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02/28/2006:

"Crisis in Niger Delta Poses Intractable Problem"

The Nigerian press is reporting that attacks by militant Ijaw tribe youth on Shell oil facilities is threatening the long-term prospects for stability and commerce in the Niger Delta, sharply curtailing oil production and pushing up crude oil prices on the world market.

In This Day of Lagos newspaper, Mike Oduniyi reports that Comrade Joseph Evah, national coordinator of the Ijaw Monitoring Group, said that strikes by the government military task force in the Delta would not be effective in resolving the crisis. Evah said that the government needed to act promptly to implement recommendations by Ijaw leaders to develop the region and provide jobs for its impoverished populace.

After the military bombed a village Feb. 15 to take out a militant post and center for hijacking crude oil, the Vanguard (Lagos) reported that Evah said over 100 persons were missing and that 25 including women and children were killed.

Evah accused the government of genocide and threatened to drag the government before the United Nations for crimes against humanity.
news.ncmonlline.com