UPDATE – 2000 bodies counted – Via Sahara Reporters
As we write more that 2000 bodies, mostly children, women and the elderly lie lifeless and floating in the creeks of the Niger Delta. If information reaching us from local and international press and from those on ground in Nigeria’s oil-rich but poverty stricken delta since the 13th of May 2009 is anything to go by, then what is currently playing out in the creeks of the delta (Gbaramatu to be specific) can no longer be termed military onslaught against militants, but genocide. This is nothing but pure GENOCIDE against the Ijaw ethnic nationality of the Niger Delta orchestrated by the Nigerian government in collaboration with the oil multinational to exterminate the Ijaws and keep the oil flowing perpetually and unhindered. This is purely an oil war orchestrated against defenseless and hapless citizens of Gbaramatu in the name of searching for militants.
The war in the Niger Delta reached a new level last Sunday when the Nigerian Military bombed communities in Delta state where suspected militants were supposed to be hiding. In an act of collective punishment and completely ignoring the civilian population three villages, Oporoza, Kokodiagbene and Okarankoko villages, were attacked by helicopter gunships and reduced to rubble.y evening. 80 to 100 people were killed and some 20,000 villgers are now displaced and have now fled and are taking refuge in the Warri South area. A further 25 people were killed yesterday.
TWENTY-FIVE persons — six children whose ages range between two and seven; 11 septuagenarians, six women and two other villagers were said to have been killed yesterday when Kurutie community came under fresh aerial attacks by the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Niger-Delta.
Over 65 persons had earlier been killed and more than 100 injured since the JTF began its offensive against militants last weekend.
However, the Defence Headquarters, while explaining circumstances that led to the all-out battle to oust the militants warned that the Nigerian military will no longer tolerate or watch criminal gangs slaughter its personnel without response.
It also said no community, particularly in the Ijaw areas, was destroyed or razed down as claimed by many people in the battle area. Director of Defence Information (DDI), Col. Chris Jemitola pointed out that the JTF in carrying out its offensive, has ensured that collateral damage was kept to the barest minimum.
The attack on civilians are in a long line of similar attacks over the past 20 years on all the people of the region by successive military and civilian governments – Babaginda, Abacha, Obasanjo and now Yar’ Adua has joined the list of state murderers. In the early 1990’s war was declared against the Ogoni people which culminated in the murder of the Ogoni 9 including Ken Saro-Wiwa. In January 1999 it was the Ijaw people who came under attack as the towns of Kaiama and Odi (November 1999) were attacked. Odi was completely destroyed, hundreds died and thousands were left homeless. Neither of the towns has yet been rebuilt. Other communities that have come under attack and towns and villages in Isokoland in 1999. In Umuechem in 1990. In Egiland in 2000. In July 2002 Itsekiri, Ilaje and Ijaw communities all came under attack and in the last few years the Ijaw people have been the main focus of attack but essentially the whole region has been under military occupation since 1990. [For more on the response of women to these acts of violence see "Nigeria, Gender and Militarization in the Niger Delta.]
The Nigerian military has to take full responsibility for the death, injury and displacement of thousands of mainly women and children and Yar’Adua has shown himself to be yet another military tyrant. Of course they must know that bombing densely populated areas will result in death and displacement but we know Nigerian leaders dont give a damn about how many of their people they kill and maim. This is the Niger Delta where there is very little infrastructure of any kind including medical care and even where it is available it is not accessible to the very poor population. The situation is not that different to the Tamil population who have been wounded, driven from their homes and killed in the ruthless genocidal actions of the Sri Lankan government. It’s women children and the elderly that mainly live in the villages and hamlets and it is they not the militants who are loosing their lives and livelihoods. It is they who are suffering and the militancy together with the kidnapping is adding to their suffering and needs to stop.
Its also worth noting that the latest attacks against the Niger Delta take place against the backdrop of the Wiwa v Shell trial which begins in New York on the 27th. Ken’s constantly spoke out against violence and vowed that not one drop of blood should be shed by any Ogoni person. His passion and belief in self-determination were as strong as any of the militants operating today but he was also adamant that the struggle should be non-violent. This of course did not stop the Nigerian military from attacking villages and killing people but MEND and other militants are not the answer.
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