The Federal Government on 18 February condemned the latest seizure of nine oil workers in the Niger Delta region. Information and National Orientation Minister, Mr Frank Nweke Jnr, read the Government’s position as follows:

“The Federal Government has noted with concern and regret, the latest incidence of hostage-taking by criminal elements in the Niger Delta.

This incident is purportedly in response to an alleged attack by the Military but the Federal Government wishes to state that no such attack ever took place.

The Joint Task Force on security in the Niger Delta indeed took action on February 16, 2006 to demobilize five oil barges which it had good reason to believe were being used for stealing crude oil.

While on surveillance of the area the following day, men of the task force were shot at by unidentified persons but they did no more than return fire in self defense. This two verifiable incidents certainly do not amount to an attack on the local community as is being alleged.

The Federal Government therefore condemns this latest incident of hostage taking in its entirety as there can be absolutely no justification for what amounts to a criminal attempt to prevent people from going about their lawful business, create the perception of insecurity and crisis in the Niger-Delta and give further room for some persons to criminally enrich themselves from stealing the nation’s resources.

President Olusegun Obasanjo wishes to assure all stakeholders in the region that everything possible is already being done to secure the speedy release of the hostages through dialogue.

The President has held an emergency meeting with security chiefs, the governors of Rivers and Bayelsa States and the Managing Director of the Shell Petroleum Development Company and a committee has been established to ensure that the nine hostages are freed unharmed.

While the Federal Government reaffirms its commitment to fast-tracking development in the Niger Delta to make up for past years of neglect, it wishes to reiterate that criminal activities such as kidnappings and hostage-taking in the region can only retard and impede the implementation of plans and programmes for the benefit of the generality of the people.

These actions must be condemned by all persons of goodwill within and outside the country and no attempt should be made to glamorise their criminal perpetrators.
Government advises the so-called militants and hostage-takers in the Niger Delta to abandon their criminal activities in the overall interest of their people and take advantage of the several programmes that have been put in place in the region by the Federal, State and Local Governments for the good of all”.