The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) has promised to unleash a campaign of terror with the aim of destabilizing and breaking up Nigeria in the wake of the conviction of its leader, Henry Okah for terrorism; a conviction MEND dismissed as politically-motivated. Okah was condemned January 21st by a South African court in connection with the twin bombings that killed at least 12 people during celebrations marking Nigeria’s 50th anniversary of independence in Abuja in 2010. Okah had denied any involvement even though MEND; the group he led claimed responsibility for the attacks. Okah faces a life sentence.
In reaction, MEND said it will make the country virtually ungovernable and give Nigeria hell saying that the insecurity that the country has witnessed in recent times from Boko Haram will be nothing compared to its own planned campaign of terror. A letter signed on behalf of MEND by a certain Comrade Azizi accused the Nigerian government of involvement in Okah’s conviction and warned the country’s leaders to be prepared as the group would begin what would lead to the eventual disintegration of the country.
In halting grammar and rambling syntax, the letter, dated January 23, 2013, said MEND would spread its activities to every part of the country ensuring that the country becomes ungovernable for its leaders. It said: “we witnessed ourselves firsthand the conviction of our dear leader yesterday the 21st of January 2013 by the South African Supreme Court on all the 13th count charges which as we all know has to do with ASO ROCK politic on a man simply because he refused to be bought over. “Before yesterday’s ruling, we had high regards for the South African judiciary but not now as we were wrong on our previous assessment nevertheless, people pay for mistakes committed by others.”
It also declared the Minister of the Niger-Delta, Chief Godsday Orubebe persona non grata, advising him never to step foot in the Niger Delta region in his own interest. “The Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry Mr. Orubebe Peter Godsday is hereby banished from Delta State and the region at large pending when he returns the money he stole which was meant for the Niger Delta Development Councils and also while with: (a) Burutu Local Government Council, Delta State (1991-1993), (b) As second Member: Primary Education Board, Asaba, Delta State 2000-2003. (c) As the Special Adviser to James Ibori former Delta State Governor on Urban/Regional Planning between January 2004 and November 2005…”This whole money belongs to the Niger Delta people and most be return or he should be ready to face the consequences along with your nuclear and immediate family members.”
The letter advised South Africans resident in Nigeria to tell their government to hands off Nigerian affairs or face the consequences. “To the Nigerian military, the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, don’t bother for now placing officers on alert, we will not bomb nor kill anybody for the time being, as we had communicated months back, we no long require IED or car bombs as we’ve gone pass that stage. Nigerians as a whole will feel our presence when we finally decide to carry out our targets which will not be restricted to the Niger Delta Region alone.
MEND however distanced itself from Boko Haram and vowed to strike targets in and out of Nigeria. “We are not on the same program with regional agitators in the north or elsewhere, we will not hide our faces, soon and very soon, Nigerians will get to see the structures (Diaspora and Home) as well as our new states, regional commanders and new National Leader, arresting and killing Henry Okah will change nothing.
“To the Nigerian Government, you have seen NOTHING, the disintegration of Nigeria will start through us and by us, we are well equipped for this task. We have details of all the family members of the Government (1999-2013) and our Diaspora Command will take care of that aspect, we will get to them, we will skin them and post their remains to your door steps as compensation to the Ode people, except our resources are handed over to us without conditions.”
Continuing, the letter stated: “all Federal, States and Local Government officials under the pay roll of the Government ( ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Director Generals, Directors etc ) should stay away from the Niger Delta, if found anywhere in the South South region, they will have themselves to blame and that is if they live to tell the tales.
“To our Natural Resources, there will soon be a massive earthquake that will be trigged by our nuclear war head, this earthquake will destroy the entire oil wells, oil pipelines especially to Kaduna refinery, oil installations, oil rigs and what have you, when it happens, which we know will be very soon, the Government and those owners of these oil wells and installation will know it’s a different ball game.
“All oil companies, (foreign or local) should start parking up from the region as this might be the last warning, we really will not want civilians to be caught in between so please take this warning seriously.
“To our old breed Commanders, you can talk as much as you want just because you were bought over for a token but we wonder why the fight against your masters, the hurricane is almost there and it will sweep everything left.
“And finally to the South Africa Companies: we made some promises before and now we are repeating same, LEAVE NIGERIA totally, there will be massive and aggressive campaign on all companies owned, operated and affiliated to the South African Citizens or their Government both in Nigeria, Western and Southern Africa respectively.”
