Also see: Portuguese Play Patty Cake With Pirates
"Nigerian military attacks militants after ship hijacked" by Nathaniel Ibigor, Associated Press | May 16, 2009
WARRI, Nigeria - Nigeria's military sent helicopter gunships and boats yesterday to attack a militant camp deep in the swamps of the southern oil region after the area's fighters hijacked a ship and seized 15 Filipinos.
Military spokesman Colonel Rabe Abubakar said troops in southern Delta State were searching for the hostages kidnapped Thursday by followers of a notorious regional militant leader known as Government Tompolo. Witnesses, private security personnel, and ethnic leaders said the military used over a dozen gunboats and several helicopters in the attack on Tompolo's camp.
Edwin Clark, a leader of the Ijaw people who live in the area surrounding the militant camp, said townspeople had fled into the bush as the military fired weapons from the air, water, and land.
"The military has declared total war on our people," he said. The region's main militant group said it sank six military gunboats and seized three others. It said many soldiers had died and made its latest declaration of "all-out war" in the region where Nigeria's crude oil is pumped.
There was no official confirmation of any casualty figures. The fighting ended months of relative calm in the southern Niger Delta, where the low-intensity conflict has waxed and waned over three years of rising violence. The militants say they're fighting to force the government to send more of the oil revenues it controls to the southern region where the crude is pumped. The government considers the militants common criminals.
Why does it all sound so familiar to me? I seriously don't know what to believe; however, I do recognize the superfluous obfuscations and demonizing lies:
"Something of a catchall term for loosely affiliated insurgents without a singular command structure. Often, the Afghan government favors the phrase 'enemies of the state' (New York Times July 24, 2007)."
Okay then, let's wrap it up and make it go away....
"Military reportedly frees 10 hostages
LAGOS - The Nigerian military rescued 10 hostages from militants in the southern oil region and destroyed the camp where the victims were being held, a private security official said yesterday.
????? No government spokesman/source?
The hostages freed Friday included six Filipinos among 15 kidnapped this week from an oil industry service ship amid a surge of fighting between militants and government troops, the official said. Four Nigerians were also rescued and the camp run by militant leader Government Tompolo was destroyed, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity (Associated Press)."
Oh, yeah, the latest from Somalia by the agenda-pushing press:
Vt. hero Phillips honored by alma mater
