- Title: NIGERIA: Explosions rock Niger Delta peace talks
- Date: 16th March 2010
- Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (MARCH 15, 2010) (REUTERS) STREET SCENE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAGOS RESIDENT, JOHN EMETI, SAYING: "Verbally they cannot solve this problem until the evidence begins to arrive, then people around the country will see that - yes, the government is fulfilling it's promises. That is where peace can reign in this region, without that I don't think verbal talk will bring peace." LAWYERS COMING OUT OF COURT (SOUNDBITE) (English) FLORENCE IKWAGWU, LAGOS-BASED LAWYER, SAYING: "I'm quite disturbed with these developments, particularly the view of the fact that I read this morning in the newspaper that the acting president has only just approved the release of a substantial sum of money towards the retraining and rehabilitation of the surrendered and repentant militants. I really believe the MEND should give the government an opportunity to carry out it's plans, its all for the benefit of Nigerians. Personally I am from the Niger Delta region, I know that the area has suffered a lot of degradation in the past but I think that those responsible for this should corporate with the government to see that there's an end to all the degradation and destruction going on at the moment. I must express my horror at this development." STREET SCENE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIGUEL ENWEREM, LAGOS-BASED BUSINESSMAN, SAYING: "We have seen similar scourges before and there was a setback but then you know, you got back on the road and I think that this time we still need to get back on the road (UNCLEAR)." BUSY STREET
- Embargoed: 31st March 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAEIRJUAXHY9203JK310R74YEPW
- Story Text: Nigerian militants detonated two car bombs outside a government building in the southern oil city of Warri on Monday (March 15) where talks were being held about implementing an amnesty programme.
The attacks, claimed by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) militant group, are a major setback for Acting President Goodluck Jonathan as his government also tries to calm ethnic tensions in the centre of the country.
Jonathan has made reviving an amnesty programme and restoring peace in the Niger Delta, the heartland of Africa's biggest oil and gas industry, a top priority since he took over as acting leader in the absence of the nation's sick president.
MEND said the explosions were meant to "announce our continued presence" and warned of renewed attacks against the oil industry in the coming days, threatening firms such as French energy giant Total which have so far largely avoided significant strikes on their infrastructure.
"Some of us are here, some of us are not here, but you see a security of this kind, they should collaborate with our boys," said Edmond Ediwara, a former militant who accepted the amnesty.
The first vehicle exploded on an expressway several hundred metres from Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan's compound, the second at the gates of the building. Witnesses said around six passers-by were wounded. There were no reports of deaths.
Several hundred police officers and soldiers in armoured vehicles cordoned off Government House as cars burned on the expressway outside. Security was also tightened around the nearby offices of U.S. energy giant Chevron.
The officials from states around the Niger Delta were meeting in Warri to discuss implementing the terms of an amnesty programme launched last year by President Umaru Yar'Adua, under which thousands of gunmen agreed to lay down their weapons.
Many of them rushed outside, seeking for cover, as the building was hit.
"Quite frankly what has happened now is a major tragedy that at a time that we are seeking for solutions we are having more problems with the situation right here in the Niger Delta," said Mike Igini who attended the conference.
The programme was the most concerted effort yet to end years of unrest which have prevented the OPEC member from producing much above two-thirds of its three million barrels per day (bpd) oil capacity, costing it around $1 billion a month in lost revenue.
But the amnesty started to stall after Yar'Adua left for three months of medical treatment in Saudi Arabia last November. He returned to Nigeria last month but remains too sick to govern and the programme has made little concrete progress.
Local activists said there had been complaints that the amnesty committee, led by Defence Minister Godwin Abbe, was not sufficiently involving local communities and ex-militants and that Monday's meeting had only served government officials.
"If we don't confront the truth, the truth is going to confront us. What has happened here right now, a few minutes ago, is purely an indication that the amnesty never succeeded, if it had succeeded you wouldn't have people who are dissatisfied. These are people that are dissatisfied," said Annikio Briggs, a Niger Delta activist, who attended the summit.
The governors of Edo and Abia states, along with representatives from Cross Rivers state and other officials had been meeting with Uduaghan when the attacks took place to discuss amnesty pledges including development for the region and stipends and re-training for ex-militants.
Government delegations from two of the main oil-producing states -- Bayelsa and Rivers -- were approaching the venue at the time of the attack but turned back, witnesses said.
Elsewhere, in the sprawling commercial city of Lagos, the news of the bombing was received by many of the local residents with utter disbelief .
"Verbally they cannot solve this problem until the evidence begins to arrive, then people around the country will see that - yes, the government is fulfilling it's promises. That is where peace can reign in this region, without that I don't think verbal talk will bring peace," said John Emeti.
Florence Ikwagwu, a Lagos-based lawyer, denounced the attacks and urged the militants to work together with the government to restore calm in the Niger Delta.
"I'm quite disturbed with these developments, particularly the view of the fact that I read this morning in the newspaper that the acting president has only just approved the release of a substantial sum of money towards the retraining and rehabilitation of the surrendered and repentant militants. I really believe the MEND should give the government an opportunity to carry out it's plans, its all for the benefit of Nigerians. Personally I am from the Niger Delta region, I know that the area has suffered a lot of degradation in the past but I think that those responsible for this should corporate with the government to see that there's an end to all the degradation and destruction going on at the moment," she said.
"We have seen similar scourges before and there was a setback but then you know, you got back on the road and I think that this time we still need to get back on the road," added businessman Miguel Enwerem.
MEND said in a statement it planted three explosive devices which would be detonated remotely in response to comments from Uduaghan the Delta State Governor in the local media that MEND was "a media creation". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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