Renewed Insurgence In The Niger Delta

Leadership

17 February 2012

Renewed Insurgence In The Niger Delta

Editorial

Last week, the media was awash with reports of the resurgence of hostilities in the Niger Delta region. Under the aegis of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), oil facilities belonging to Agip in Brass, Bayelsa State, were bombed on February 4.

They also threatened to bomb South Africa’s business interests in the country. The Joint Task Force in Bayelsa State, which believed that the suspects were “out to swindle Niger Deltans by appropriating the identity of the erstwhile leadership of MEND”, declared seven persons wanted in connection with the incident.

Also, the Amnesty Office in the Presidency exculpated the MEND militants from the incident. But is it the business of government agencies to so conclude when they are yet to investigate the circumstances of such terrorist activity? We consider this alibi too hasty.