Posted on 09/18/2008 2:33:57 PM PDT by HAL9000
Nigeria: The main armed group claims to have destroyed a Shell pipeline
LAGOS - The main armed group in southern Nigeria, Mend said they had destroyed Thursday evening a "significant pipeline" and belonging to Anglo-Dutch company Shell.
At 17:30 GMT, "fighters of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta have destroyed with powerful explosives, a major oil pipeline belonging to Shell Development Company," in Rivers State in southern Nigeria's oil, said a press release the group.
Who is financing them?
Another reason to drill offshore and in Alaska
Well they did send me an email asking me to deposit $10000 in their account, but they promised me a huge return on my investment.
Oil companies. Ransoms.
All the more reason we need to drill here, drill now. I would think paying ramsons leads to more of the same.
So I can expect gas prices to rise fifty cents a gallon, right?
“fighters of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta
WOW. These guys have to be tuff with a name like that.....
Nigeria is majority Muslim. The President of Nigeria is Umaru Yar’Adua, who also has the royal title of Mutawalli (custodian of the treasury) of the Katsina Emirate.
The people of the Niger delta believe they have not been treated unfairly by the government. The largest tribe, the Ljaw, are 95% Christian.
I suspect that someone that want to keep oil prices high is supporting them under the table.
The region is home to a huge industry of stealing oil and selling it on the black market.This trade is believed to fund the purchase of weapons.
If you wants some Nigerian gang names names check this out...
The Emergence of Pseudo-ConfraternitiessourceIn the early 1970s, several confraternities emerged. In 1972, a member of the Pyrates Confraternity, Dr. Bolaji Carew (code-named "Late Ahoy Rica Ricardo"), and other members were accused of not following the teachings of the confraternity and were unexpectedly expelled. As a result of this incident and other problems, the Pyrates pulled out of Nigeria's universities. They then registered themselves in Nigeria under the name of the National Association of Seadogs (NAS). Carew later founded the Buccaneers Confraternity (also called the National Associations of Sea Lords). In the formation of the new confraternity, Carew took with him many elements of the Pyrates, including similar attire and symbols of the cult as well as its highly regimented and hierarchical structure (The Midweek Telegraph, August 10-16, 2005). The origin of confraternity violence dates back to Carew's 1972 saga and the birth of the Buccaneers (The Midweek Telegraph, August 10-16, 2005).
After the Buccaneers, the Neo-Black Movement of Africa, also called Black Axe, was founded at the University of Benin in Edo state. After its creation, another confraternity, called the Supreme Eiye Confraternity, also known as the National Association of Air Lords, broke away from Black Axe. During this time, the splintered cult groups introduced a new dimension into confraternity tradition: before carrying out any activities, they would practice voodoo rituals.
Several notorious cult groups also came into being under the military rule of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. In 1983, the Eternal Fraternal Order of the Legion Consortium, also called the Klansmen Konfraternity (KK), was started by five students at the University of Calabar in Cross River state. In 1984, the Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC), also called the Adventurers or the De Norsemen Club of Nigeria, was founded by a former member of the Buccaneers [4].
Nigeria's Confraternities Spread to the Streets and Creeks
During the early 1990s, Nigeria experienced an explosion of confraternity activities in Nigerian schools, colleges, streets and creeks in the energy-rich delta region. The extreme hooliganism, violence and bloody struggle for supremacy among rival confraternities peaked around this time. The Family Confraternity, also known as the Campus Mafia or the Mafia, came into existence during this period. Today, they maintain a presence in numerous schools throughout Nigeria. Maintaining a low profile, they operate as an imitation of the Italian mafia. Shortly after their dramatic appearance, several students were expelled from Abia State University for cheating on exams and for cultism. This started a shift in the activities of the confraternity group from the university community to the streets and environs of the state.
Another notorious campus confraternity was formed at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUST) named the Brotherhood of the Blood, or Two-Two (Black Beret). Countless other groups appeared, including the following: Second Son of Satan (SSS), Night Cadet, Sonmen, Mgba Mgba Brothers, Temple of Eden, Trojan Horse, Jurists, White Bishops, Gentlemen Clubs, Fame, Executioners, Dreaded Friend of Friends, Eagle Club, Black Scorpion, Red Sea Horse, Fraternity of Friends and Victor Charlie Boys — the last of which was formed by Professor Augustine Ahiazu during his tenure as vice-chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology [5].
During the same era, campus-based confraternities such as the SVC and the KK extended their influence by creating street and creek wings. For example, the KK established a street/creek arm called Deebam in order to fight for supremacy and territory through organized violence, banditry and criminality. In response, the SVC created Deewell; however, when Deewell was ineffective and could not match violence for violence with its rival Deebam, the Icelanders (German) was additionally formed. Well-known cult and militia leader Ateke Tom would later become the leader of the Icelanders (German). The Outlaws, another brutal street and creek confraternity, broke away from Icelanders (German). Other groups, such as the Big Five and the Mbacho, still exist in Rivers state.
There are even female confraternities in Nigeria. During the late 1990s, female confraternities such as the Black Brazier (also known as Bra Bra), the Viqueens, Daughters of Jezebel, and the Damsel, among others, acted as spies for the male confraternities and operated as prostitution syndicates.
Confraternities and their Role in Delta Violence
Today, the majority of cult groups in the delta are involved in organized crime, ranging from armed robbery to hostage taking. Some of the groups have aligned themselves with the well-known militant groups of the delta, such as MEND, and have undertaken attacks in their name. The history of confraternities in Nigeria demonstrates that the current unrest affecting the Niger Delta region has its roots in Nigeria's recent history, as the fighters attacking multinational energy interests are primarily youths with a history of cultism. The existence of these campus and street/creek gangs constitutes a serious threat to Nigerian society.
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