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Armed Militants Storm US Oil Platforms In Nigeria

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posted on Sep, 23 2005 @ 12:52 AM
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More than 100 armed militants in boats seized a United States-operated oil platform in Nigeria. The militants are now apparently heading for more oil installations. This happened in response to the arrest of their leader. The militant's deputy leader says: "We will blow up everything. We will set fire to them"...




Scotsman: Armed militants seize oil platform after leader is held

23 Sep 2005


MORE than 100 armed militants stormed a United States-operated oil production platform in Nigeria and forced it to shut down yesterday in response to the arrest of an ethnic militia leader on treason charges.

Armed with assault rifles, the gang invaded the Idama platform operated by Chevron in the southern Niger Delta, escalating a simmering political crisis in the world's eighth-largest oil exporter.

"Eight boats, each carrying 15 armed people, occupied the Idama flow station. Six government security forces had their weapons taken from them," a source close to Chevron said. "Apparently the militants are now heading for more stations. The situation can only get worse."

Oil prices are near record highs because of hurricane damage in the United States, and any disruption to exports from Nigeria would make the situation more precarious

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.


BBC: Nigeria militia storm oil station

The deputy leader of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force, Alali Horsefall, said militiamen were moving towards seven other oil installations in the area.

"We will blow up everything. We will set fire to them," he said.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

This looks like a serious situation and if it gets worse it will without doubt have impact on the oil prices. Nigeria is the world's eighth-largest oil exporter. Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force claim they have at least 3,000 soldiers mobilized for this rampage campaign.

Related News Links:
IOL: Nigerian militiamen take over Chevron station
AllAfrica: Shell Shuts N/Delta Offices
AllAfrica: Militants Shut Oil Facilities As Leader Appears in Court
CNN: Nigerian militia storm U.S.-run oil platform
The Daily Mail: Shell plans to evacuate Nigeria workers
RigZone: Nigerian Militants Take Over Chevron Facility in Delta Region
Xinhua: Nigerian militants take over Chevron oil facility in Delta Region



Listen to Nigeria's national anthem (BBC)

Country profile: Nigeria (BBC)

[edit on 2006/4/28 by Hellmutt]



posted on Sep, 23 2005 @ 12:58 AM
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Before the first Navy SEAL, steps his frog leg on that rig. With who knows how many right behind, the recovery of those rigs will be swift. Many teams have trained on oil rigs in the past, to counter terror in the eighties.

No doubt US operated or owned oil will be back in "it's rightful hands"...


Sad it is when the day as such, repeats.



posted on Sep, 23 2005 @ 01:00 AM
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Just when you think the news on oil can't get any worse, it does!


Thank God I live in NYC and don't need a car.



posted on Sep, 23 2005 @ 07:35 AM
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The militia threatens to blow up all oil fields unless their leader is set free within 48 hours. In a statement given to The Associated Press today the militia said: "We will unleash upon the government and its cohorts, violence and mayhem never before reported in the history of the Nigerian state"...


ABC News: Chevron Shuts Down Two Oil Flow Stations

Chevron has shut down two oil flow stations and Shell has evacuated workers amid threats from a separatist group in Nigeria's oil-rich delta, the companies said Friday.

"I can confirm that we shut down Robertkiri late yesterday, following information it was under imminent threat," said Chevron Corp. spokeswoman Edith Azinge in Lagos.

The militia said Wednesday it had overrun four Shell platforms, which Shell would neither confirm nor deny.

"We will unleash upon the government and its cohorts, violence and mayhem never before reported in the history of the Nigerian state," said a statement from the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force received by The Associated Press on Friday.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.


ITAR-TASS: Nigerian militants threaten to blow up all oil fields

The ethnic armed group, entitled People’s Volunteer Force, which is operating in Nigeria, threatens to put out of action all the oil-extracting enterprises and oil pipelines in the southern part of the country, if their leader Moujahid Dkubo-Asari is not set free.

Dakuro Pincewill, one of the leaders of the armed group, said in Port Harcourt that they were going to blow up all the oil rigs and pipelines from Warri to Kalabar, if Asari was not set free within 48 hours.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.



posted on Sep, 23 2005 @ 08:20 AM
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Originally posted by ADVISOR
Before the first Navy SEAL, steps his frog leg on that rig. With who knows how many right behind, the recovery of those rigs will be swift. Many teams have trained on oil rigs in the past, to counter terror in the eighties.

No doubt US operated or owned oil will be back in "it's rightful hands"...


Sad it is when the day as such, repeats.


I totally agree with this. I am certain that the Navy SEALs will be sent to restore order and to return US property to the rightful owner. The SEALs practice their "skills" on oil platforms on a regular basis in the Gulf (weather permitting) and in the North Sea so they certainly know their way around these structures. In my opinion, their actions should be swift and decisive if for no other reason but to let these mindless brigands know that they are no match for a "few good men" who just happen to wear the "budweiser" trident on their chests.



posted on Sep, 23 2005 @ 08:28 AM
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It's in Nigerian territorial waters. The U. S. has no right or privilege to intercede here, without the express permission of the nigerian government.



posted on Sep, 23 2005 @ 09:22 AM
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Originally posted by BostonBill99
It's in Nigerian territorial waters. The U. S. has no right or privilege to intercede here, without the express permission of the nigerian government.


You have got to be kidding. They storm our oil rigs and we cant do anything about it? That is crazy. Surely we can do something about it. There is no way we are letting who ever it is, go, and I seriously doubt that we will just let them blow the riggs. I have to say, though, it will be interesting to see how they handle it.



posted on Sep, 23 2005 @ 09:41 AM
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Originally posted by BostonBill99
It's in Nigerian territorial waters. The U. S. has no right or privilege to intercede here, without the express permission of the nigerian government.

Since when has the US asked for permission?



posted on Sep, 23 2005 @ 09:52 AM
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We're going to see a lot more of this in the future.

The US is getting more and more dependant on West-african oil. Very few people in those very poor countries actually benefit from the Oil Industry, just look at Saudi Arabia for instance. Or the Iraqi's who are waiting for hours for a couple of gallons of gas.



posted on Sep, 24 2005 @ 10:44 AM
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I guess time is starting to run out. Their leader is not going to be set free from what I`ve heard and they have threatened to "blow up everything"...


WashingtonPost: Rebel Threat Disrupts Flow Of Nigeria Oil

September 24, 2005


The disruptions in oil production caused by radical separatists escalated Friday as Chevron Corp. announced it had shut down a second oil flow station in the Niger Delta region and Royal Dutch Shell PLC evacuated personnel from two other facilities.

The developments came as the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force issued a statement threatening to destroy the nation's oil industry -- the fifth-largest exporter to the United States -- unless Nigerian authorities freed the group's leader, Moujahid Dokubo-Asari.

The group's leaders have claimed that members, armed with only machetes and sticks of dynamite, have taken control of 10 flow stations.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.



posted on Sep, 24 2005 @ 10:47 AM
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I wonder if NOW the American Foreign Policy will start too look at Africa more Often.

Well maybe just Nigeria - but will Leave Sudan and other Countries with Crisis/Civil War problems alone.



posted on Sep, 24 2005 @ 03:32 PM
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Originally posted by ADVISOR
Before the first Navy SEAL, steps his frog leg on that rig. With who knows how many right behind, the recovery of those rigs will be swift. Many teams have trained on oil rigs in the past, to counter terror in the eighties.

No doubt US operated or owned oil will be back in "it's rightful hands"...


Sad it is when the day as such, repeats.


SEAL teams won't help much if they're implementing a scorched Earth campain. It looks to me like these guys aren't interested in holding the oil resources... they just wanna blow 'em up. SEALs are effective, but what can they do for a smoldering pile of twisted metal?

This is definatly a major issue. It points towards an upswing in the tactical planning of anti-US militants. Oil is the American Achillies Heal. It looks like it's been pin pointed and attacks like this are likely to rise.

On a tangent, but related note, I have major conserns about the power lines runing from BC to the US west coast. There's only 5 major towers and knocking out any 3 of them would cause massive power disruptions across the US.
They are not guarded very well.



posted on Sep, 24 2005 @ 10:07 PM
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Originally posted by BitRaiser
On a tangent, but related note, I have major conserns about the power lines runing from BC to the US west coast. There's only 5 major towers and knocking out any 3 of them would cause massive power disruptions across the US.
They are not guarded very well.


We have major towers running from BC to the US??


How massive of a power disruption?



posted on Sep, 24 2005 @ 11:53 PM
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Originally posted by mrsdudara
We have major towers running from BC to the US??


Yup. BC exports major amounts of Hydro Electricity.



How massive of a power disruption?

Umm... that remains to be seen.
Best case; Washington state to California goes dark.

Worst case; Overloads and old lines fry cause the whole damned country to go dark.

Does that count as massive?

I know this might seem a little extream, but remember (ah, was it last year?) when a single overload caused a big chunk of Eastern US and Canada to blackout?

That was a minor glitch.



posted on Sep, 26 2005 @ 04:22 AM
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Apparently the oil stations has reopened under army protection. The militia leader had given instructions to his group that they shouldn`t do anything. It was "not in the interest of the movement".


BBC: Army reopens Nigeria oil stations

The Chevron oil company has reopened two oil stations in Nigeria's Niger Delta region under army protection. They were closed last week after attempts by a local militia group to sabotage oil facilities.

On Sunday, Mr Asari's lawyer, Uche Okwukwu, said the militia leader had called for calm. "Asari gave me the instruction to tell them that nobody should harm any foreigner or do anything criminal," Mr Okwukwu told Reuters news agency. "They shouldn't do anything that could put his case in jeopardy. It's not in the interest of the movement," Mr Okwukwu added.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.



posted on Sep, 26 2005 @ 04:27 AM
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So they were all mouth and no trousers. Those militants should come and join our government, they'd fit in well.



posted on Sep, 30 2005 @ 03:49 PM
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Two british oil workers were kidnapped but were freed by Nigerian troops less than 24 hours later. Kidnapped UK Oil Workers Freed In Nigeria


120 inmates break out of prison in a massive jail-break with "dangerous weapons"...


AllAfrica.com: Jail-Break in Auchi, 120 Inmates Escape

September 29, 2005


A hundred and twenty inmates of the Auchi Prisons in Edo State, yesterday, descended on prison officials, attacked them with dangerous weapons and then threw open the prison gate for a massive jail-break. The attack had begun as a protest by the inmates against alleged poor feeding and poor conditions.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.



But now for some "good news". The volume of crude oil theft in Nigeria has declined to "just" 30,000 barrels per day from 100,000 bpd recorded last year...


AllAfrica.com: Kupolokun: Crude Oil Theft Declines By 70%

September 28, 2005


Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Funsho Kupolokun, yesterday said the volume of crude oil theft in the country has declined to 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 100,000 bpd recorded last year.

Kupolokun said the 70 per cent reduction in the volume of oil theft through illegal bunkering was the result of the concerted efforts by the Federal Government and its Joint Venture Partners to radically improve the socio-economic environment of the Niger Delta region.

Oil theft has reduced from some 100,000 bpd since a year ago to 30,000 bpd. That is significant improvement. So, we are happy with the result we are getting and the communities are responding to the efforts of government and NNPC and its joint venture partners," he said.

He added that the volume of oil spill recorded as a result of vandalisation of pipeline slumped to about 3,000 bpd this year from around 9,000 bpd last year.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.


Rock`n`Roll ...

[edit on 2005/9/30 by Hellmutt]



posted on Jan, 16 2006 @ 01:17 AM
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Heavily armed men attack oil facilities in Nigeria! Oil shutdown with 220,000 barrels a day so far. Kidnappings, explosions, war and rock´n roll.


BBC: Speedboat attack on Nigeria rig

Sunday, 15 January 2006




Heavily armed men use speedboats to attack a Shell-operated oil platform in the Niger Delta.

There are unconfirmed reports that some soldiers defending the platform and gunmen died in the attack. On Wednesday gunmen kidnapped four foreign workers from another Shell oil rig in the Niger delta region. The hostages, who are still being held, come from the UK, the US, Honduras and Bulgaria, a Shell spokeswoman said.

The kidnappings and explosion, the latest in a string of violent incidents in the troubled region, have slashed Shell 's production there by some 220,000 barrels a day - almost 10% of Nigeria's average output of 2.6m barrels.

In a statement about the latest attack, Shell said "heavily armed persons" in attacked the platform early on Sunday. "The attackers invaded the flow station in speedboats, burnt down two staff accommodation blocks, damaged the processing facilities and left," it added. The injured members of staff have been taken to hospital, the company reported.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.


Nigeria: Explosion, Abductions Force Cut in Oil Production (allAfrica.com)

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks

January 13, 2006



Unidentified gunmen on Wednesday invaded an offshore oil platform operated by multinational Royal Dutch Shell and abducted the oil workers - an American, a Briton, a Bulgarian and a Honduran - military officials in the region said.

Shell - which operates the EA oil platform in shallow waters off the Niger Delta coast where the oil workers were seized - said it had stopped the pumping of 120,000 barrels of crude oil produced there daily due to insecurity

Hours after the kidnappings, an explosion ruptured a pipeline transporting crude oil to Shell's Forcados export terminal, leading the company to cut another 106,000 barrels for a total daily loss of 226,000.


7 Feared Dead in Fresh Pipeline Fire (allAfrica.com)

Vanguard (Lagos)

January 13, 2006



SEVEN persons were feared dead in an early morning explosion that rocked the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) petroleum products pipeline along the Iyeke Community of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, yesterday.

Another explosion yesterday rocked a Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) crude oil pipeline in Bayelsa State, shutting-in 106,000 barrels per day of crude oil production from four flow-stations belonging to the company

The Shell pipeline explosion is the third of such attacks against the Anglo-Dutch oil giant within the space of three weeks in the Niger Delta and it also marks an increase in the onslaught against the company's personnel and facilities in the area.


Militants Attack: Shell Shuts Down 226,000 Crude Production Facility (allAfrica.com)

This Day (Lagos)

January 13, 2006



The two incident forced Shell to shut-in a total production of about 226,000 barrels per day (bpd).

In the first attack on a support vessel working in the EA shallow offshore field operated by the Shell Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), the gunmen abducted four foreign workers, made up of US, UK, Bulgarian and Honduran nationals. According to a statement issued by SNEPCo on the incident, the four kidnapped foreigners were employees of a Shell contractors, Tidex and Ecodrill and that it had shut in production of 120,000 bpd from the EA offshore field.

the second incident, militants also attacked and set fire on Shell's Trans Ramos crude oil pipeline. The company immediately shut down four flowstations feeding the pipeline, leading to a total loss of 106,000 bpd of production. The shut flowstations were Opokushi, Benisade located in Bayelsa State, Tunu and Opotobo in Delta State.

Also two combat helicopters belonging to the Navy and five fast attack war boats have been deployed with the men of the Nigerian Armed Forces yesterday morning for the rescue operations.



posted on Jan, 16 2006 @ 10:23 AM
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There has been new fresh attacks and Shell evacuates four oil platforms. The militants want a greater share of the oil revenue from the oil wealth produced on their land, and they want a couple of their leaders released as well. A statement said: "All westerners, especially Britons and Americans, are legitimate targets" and "We are capable and determined to destroy the ability of Nigeria to export oil"...


Shell Evacuates Oil Platforms After Fresh Attacks (allAfrica.com)

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks

January 16, 2006



Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has pulled workers from four oil platforms in Nigeria's volatile Niger Delta after armed militants launched the third attack in a week on its facilities.

Tensions have been particularly high in the delta since the Nigerian government arrested Dokubo-Asari in September and charged him with treason. He is currently in custody awaiting trial. Dokubo-Asari was charged after saying in a newspaper interview he would fight for the disintegration of Nigeria.

His Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force has taken up arms in the name of the region's majority Ijaw ethnic group, alleging that successive governments have cheated impoverished communities of the oil wealth produced on their land.


Guardian Newspapers: Militants attack another Shell platform, torch house boats

January 16, 2006



Recent attacks and kidnappings appear to be co-ordinated by the militant group with up to 500 members, which has demanded a greater share of oil revenue for the Delta region and the release of two ethnic Ijaw leaders, a diplomat said.

In an e-mail statement on Thursday last week, the MEND, said all westerners, especially Britons and Americans, were legitimate targets. It said it was not interested in a ransom and threatened more attacks on Nigeria's oil industry.

"We are capable and determined to destroy the ability of Nigeria to export oil," the statement said.



posted on Jan, 16 2006 @ 10:49 AM
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Originally posted by Zion Mainframe
We're going to see a lot more of this in the future.


The normal people generally don't benefit from all the oil money, it's quite logical they are attacking oil personnel and pipelines.



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