…Threatens oil production
SAN FRANCISCO, January 27, (THEWILL) – The outlawed Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said its fighters were responsible for the weekend’s attack on the patrol boat of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Nembe – Bassanbiri waterways in Southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa State during which a woman was killed and a soldier injured.
MEND’s traditional spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, who confirmed the attack in a statement, said the attack was just the beginning of another round of attacks targeted at reducing the country’s oil production to zero by 2015.
“MEND confirms that the attack on a Joint Task Force (JTF) patrol boat on Saturday January 25, 2014, in the Nembe-Bassanbiri waterways, Bayelsa State was carried out by our fighters.
“This relatively insignificant attack is a reminder of our presence in the creeks of the Niger Delta and a sign of things to come. Contrary to speculations, they were not “sea pirates”, but a new group of MEND ‘Trainee fighters’.
“Our silence thus far, has been strategic and at the right time, we will reduce Nigerian oil production to zero by 2015 and drive off our land, all thieving oil companies.
“In this new phase of our struggle for justice, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) will pay considerable attention to dealing with the occupying Nigerian government forces in the Niger Delta that stand in our way,” MEND said.
