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ResourceControl,CorruptionandViolenceintheNigerDelta
21
Inlate2005,anewstandard-beareremergedforthecauseNigerDeltamili-
tancywiththeemergenceoftheMovementfortheEmancipationoftheNiger
Delta,orMEND.MENDisalooseamalgamofadiversearrayofarmedgroups
thatoperateacrosstheNigerDelta,withitsprimaryencampmentinDeltaState.
Beginninginlate2005,MENDembarkeduponacampaignoftargetedbomb-
ings,high-profilekidnappingsofexpatriateoilworkers,andoccasionalskir-
misheswithmilitaryandpoliceforces.Manyoftheseattacksweresoorganized
andefficientastocastdoubtupontheNigerianmilitary’sabilitytoconfront
MENDmilitarily
18.
MEND’sstatedreasonsforitscampaignofarmedinsurgencyallhadtodo
withsecuringagreatermeasureoffinancialandpoliticalautonomyfortheNiger
Delta.MEND’smostoften-articulateddemandswereadramaticallyexpanded
principleofderivationandthereleaseofNDPVFleaderAsariDukoboandformer
BayelsaStateGovernorDiepreyeAlamieyeseighafromprison
19.Atthetime,
Alamieyeseighawasfacingtrialonchargesofcorruptionafterbeingimpeached
asgovernor.TheallegationsagainstAlamieyeseighawerelurid,culminatingwith
hisescapefromLondonwhileoutonbailonmoneylaunderingcharges(anes-
capeAlamieyeseighaallegedlymanagedbytravelingonafalsepassportwhile
donningawoman’sdressandawig).ButMENDalongwithasignificantpartof
popularopinionintheDeltabelievedtheformerGovernortobenomorecorrupt
thanotherofficeholders,arguingthathewassingledoutunfairlybecausehewas
astrongandindependentIjawmanwillingtostanduptothePresidencyinAbuja.
MilitancyorCriminalPolitics?
Withitsovertlypoliticaltone,MEND’sgoalshavewidelybeenreportedin-
ternationallyasbeingessentiallylinkedtoprotestatthepovertyandpolitical
marginalizationoftheNigerDelta.Butinfacttherealityismorecomplexand
moredisturbing.AndmanyoftheactivitiesofMENDinparticulardohaveaclear
politicaldimension.Butthekindofdecentralizedviolenceandimpunitythat
MENDrepresentsisnotaforceinoppositiontoNigeria’sdysfunctionalbrand
ofpoliticsbutratheranintegralpartofit.
Manyofthenmilitant”groupsthatnowoccupysoacentralplaceintheNiger
Deltagottheirstartascriminalgangsandaspoliticalthugshiredandarmedby
therulingPeoplesDemocraticPartytoviolentlyrigthe2003electionsacrossthe
region,especiallyinRiversState.ThenucleusofAsariDukobo’sNDPVFwas
largelythecreationofRiversStategovernorPeterOdili,thespearheadofastra-
18SeeJ.Briggs,GuidetotheArmedGroupsOperatingintheNigerDelta-Part2,Jamestown
Foundation,April26,2007.
19Ibidem.
