Nigeria: MEND Denies Supporting Yar'Adua and Jonathan and Elections

The formidable Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility for the attack on the Chevron Pennington Offshore terminal and the abduction of the six foreign oil workers identified as Raffele Pascariello - Italian; Alfonso Frawza - Italian; John Stapleton - American; Juricha Ruic - Croatian; Ignazio Gugliota - Italian and; Mario Celetano - Italian. An unidentified Nigerian sailor was killed in the surprise attack at 0600hrs on Tuesday, May 1, 2007.

MEND issued a statement that;
"This attack is intended to serve as a disclaimer to various government sponsored newspaper stories, indicating MEND's approval of Jonathan and Yar'Adua. Jonathan's selection as vice president of Nigeria is of no consequence to us unless it is accompanied by a fulfillment of all conditions we have previously given to the Nigerian government and oil companies for peace to return to the Niger Delta. Today's attack on the Chevron operated facility, is also intended to serve as a warning to Shell concerning it's return to fields we have previously attacked in Bayelsa and Delta states. "
"In the course of the attack on this facility, the following individuals were captured off a vessel in that vicinity; 1. Raffele Pascariello-Italian 2. Alfonso Frawza- Italian 3. John Stapleton-American 4. Juricha Ruic-Croatian 5. Ignazio Gugliota-Italian 6. Mario Celetano-Italian "

"We promised to give the present Nigerian administration a shameful send-off. This attack is one in a series intended to embarrass the out-going regime. It is also a warning to the incoming government, which we view as an extension of the present. We will continue with our struggle for justice until we achieve all our goals without exception. "

"The hostages will be released unconditionally on May 30, 2007. This will only be possible if the oil companies and Bayelsa state government make no attempts to secure the release of these hostages by offering ransom. Any such offers will be viewed as a slight and will compound the situation of these hostages. "

"We also disclaim all who have come forward recently as elders of the Niger Delta promising to disarm militant groups in the delta. They are all frauds that are not capable of keeping the peace in their homes. There will be no peace in the Niger Delta until we have justice".

The government of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sponsored newspaper adverts and broadcasts claiming to be from MEND to deceive the indigenes of the Niger Delta and the rest of the world that the militant group has supported the fake results of the massively rigged elections of last April. The government statements were contrary to the earlier press statements of MEND that has already rejected the results of the elections.