Nigeria has undoubtedly reached a crossroads as far as the unresolved Niger Delta problem is concerned. Imagine the level of impunity with which youths who started as street urchins are now squaring off with innocent persons on the streets and in the creeks of the Niger Delta without any serious challenge from those whose duty it is to ward off these malevolent elements. The youths, who could easily be sent packing with a bark in 2003 when they first hit the streets, are now a terror to all. From kidnapping of foreign oil workers for ransom in 2006, the vile elements have now enlarged their profile. They now kidnap children, women and Nigerian oil workers, politicians and any person of note. In all this, the law enforcement agents are always caught unawares and are often compelled to engage in persuasion with the evil poachers to free their victims.
Apart from engaging in full time oil bunkering, the militants have also made it impossible for innocent fishermen and traders to go about their daily business along the creeks. While that happens with the full knowledge of security agencies, innocent American filmmakers who were documenting the impact of oil production in the region were promptly arrested in Warri on the allegation that they did not get clearance to carry out their assignment. If the soldiers who arrested the ‘Sweet Crude’ crew had been as stern with militants, perhaps the problems in the Delta would have been over by now. There is no reason for the security agents to abandon their surveillance duty against the militants to tackle innocent civilian filmmakers. Doing that would amount to what philosophers call ‘Argumentum Home mien’-leaving the issue to tackle the shadow. Although the crew have been freed following the intervention of American congressmen, the act is a complete violation of the rights of the Americans and is not in anyway useful to Nigeria or its image abroad.
Apart from engaging in full time oil bunkering, the militants have also made it impossible for innocent fishermen and traders to go about their daily business along the creeks. While that happens with the full knowledge of security agencies, innocent American filmmakers who were documenting the impact of oil production in the region were promptly arrested in Warri on the allegation that they did not get clearance to carry out their assignment. If the soldiers who arrested the ‘Sweet Crude’ crew had been as stern with militants, perhaps the problems in the Delta would have been over by now. There is no reason for the security agents to abandon their surveillance duty against the militants to tackle innocent civilian filmmakers. Doing that would amount to what philosophers call ‘Argumentum Home mien’-leaving the issue to tackle the shadow. Although the crew have been freed following the intervention of American congressmen, the act is a complete violation of the rights of the Americans and is not in anyway useful to Nigeria or its image abroad.
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