by Abubakar Haruna / 2006-01-27

The four men were abducted from an offshore oilfield operated by Royal Dutch Shell 15 days ago by militants demanding the release of ethnic Ijaw leaders, more local control of oil wealth and compensation to Delta villages for pollution.

“We are very much in contact with them,” Obasanjo said. “Immediately after it happened, we set up a committee ... It’s not only in contact, it’s making progress.”

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta’s five-week campaign of violence and kidnapping has forced Shell to withdraw at least 500 staff and cut its output by 221,000 barrels a day, or one tenth of Nigeria’s exports, adding to fears of a global oil shortage.
Analysts have said the growing insecurity in Nigeria’s southern delta, which produces nearly all of its 2.4 million barrels of oil daily, is raising the risks of doing business and scaring off some investors.

The army deployed more troops to key oil installations after armed men stormed the headquarters of Italian oil firm, Agip in the delta on Tuesday, robbing a bank and killing eight policemen and one civilian. Agip is a unit of Italy’s ENI.

Asked if he was concerned about the impact on oil investment, Obasanjo told Reuters at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland: “Not really.”

The militants have insisted they will not accept money for the hostages’ release and promised to stage more attacks to halt exports totally and drive away oil workers.
Obasanjo declined to comment when asked if he believes the crisis would be resolved by negotiations or by force.

“There are two situations, if you like. There’s the immediate situation of the hostages and we have to get the hostages released and then there’s the situation of criminality in the Niger Delta. That’s a different issue altogether.”

President Obasanjo also yesterday assured the international community that recent acts of criminality by militia groups in the Niger Delta do not amount to a crisis in Nigeria’s oil industry.

He said that while he did not regard the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta as unimportant, the government was already taking effective steps to contain the situation.

“I do not believe that our oil industry is under threat. This is an aberration.

“It will come and go. There is an element of terrorism in this and you cannot say we should give in to terrorism,” Obasanjo said.
He said that his administration was fully aware of the global importance of the hydrocarbon resources of the Niger Delta and the Gulf of Guinea and would do everything possible to guarantee their security.

He added that the government was addressing all issues causing tension in the region with a view to providing a lasting resolution.
The President said that although the government was in contact with the militant group claiming responsibility for recent criminal acts in the Niger Delta, it has not offered them any “deal”.

President Obasanjo also responded to questions on the crisis in Cote D’ivoire, saying that he still believes that it was “very very resolvable”.

Meanwhile, government officials in Bayelsa, said on Wednesday they believe the committee has made a breakthrough in talks to free the American, British, Bulgarian and Honduran captives.

“The hostages are close to being released, but I cannot be specific about a date,” said Bayelsa Information commissioner, Nelson Azibolanari.

The release has been complicated by rivalry between Ijaw groups, which has risen since the impeachment of former Bayelsa state governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, one of the two Ijaw leaders whose release is demanded by the kidnappers. The other is Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, on trial for treason.

Villagers have begun to flee the Delta’s mangrove swamps and tidal creeks in fear of military reprisals against the highly organized, heavily armed group. Oil unions have threatened to pull members out of the region if security deteriorates further, after dozens of people have been killed in recent raids.

Meanwhile, the commander of the joint task force tagged “Operation Restore Hope,” Brigadier Elias Zamani, says the whereabouts of the hostages is yet to be known.

Brigadier Elias Zamani told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Hausa service monitored in Abuja yesterday, that his men in collaboration with state governments in the Niger Delta region are making effort to trace the hostages.

His words, “since the incident happened, we made collaborative efforts with the governors of Bayelsa, Delta and other governors in the Niger Delta region to know the whereabouts of the hostages but up till now, we have not found them,” adding that, “we are still making efforts to trace them and we will achieve our aim by God’s grace”
He dispelled rumours that some of the kidnappers have been arrested and killed, saying no arrests have been made and neither the abductors killed by the military.

According to him, violence was not the best option in campaigning for justice and equity as people who have grievances should follow the right channel for the sake of peace and unity in country.