MEND attacks Agip tugboat, abduct engineer, captain
Gunmen operating along the waterways of
the Niger Delta have attacked a tugboat belonging to an oil company
operating in the region, Agip Nigerian Oil Company.
The hoodlums, seven in number, were said
to have abducted an engineer and a captain of the vessel during the
attack that took place on Saturday evening.
However, the Movement for the
Emancipation of the Niger Delta claimed responsibility for the attack on
the tugboat in which the vessel’s engineer and captain were abducted.
A security source, who craved anonymity, said, “They (gunmen) took them to an unknown place. Nobody knows their whereabouts.”
The source said the incident occurred at an area known as Peter’s town in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“The tugboat was coming from Port
Harcourt in Rivers State to Brass, probably to load petroleum products
at the terminal. But suddenly, gunmen who were about seven in number,
blocked and seized it,” he said.
He added that the boat had about six crew members at the time it was attacked by the hoodlums.
While four others were dispossessed of their valuables, the captain and the engineer were reportedly abducted for ransom.
It was further learnt that another gang of gunmen assaulted a passenger boat on Sunday afternoon, precisely by 12pm.
Victims of the attack were said to be
passengers returning to Akassa after a church service in Twon Brass,
Brass LGA of the state.
The sea robbers were said to have removed the engine of the boat and stolen valuables from their victims.
A community source told PUNCH Metro that the waterways of the Niger Delta, particularly the Bayelsa area, had remained volatile.
“It is no longer safe for people to
travel. The security operatives, especially the Navy and the Joint Task
Force, Operation Pulo Shield, seem to be clueless. They don’t know what
to do,” the source said.
When contacted, spokesman for the JTF, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said he had yet to be briefed on the incidents.
However, MEND, in a statement on Monday
by its spokesman, Gbomo Jomo, claimed that the attack on Agip was
carried out by some of its trainee fighters along the Nembe-Bassanbiri
waterways.
MEND said, “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 so far has been strategic
and at the right time, we will reduce Nigerian oil production to zero by
2015 and drive away all thieving oil companies from our land.”
“In this new phase of our struggle for
justice, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta will pay
considerable attention to dealing with the occupying Nigerian government
forces in the Niger Delta that stand in our way.”