Nigeria Braces for Civil War

By: Adrian Borja

Nigeria had been plagued by wars for many years now. However, recently, an intense gun battle have been raging for three days between Nigerian Oil Militants and Government Forces.

Militant's spokesperson accused the army of bombing a civilian village killing innocent people, women, children and the elderly.

"The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) is declaring an all out war in the region and call upon all men of fighting age to enlist for our freedom," spokesman Jomo Gbomo said in an e-mail to journalists.

"Casualties are mostly women, children and the elderly who could not get away quickly into the bush or high sea."

However, Lt Col Rabe Abubakar denied it saying what they torched was a militants' camp and what they killed were fighters.

Mend had been saying that they are against foreign traders who just come to their country and steal their 'Black Diamond'.

On a recent crisis, the militants launched an offensive against oil services boat and kidnapped Matthew Maguire last September last year along with Robin Hughes, who was freed last April.

Mend advised oil companies to go away and kidnapped 15 crews from two ships operating in the Niger Delta, to show their conviction. Nigeria is a medium sized country located at the west of Africa, near Gulf of Guinea.

Claims by the militants state that they are fighting for the good of their fellow country men but their actions clearly show otherwise by their oil theft, kidnapping and extortion.

The Joint Task Force will be doing their best to secure the nation.

Oil in the Africas had always been the fuels of war, it would have been better if it will not be taken by foreigners but rather, the foreigners should help Nigerians make use of their natural resources so that Nigeria will become a developing country.

Capitalism does not support this view, they intend to monopolize whatever resources they see accessible especially if they are left unchallenged. Can you blame the militants' cause?

Update(May 16, 2009): There has been a reported casualty among the 15 hostages who was killed by a recent military attack according to Mend

What is your view in this.


More complete information at BBC News