MEND Attacks Flow Stations of Nigeria

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) yesterday blew up three Shell flow stations in Rivers State.

MEND spokesman, Jomo Gbomo said the Russian President Medvedev's visit coincided with Hurricane Piper Alpha which struck yesterday. He maintained that the attack was to commemorate his visit.

According to the movement, Cawthorne Channel 1, 2 & 3 flow stations feeding the Bonny export terminal had been effectively put out of service as a result of the attack, saying, "this is the fate that awaits the gas pipelines Russia plan to invest in Nigeria if justice is not seen to be done in the whole process".

MEND said the agreement that the Russian president was going to sign with president Yarádua would be worthless as it would frustrate it with constant attacks on oil installations.

The spokesman sought the attention of the Russian president saying: "Allow me re-freshen your memory on the Russian-backed iron and steel industry which has become a white elephant project and we fear the same fate may befall the Trans-Saharan Gas project".

The movement said Russian made weapons had been very helpful and reliable in its campaigns, urging Mr Medvedev to consider a military pact with it. "We may consider a military pact to defend our hard earned freedom. We would rather you sign an agreement with every state under true federalism to develop the potentials that the nation has, from solid minerals to agriculture, and not just focus on oil and gas from a single region", the group said.

MEND maintained that the region produce the funds used to build the nation's capital, but nothing was done for the region.