MEND TAKES A STANCE AGAINST REGIONAL FRAUDS

In an effort to limit the effect that violent thieves are having on its reputation and the lives of Niger Delta residents, MEND

"confiscated the stool of a royal father in Bayelsa State alleged to be sponsoring sea bandits and also captured seven of the suspected sea pirates."

MEND confronted the local 'royal', who ran off and is currently on the run. According to the group,

"Yes, we sent out our fighters to confront the sea pirates when we got information that the boys were robbing fishing trawlers, they attack them, extort money from them, sometimes, they disconnect trawlers and carry the whole thing away. You see, all these things they are doing is spoiling the struggle and people think that it is the MEND that is doing it."

"Our information is that a man who claims to be a royal father is the one that is bankrolling them and we went there to confront them after we got report of what was happening, that was after they just robbed a trawler, belonging to a company in Lagos."

Personally, I am glad that MEND recognized that it has a responsibility to protect the Delta not just from oil companies or the federal government, but also from local 'leaders' and others who fail to serve the people and instead punish them with additional suffering and insecurity. However, I also hope that MEND understands that they are the cause of such problems as they have emboldened common thugs and their abhorrent sponsors to adopt MEND-like tactics which inherently cheapen MEND's original message and goal - the betterment of the Delta and its people. The group plans to 'deal' with the captured thugs.

"In fact, how can you suggest that we should hand them over to the security agents, we cannot do that, we just hope that after dealing with them, they will change and stop robbing people because the struggle is not to rob people.

We have reasons for blowing up pipelines in the Niger-Delta, it is not we are animals[sic], but, the government has turned us to animals and slaves in our own country, we have been pushed to the walls and we are telling them enough is enough of the marginalization and oppression..."

It seems that MEND plans to clear out the chaff to improve its credibility. I wish them the best of luck.

Further Reading: 

- No Longer King of African Crude? 

- The Global Food Crises, Nigeria & MEND 

- Port Harcourt & Nigeria Under Siege 

- Is Nigeria A Breeding Ground for Terrorism? 

- Why Is The Breadbasket Always Empty? 

- The Goodluck Conspiracy