FG condemns attack on Bonga Oil Field
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Jun 20, 2008, 18:09

The Federal Government wholly condemns yesterday’s (Thursday June 19) attack on the Bonga Oil Field operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company.

President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has directed the country’s Armed Forces and security agencies to take all necessary action to apprehend the perpetrators of this latest act of national sabotage and bring them to justice.

A statement signed by the Special Adviser on Communications, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi said the President has further directed that security be beefed up at all oil facilities and installations in the Niger Delta to forestall further acts of terrorism by criminal elements in the region.

While the Federal Government remains fully committed to the rapid resolution of problems and grievances of the people of the Niger Delta, it will not shirk its constitutional responsibility for law and order, as well as the safety of lives or property in the Niger Delta region and all other parts of Nigeria.

Militants in the region who continue to spurn the peace overtures of the Federal Government must be prepared to face the full consequence of taking up arms against their fatherland in a vain and criminal attempt to overawe lawfully constituted authorities.

They must also bear responsibility for the adverse effects of their actions on ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to address the socio-economic problems of the Niger Delta, including the All-Stakeholders Summit scheduled for next month.

It bears restating that peace and security are essential requirements for the progress and development desired by people in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country.


The Federal Government will therefore take all necessary action to stop criminals from willfully depriving the region of these indispensable ingredients of development, and wickedly restricting the nation’s ability to garner vital resources for the improvement of the living conditions of its people.

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