U.S. first lady Michelle Obama speaks to students during her visit to Anacostia High School March 19, 2009 in Washington, DC. The first lady had a roundtable discussion with students at the school to mark the Women’s History Month. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michelle Obama
2 Naval ratings
killed, 3 injured in reprisal
YENAGOA — IT was a bloody Easter in the
Niger-Delta, as 18 militants were feared drowned
when the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Niger-Delta
sank four of their speedboats in a gun battle at
Okilo Creek, near Igbomotoru River, Tebideba route,
Bayelsa State.
Militants at it again
Naval authorities also confirmed that two naval
ratings were killed in a separate attack by
militants on soldiers, but, the Movement for the
Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) claimed that
three naval ratings were killed and four others
abducted.
It was gathered that a coalition of militants led
by Ogunbos, leader of the militant group that
spurned the amnesty by the Federal Government
attacked the Daewoo houseboats stationed in
Igbomoturu in Bayelsa state. The company which was
working for Italian oil major, AGIP was attacked by
Ogunbos with his men, having joined forces with
dreaded Rivers militant chief, Farah Dagogo and
another top militant, Kitikata.
This occurred a few days after the amnesty offer
by President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Spokesman of the JTF, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, in a
statement confirming the killing of some militants
and a naval rating said, “It was a bad Easter for
the militants, numbering twenty in number who were
conveyed in six speedboats caught in a cross fire
with JTF troops on 12 April 2009 at Okilo Creek near
Igbomotoru River, Tebideba Route, Bayelsa State,
(with the JTF) sinking four of the armed militants’
speedboats with all the occupants, while two managed
to escape with gunshot wounds inflicted on them”.
According to him, “One soldier was injured and
(is) currently receiving treatment”.
He said: “The militants led by their leader,
Ogunbos, while coming from their hideout in the
creeks, were closing in on our location. Unknown to
the armed youths, the JTF troops following a
tip-off, were battle-ready and in the process of
engaging the security outfit, four of the militants’
speedboats (were sunk) with all the occupants”.
Joint Task Force (JTF) Commander
Soon after the attack on the Daewoo houseboats,
the JTF had vowed to track down the militants
involved in the criminal act and bring them to
justice to serve as a deterrence to others.
Militants attack JTF in reprisal
Also, militants launched an attack on JTF troops at
Nembe, Shell location in Bayelsa State around 1.45am
yesterday.
Confirming the latest attack, Colonel Abubakar said:
“It was a retaliatory attack on the earlier sinking
of four of the militant speedboats, which led to
their occupants being drowned. The attack was
jointly carried out by Kitikata and Fara Dagogo. It
was however foiled, regrettably and in the process
of defending the facility, one naval rating was
killed, two sustained minor injuries and four Shell
speedboats were carted away by the miscreants.
“However, the JTF has launched a manhunt for
perpetrators of this attack and in just a matter of
time, we would get them”, he added.
Navy spokesman, Commodore D Nabaida while
confirming the reprisal attack in a text message to
Vanguard said two ratings were killed, three injured
and one remains unaccounted for. He also said the
militants made away with a Navy gunboat.
Though the main militant group in the region, the
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta
(MEND), said it was not involved in the attacks, but
said the Navy had opened fire on youths who then
regrouped and attacked the military’s position.
MEND’s account said three naval personnel were
killed and four abducted and two navy gunboats
seized.
The group said in an online statement made
available to Vanguard that it would intervene to
secure the release of the captured soldiers.
Although it could not be confirmed which militant
group carried out the latest attack, Vanguard
reliably gathered that attackers came in eighteen
speed boats, surrounded the military position and
opened fire on them.
Sources in the area told Vanguard that that the
invasion might not be unconnected with the February
attack on the same SPDC facility.
During the February attack on the facility led by
Kitikata no damage was inflicted on the platform as
they were said to have only gone there to drop
letters to the oil major for recognition and that
the company should be making payment of N3million
monthly to their camp.
Usain Bolt to be in Nigeria ,may 5!
Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, would storm
Nigeria for the IAAF Athletics Grand Prix holding in
Abuja on May 5.
The coming of the 100m and 200m record holder is
already exciting a lot of athletics souls as
Nigerian officials intensify efforts to revive the
sport that competed with football in terms of
followership in the past. The Local Organising
Committee for the IAAF Grand Prix led by former
Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, President,
Engineer Adeyemi Wilson, said yesterday that part of
the objectives of the Grand Prix include to put
Nigeria on the world athletics map, to promote the
development of athletics in the country, to showcase
international athletes from across the world, to
enhance the worldwide appeal of athletics, by
staging it in Africa’s most populous black nation,
to provide a platform for the developmental goals of
the National Sports Commission and the Athletics
Federation of Nigeria, and to provide world-class
entertainment and competition opportunities for
athletics.
Wilson was backed by Nigeria’s heavyweights in
athletics including Queen of the Tracks, Mary
Onyali-Omagbemi, Falilat Ogunkoya, Henry Amike,
skipper Yusuf Ali and Gabriel Okon.
Scribe of AFN, Maria Wophill, said that 213
athletes have confirmed participation as well as
five countries. There would be 10 events that would
see athletes win Dollars from Premium, Classic and
Professional races. Wophill, however, said that such
star athletes like Usain Bolt would benefit more
from appearance fees. Asked if Bolt would still come
to Nigeria in the face of his crowded schedule,
Wophill said that they were still talking with his
Manager and may opt for him to come and give clinics
instead of participating in the race.
