NewsMine — war-on-terror — africa — nigeria — Viewing Item

Nigerian navy prepares oil rig attack Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/international.cfm?id=494232003 http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/international.cfm?id=494232003 Nigerian navy prepares to attack oil rig FRANK URQUHART furquhart@scotsman.com THE Nigerian navy was last night preparing to seize the strike-hit oil rigs off West Africa, where 35 British hostages have been warned they will be killed if there is any attempt to take the installations by force. Warships were ordered into the area after talks in Lagos failed to bring about a peaceful end to the wildcat dispute. Nigerian oil workers on the four US-owned drilling rigs have threatened to blow up at least one of the platforms should it be boarded. A total of 97 foreign nationals - including 35 British oil workers - are being held hostage on the rigs. Last night, fears for their safety dramatically heightened - despite claims by both the US drilling company, Transocean, and the Foreign Office that the navy had no plans to take direct action. Jake Molloy, the general secretary of the North Sea oil workers’ union OILC, who has been in contact with the families of the British oilmen, said the decision to resort to "gunboat diplomacy" could end in bloodshed. He added: "There are now real concerns for the safety of all the men on board these rigs. The Nigerians have already threatened to blow up one of the platforms if there is any attempt to take it by force. They have indicated they will endeavour to repel any attempt to force them off. It is a very scary situation." One Scottish oilman had earlier e-mailed OILC with the terse message: "Make no mistake of the danger we’re in. If they [the strikers] have lost everything, they will make sure we lose everything. And that means our lives." The Nigerian navy deployed the warships after talks between senior officials of the country’s oil union and Transocean broke down after four hours. Captain Shinebi Hungiapuko, a Nigerian navy spokesman, said they "will do what we have to do". The dispute began on 16 April on board the rig MG Hulme and quickly spread to three others rigs, the Sedco 709, Trident VI and Trident VIII. The foreign nationals are confined to their accommodation areas and can only venture out on deck with the permission of the strikers. Food and water are said to be running low.

97 hostages nigeria oil rig { April 30 2003 } Insurgents in nigeria threaten full scale struggle Nigera fury vote fraud { April 22 2003 } Nigeria commander removed in oil theft probe Nigeria financial audit reveals oil corruption Nigeria political killings Nigeria workers threaten kill captive coleagues { May 1 2003 } Nigerian kidnappers want compensation for pollution Nigerian navy prepares oil rig attack Nigerians with hostages demand economic development { February 25 2006 } Oil company tries end standoff nigeria Oil facilities seized by villagers { October 26 2006 } Troops leave europe to nigeria oil { May 30 2003 } Files Listed: 13

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.