January 3, 2007
The lead militants in Nigeria's Niger Delta region, MEND has accussed Italian oil corp. Agip of attempts to free hostages with the use of bribes, according to a statement released by MEND, the militants described AGIP attempts as "outrgaeous" and therefore vowed that further privileges would henceforth be cut from the hostages. The statement reads: "Yesterday January 2, 2007 we discovered an outrageous attempt by agip to arrange the escape of the prisoners in our custody.
Agip commissioned a fraud well known in the delta to effect this plan. It involved paying 70m naira to those supposed to be guarding the hostages for the hostages to be guided to a point where a boat was to be stationed to take them out of the creeks.
A middleman brought 70m naira to one of our camps where the attempt was immediately reported. Needless to say, the money has been confisticated and will be put to better use.
We have previously warned agip against acts that may endanger the lives of the hostages. They are been watched by guards under instruction to shoot the hostages if any attempt is made to release them without proper authorization.
Agip has so far lost more than 200 million naira to various con artists. They are advised to put these monies into projects in communities in the delta as this will have a more positive effect on those fighting against oil companies in the niger delta.
Further investigations indicate that agip paid the conman 130m naira for this ludicrous escape plan.
As previously stated, the hostages will only be exchanged and will no longer be allowed to make calls to anyone as this priviledge has been abused."
Agip commissioned a fraud well known in the delta to effect this plan. It involved paying 70m naira to those supposed to be guarding the hostages for the hostages to be guided to a point where a boat was to be stationed to take them out of the creeks.
A middleman brought 70m naira to one of our camps where the attempt was immediately reported. Needless to say, the money has been confisticated and will be put to better use.
We have previously warned agip against acts that may endanger the lives of the hostages. They are been watched by guards under instruction to shoot the hostages if any attempt is made to release them without proper authorization.
Agip has so far lost more than 200 million naira to various con artists. They are advised to put these monies into projects in communities in the delta as this will have a more positive effect on those fighting against oil companies in the niger delta.
Further investigations indicate that agip paid the conman 130m naira for this ludicrous escape plan.
As previously stated, the hostages will only be exchanged and will no longer be allowed to make calls to anyone as this priviledge has been abused."
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