The strategic Okan manifold which controls about 80 percent of Chevron Nigeria Limited off shore crude oil to its BOP Crude Loading Platform was blown up at about 2045 Hrs on Sunday, June 5, 2009 by Hurricane Moses in Delta state.
As long as the Nigerian government and military JTF has chosen to carry out kidnappings and arson against innocent communities and individuals, Moses will fight for them.
We are demanding that the abducted monarch who is still being held illegally by the JTF be released immediately or charged to a competent court of law.
Government should display the highest form of integrity and sincerity over the detention of Henry Okah at this period of his fading health.
MEND has the highest regards for its elders, including Papa Clark, but the struggle is now a regional one where every tribe in the region is a stake holder. We appeal to Papa Clark not to take anything personal because this is not about him.
Our fighting force has been boosted by volunteers made up of men and women from all tribes and beyond.
It is very encouraging to see the people break away from the status quo and we call on every Niger Deltan to make a sacrifice as we head towards the promised land.
For disregarding our warning to oil, gas and chemical tankers to keep away from the Niger Delta waters, six crew members from the chemical tanker, Siehem Peace were seized about 20 nautical miles from Escravos on Sunday, July 5, 2009 by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and will be held until further notice.
Their arrest is meant to serve as a warning to others that there are root issues that have to be resolved with the Nigerian government before normalcy can resume such as the return of displaced civilians to their ancestral home, compensation for damages, return of the ill trained JTF to their barracks and last but not the least, constitutional amendment to address fiscal federalism.
The names and nationalities of the crew are as follows:
- Captain Yuriy Shastim, Russia
- Chief Engineer Vasvi Bondarkov, Russia
- 2nd Engineer Viktor Koshevoy, Russia
- Cadet Banjit Singh Dhindsa, India
- Arivando Galima, Philippines
- Tavares Rouirgo, Philippines
The next tanker that is unfortunate to be intercepted will not be this lucky as it will be set on fire after evacuating the crew.
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