Military Declares War On Niger Delta Militants While Petroleum Minister Negotiates With Them. Mixed Signals?

Incensed by the increasing threat that militants in the Niger Delta poses to the Nigerian economy, the Nigerian Military declared war on them yesterday. But it appears the Nigerian government is sending mixed signals to this effect given earlier reports which credited to the Petroleum Minister and his Niger Delta counterpart saying the government will negotiate with the militants.

Herdsmen Killed 984 People in Benue State, Nigeria

New Telegraph Newspaper reports that in the last two years, between 2014 and 2016, the series of attacks carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen on various communities in Benue State have claimed over 984 people. Also, 29,974 people have been displaced across the state, with properties worth over N40 billion lost to the attacks.

Countering Violent Extremism: Microsoft Joins the Fight Against Terrorism, Radicalization

Technology giant, Microsoft has finally joined the ranks of technology companies committed to tackling terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization online. 

Microsoft acknowledged that "terrorist content" has been posted to its consumer services, which include Xbox Live and Outlook webmail. 

"Terrorism is one of the truly urgent issues of our time," said Microsoft. "We are committed to doing our part to help address the use of technology to promote it or to recruit to its causes."

It's not exactly clear what Microsoft's anti terrorism strategy involves, but the company stressed that it would not censor results on its search engine Bing. 

Nigerian Government To Negotiate With Niger Delta Militants - Says Petroleum Minister

Daily Post newspaper reports that Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroluem, Dr Ibe Kachikwu is of the opinion that the Federal Government may resort to dialogue with the Niger Delta Militants in a bid to end the activities of militancy in the region.

27 Security, Safety Tips To Prevent, Survive A Kidnapping Incident

No doubt kidnapping for ransom and extortion (KRE) is a global problem. The gist is that this heinous crime has assumed dangerous dimensions in Nigeria. Kidnapping in Nigeria is vastly underreported. More often than not, it is the high profile victims of kidnapping - politicians, journalists amongst others in Nigeria that receive media attention and that of security agents. Nonagenarians, Statesmen, monarchs, clergies, even children are not spared by kidnappers in Nigeria. That two Catholic Reverend Sisters were recently kidnapped in Ondo State, South-West Nigeria and a ransom of N20 million was placed on them tells the abysmal level of moral decadence, desperation and growing level of insecurity in Nigeria. Just recently, it was in the news that Nigeria Police officers uncovered a kidnappers den in River State. At the risk of sounding alarmist, kidnappings in Nigeria will not subside anytime soon if the remote and immediate causes are not sorted.

Kidnappers on Rampage in Nigeria As Gunmen Kidnap Two Kogi Judiciary Workers And Two Ranking Kwara Politicians

Two staff of the Kogi State judiciary were on Thursday May 19, abducted by gunmen Suspected to be kidnappers and taken to an unknown destination.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that Mr Timothy Salihu of Upper Area Court, Lokoja and Mr Aliyu Okeme, a retired Inspector of Area Court were abducted at gun-point.

New Militant Group "Red Egbesu Water Lions" (REWL) Emerges in the Niger Delta, Make Demands, Threaten Showdown

Signaling a relapse to militancy in the Niger Delta, report indicates that in addition to the Niger Delta Avengers, a fresh militant group which goes by the moniker - "Red Egbesu Water Lions" - has emerged in the region. Recall that on Tuesday night, May 17, suspected militants, blew up the Sagbama-Tuomo gas line, belonging to Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, at Egbembiri, Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State .

Police Uncover Kidnappers Den in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria

About five victims were recently freed from kidnapper’s den in Omuma community in Rivers State, South-South, Nigeria when detectives from the Abia State Police Command swooped on their hide-out.

United Kingdom Warns Buhari: Deploying Military Might In Niger Delta Could Be Disastrous

Given the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta by Niger Delta Avengers, the British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond cautions that President Buhari needs to deal with the root causes because a military confrontation could end in “disaster”.

Kidnappers Abduct Two Catholic Reverend Sisters in Ondo State, Nigeria, Demand N20m Ransom

Punch newspaper reports that daredevil kidnappers have abducted two reverend sisters and their driver in the Kajola area of Ondo State, South-West Nigeria.

Again, Suspected Marauding 'Fulani Herdsmen' Kill 12 in Benue State

There seem to be no respite for farmers in Benue State Benue as report indicates that suspected dare-devil Fulani Herdsmen on Friday night, raided Tarfi village, Binnev Ward, in Buruku local government area and killed about 12 people.

Wondering The Safest Place To Live in Nigeria? United Nations Says It's The South East, Abuja

The United Nations Development Programme has named South-East Nigeria as the most human security secure geopolitical zone in Nigeria.South East Nigeria comprises the following states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.

Niger Delta Crises: ExxonMobil Joins Shell, Shuts Down Operations As Another Explosion Rocks Chevron Facility in Warri

Sequel to resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta and a two-week ultimatum by the Niger Delta Avengers for oil companies in the region to shut down operations, Exxon Mobil has reportedly declared force majeure on Qua Iboe crude after an accident the company claimed was not related to militant attacks.

Analysis: Niger Delta Avengers And The Relapse To Militancy in Nigeria’s Niger Delta; Connecting The Dots

Preamble: This essay aims to critically analyze recent upshots: the relapse to agitation, militancy, bombing of crude oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta. Prevailing realities and information will be juxtaposed to help us reconcile or connect the dots between the remote, immediate causes of this reincarnated Niger Delta agitation and plausible socioeconomic and security implications.

Shell Petroleum Shuts Down Terminal Over Supposed Pipeline Attack On Nembe Creek, Nigeria

Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary on Wednesday said it has declared force majeure on Bonny Light crude exports following a leak on a key pipeline. The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) said the measure came into effect on Tuesday at 1100 GMT, as the leak had shut the Nembe Creek Trunk line, pending repairs.