The Only Militants Causing Chaos In Nigeria

A shadowy militant group calling themselves the Niger Delta Avengers first emerged in February, when they blew up an underwater pipeline run by international oil giant canada goose outlet ontario Shell.

canada goose store The group vowed to “cripple Nigeria’s economy,” and they already have. In the canada goose factory outlet last three months, canada goose outlet houston the Niger Delta Avengers claimed responsibility for https://www.getcanadagooseoutlet.com pipeline attacks across the southern Delta region, and productiondropped to 20 year lows. The unrest has also exacerbated gas shortages and power outages across the country. canada goose store

The canada goose outlet las vegas Niger Delta Avengers claim to be a new group made up of youth from the region. “We are young, educated, well traveled and most of us were educated in east Europe,” one statement from the group says.

The Avengers have criticized previous Delta insurgent groups for working with the government, while ex militant leaders urged the new group to halt attacks, saying they are a distraction from solving the canada goose outlet store toronto region’s problems.

Even so, many locals believe the group is in fact made up of disgruntled former militants or local criminals canada goose outlet mall seeking attention, according to the BBC.

canada goose clearance Experts note that the level of coordination and technical expertise canada goose outlet real of the Avengers’ canada goose womens outlet attacks suggests the group has help from sympathetic insiders at canada goose outlet in chicago the oil companies. canada goose clearance

The Niger Delta Avengers have vowed to continue attacks until oil firms leave the region, blaming them for the environmental destruction and economic marginalization of the Delta. “We will make you suffer as you have been made the people of Niger Deltans suffered over the years from environmental degradation, and environment pollution,” they warn international oil companies in one statement.

buy canada goose jacket cheap The group has also called for the Delta region to gain independence from Nigeria, reprising the hard line demands of earlier insurgencies that had become much less common in recent years. “Their demands are impossible to meet so there will be probably more attacks,” an anonymous security expert told Reuters. buy canada goose jacket cheap

canada goose A further complication is the emergence of various splinter groups, which have echoed the demands of older militant movements in the region. For example, one group calling itself the Egbesu Mightier Fraternity has demanded the release of canada goose outlet a separatist leader from the nearby region of Biafra. canada goose

canada goose clearance sale First, militants in the region have been threatening to restart the insurgency since Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was elected last year, according to the International Crisis Group. canada goose clearance sale

Canada Goose sale Buhari, canada goose outlet edmonton who hails from northern Nigeria, replaced Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s first president from the Delta region, and some Delta militants believe Jonathan’s electoral defeat was canada goose factory outlet toronto location a conspiracy against the Delta, Crisis Group canada goose parka outlet says. Canada Goose sale

buy canada goose jacket Second, Buhari’s budget tightening and anti corruption canada goose clothing uk measures have canada goose outlet parka upset the Delta’s ex militants. The president has slashed funds to an amnesty program that since 2009 provided former canada goose outlet boston fighters with a monthly stipend, and canceled lucrative pipeline protection contracts to companies run by ex insurgents. buy canada goose jacket

canada goose coats “The amnesty has failed,” a former pipeline attacker calling himself General Felix told Reuters last week, complaining that he hadn’t received an amnesty canada goose outlet canada stipend in three months. “We are ready for a total showdown soon,” he warned. canada goose coats

cheap Canada Goose How Has The Government Responded? cheap Canada Goose

Buhari’s government has poured troops into the Delta to canada goose outlet montreal hunt down the militants, sending military helicopters and gunships into the region’s wetlands.

But experts warn a military canada goose discount uk crackdown is unlikely to be effective, as the Avengers appear to be operating in canada goose outlet official small cells and hiding out in remote creeks.

canada goose deals Meanwhile, Nigeria’s security forces are already thinly stretched by fighting canada goose outlet online store Boko Haram on the other side of the country, and are not familiar with the canada goose outlet seattle Delta’s swamps. canada goose deals

Canada Goose Jackets Diplomats and local activists also warn that a heavy handed military crackdown could backfire by increasing local sympathy for the canada goose victoria parka outlet group. Local leaders accused the government this week of raiding their village and preventing the evacuation of the wounded. Meanwhile, the Niger Delta canada goose outlet store quebec Avengers urged all militants not to engage in the kidnapping and violence that characterized previous insurgencies in the region, and denied the military’s claim that the group was behind a deadly attack on soldiers this week. Canada Goose Jackets

A more effective response would be to capitalize on rifts between the marginalized Delta canada goose outlet store near me youth and ex militant leaders who got rich through the amnesty program, one security expert in Nigeria told Reuters.

Canada Goose Parka The International canada goose outlet uk fake Crisis Group has canada goose outlet factory urged the government to address the root causes of the militancy, including the catastrophic environmental impact of hundreds of oil spills each year, and the crippling poverty and unemployment in a region that provides much of the country’s wealth. Canada Goose Parka

Canada Goose online The government this week launched a major cleanup operation in the region, but it is expected to take 25 years to repair the damage done by oil companies. Canada Goose online

Canada Goose Outlet How Have Delta Residents Responded? Canada Goose Outlet

canadian goose jacket Many Nigerians living in the Delta region say they have borne all the canada goose coats uk burden of Nigeria’s oil production, and received none of its benefits. Most Delta residents live on less than $2 a day. canadian goose jacket

But community groups have urged the government and militants not to let violence escalate. They called on Buhari, who canceled a visit to the region at canada goose parka outlet uk the last minute this week, to make the Delta a priority.

canada goose black friday sale “The events that are happening in the region pose serious economic, environmental canada goose outlet reviews and security challenges to the entire nation,” the Ijaw Youths Council, a group representing a major ethnic group in the Delta, said in a statement. “Aggrieved canada goose outlet phone number groups must give peace a chance.” canada goose black friday sale.