By Mike Oduniyi and Yemi Akinsuyi in Lagos and John Iwori in Port Harcourt, 01.24.2006

This comes as the United States yesterday declared that there was lack of law and order in Nigeria, which it said posed considerable risks to its citizens and other expatriates.

In a massive attack that is bound to further heighten tension in the oil-producing region, the armed gang said to number about 30 and armed with AK-47 assault rifles, arrived at Agip’s sprawling complex in two speed boats and wrecked havoc in a gun duel that lasted for several hours.

There was, however, conflicting reports as to the actual motives of the gunmen. While the Nigeria Police Force said yesterday that its men were killed while on guard Agip facilities, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) said that the attackers had their sight on cash centres operated by three banks within the complex and that they had engaged the policemen on guard of the premises in a lengthy shootout.
"We can confirm that at about 2.30 p.m. today (yesterday), a group of heavily armed men came to our complex in boats. They attacked two banks having cash centres in our complex,” said the oil firm.

"They were shooting sporadically and in the process, eight policemen, including seven MOPOL, and one Nigerian contract staff were killed.
"From the look of things, they are armed robbers because they did not damage our facilities. We have our helicopters there and other equipment which they did not touch. But they took money away from the banks," the company added.

Force PRO, Haz Iwendi, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, however, told THISDAY that the policemen were gunned down when the armed gang stormed Agip facilities.

“They first killed a policeman on guard. Six other officers approached the facilities unknowingly were also gunned down," said Iwendi.

"Investigation has commenced earnestly on the matter. Right now we don't know whether they are armed robbers or members of militants groups, but we are after the suspected attackers," he said.

Security sources however disclosed to THISDAY last night that the gunmen were armed robbers and not members of any militant groups.
It was the latest in the brutal killing of security agents since the resurgence of violence in the Niger Delta last December. More than 10 soldiers were killed early this month when militants holding sway in the creeks of the Niger Delta attacked a Shell oil production platform.

The militants are still holding hostage, four expatriate oil workers who they kidnapped in a raid on a service boat two weeks ago. Since then talks to free the foreigners had been deadlocked with the militants, under a group named Mov-ement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), threatening to kill the workers and also attack more oil facilities if their demands, including freeing former Bayelsa State governor Diepreye Alamie-yeseigha and payment of $1.5 billion dollars in compensation to Ijaw fishing communities in Bayelsa, which it said had suffered from pollution. Nigerian oil workers’ unions, NUPENG and PENGASSAN, had already served notice that they would withdraw their members from the fields if the security situation in the Niger Delta area worsened.

Meanwhile, the United States has upped the ante in the bid to protect its citizens in the region. In a travel warning issued to its citizens wishing to come down to Nigeria, the US Department of State said the lack of law and order in Nigeria poses considerable risks to travelers.

“Security conditions in the Niger Delta region have continued to deteriorate. Armed local groups have attacked oil-company facilities, resulting in several deaths. In this area, the threat to expatriate oil workers of kidnapping for ransom or other objectives remains high,” said the department .

“Violent crime committed by ordinary criminals, as well as by persons in police and military uniforms, can occur throughout the country. In recent months, Lagos has witnessed a spike in crime...Even Victoria and Ikoyi Islands, which are generally safer than other parts of Lagos, have experienced attempted bank robberies, and have seen an increase in smash-and-grab car robberies, including some involving expatriates,” it warned.