Militants Bomb Shell, Agip in Port Harcourt
• SPDC moves to secure facilities
From Chika Amanze-Nwachuku in Lagos and Ahamefula Ogbu in Port Harcourt, 12.19.2006
True to their threats of a massive onslaught on multi-national oil companies in the Niger Delta, suspected militants yesterday beat the water tight security by Shell Petroleum Development Company and bombed the residential area.
Almost at the same time, another bomb exploded at a location between the Rivers State University of Science and Technology and Agip which pulled down the fence of Agip oil in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Already, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has in an online message, claimed responsibility for the bomb blasts saying it was in line with its earlier threats.
The Royal Dutch company has however assured that its operations are on-going, while appropriate security measures have been put in place to safeguard its facilities in the area. The company also said no life was lost and nobody sustained injuries in yesterday's explosion that rocked its Port Harcourt Club.
What appears to be the motive for the bombings was contained in one of the paragraphs in MEND’s statement where the group said it was watching the political developments in an apparent reference to the refusal of the Peoples Democratic Party to give their Presidential ticket to the Niger Delta region and the continued agitation for resource control.
Others include the continued detention of their leaders, Alhaji Mujahadeen Asari Dokubo and former governor of Bayelsa State Chief Diepreye Alamieseigha, for whose release they are hinging further release of seized hostages.
The group said it used cell phones to trigger off the blast in the bombs said to be made from a combination of military and commercial materials, apparently meaning dynamites.
The bombing of Shell was more devastating as the device which was apparently hidden in a car parked at the car lot in the Shell club near the main gate upturned and mangled while four others were badly affected by the impact of the explosion.
A source told THISDAY that in the club around 1 pm when they heard a very loud bang that reverberated through all the well fenced area before smoke billowed into the air causing a lot of panic and stampede.
So far, there has not been any report of loss of life as security men cordoned off the area and restricted the movement of people close to the scene of explosion where the charred remains of the cars were still visible.
SPDC quickly closed down the club and asked its workers on duty to go home while bomb experts scrambled to the scene.
However, the car which suffered the worst impact appear to be a Volkswagen product while a Mercedes Benz parked close by was not as damaged as the other vehicle which sources said may have been where the bomb was planted.
The security men at the scene of the explosion prevented movements beyond the Shell club area except for people that moved straight to the abodes beyond the Club area.
“Everywhere was scattered and people ran helter skelter before some semblance of order was restored and security men came in. People working in the area were asked to go home as there was fear that the one that exploded may not be the only bomb planted by those responsible”, the source said.
Agip sources that pleaded anonymity said the explosion did not damage anything inside their compound but blasted only the fence that separates the company from the University.
Contacted, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Ireju Barasua said there was an explosion which destroyed five cars at the Shell club while that of Agip exploded at Eagle Island and did not touch the oil company.
Immediately the explosion was reported, Barasua said she dispatched bomb experts who rushed to the scene to take charge of the situation, adding that investigation was on.
Meanwhile the MEND statement where it claimed responsibility for the explosions read: “Today, Monday, December 18, 2006, operatives of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) planted three car bombs in locations strategic to the oil industry in the Niger Delta.
“The Operatives in one location reported a concentration of civilians at his location and that bombing was aborted at the very last minute to prevent loss of innocent lives. The other two bombings were directed at Shell and Agip all in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in the Niger Delta.
“Both bombs were triggered by cell phone and were a cocktail of military and commercial explosives. Again, we warn all those with dealings with oil companies in the Niger Delta to steer clear of all facilities of these companies.
“We have previously warned all Nigerian workers on Agip terminal in Brass to vacate that facility. This warning will not be repeated. Attacks against oil industry targets will increase , be carried out without warning and with extreme ruthlessness.
“We are impervious to the unfolding political drama in Nigeria and still has as our original goal, the resource control for the Niger Delta. Until this and every single one of our demands is met, the Nigerian government and oil industry will persistently bear the brunt of our rage”, the group said.
It warned those dealing with individuals and groups claiming to represent them to desist from doing so as they would only release hostages when the duo of Dokubo and Alamieyeseigha were freed.
The two explosions which occured simultenously, torched the property belonging to the Royal Dutch Shell in Port Harcourt and the boundary fencing of the Italian oil company Agip, both situated in Port harcourt, Rivers State.
In a statement made available to THISDAY last Night, SPDC however stated that relevant government agencies have been intimated about the blast, which it confirmed damaged some cars in the Shell club.
The text read; "An explosion occurred at the car park of Shell Club, Port Harcourt, today (yesterday). The club is part of the residential area of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd. Some cars were damaged in the incident, but thankfully there were no injuries.
"Relevant government agencies have been informed of the explosion.
"We take the safety of staff very seriously and we have initiated appropriate security measures at our facilities. Our operations are on-going.
