

Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD)

Scorecard for 200

Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD)

Scorecard for 2008

Written By: Patrick Naagbanton Steyvn Obodoekwe Sebastian Kpalap

Tel; +234 (0)82557893, 082557885, 082557083. E-mail: nigerdeltaproject@yahoo.com Website: www.cehrd.org

First Published in 2008 By

Cover Concept: Typesetting:

Mr.Augustine Nse Daniel Miss. Nwawuru, Ugochi G.

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

(1) Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Police Extra-Judicial Killing and Lawlessness

Military Task Force and State Violence

(2) Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence

Military Task Force and State Violence