Shell oil platform attacked

[Kersh]

Nigerian Oil Platform Attacked, Militias Battling Troops

Sunday, January 15, 2006



LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigerian troops battled militia fighters in swamps around a Royal Dutch Shell PLC oil platform that militants attacked at dawn Sunday, the third assault on Shell oil facilities in less than a week in the troubled region.

Shell confirmed the attack on the Benisede oil platform in the southern oil-rich Niger Delta and said some of its staff had been injured and taken to hospital. The company also said it had begun evacuating personnel from vulnerable facilities in the region due to worsening security.

In a statement, Shell said "heavily armed persons" in speed boats attacked the platform early Sunday, burning down staff accommodations and damaging the facility.

Soldiers guarding Benisede returned automatic weapons fire, but it was unclear if they had lost control of the oil platform, said Brig. Gen. Elias Zamani, commander of a special task force charged with security in the volatile oil region.

Zamani had no other details of the fighting and said the military was investigating.

Residents of the area reported continuous gunfire and the explosion of heavy guns for most of Sunday after troop reinforcements moved in.

"There is a war going on here," Enitowari Inengi, a resident of the Ozobo fishing community near Benisede, said by telephone. "People are scared and are taking their boats and moving away."

Another resident, Nelson Wariebi, said he had seen military helicopters moving in to attack positions held by the militants.

On Wednesday, gunmen attacked Shell's EA platform in shallow waters near the delta coast, seizing a Bulgarian, an American, a British and a Honduran. A major Shell pipeline leading to its Forcados export terminal was blown up the following day.

Though Shell resumed some production cut last week, the first two attacks initially forced a 10 percent drop in Nigeria's oil exports.

A previously unknown militant group, Movement for Niger Delta Emancipation, claimed responsibility for first two attacks, warning all Western oil companies to leave the Niger Delta for their safety and calling on the government to release militia leader Mujahid Dokubo-Asari.

Dokubo-Asari campaigned for secession and greater local control of oil wealth before he was jailed in September and charged with treason.

Nigeria is Africa's leading oil exporter and the fifth-biggest source of U.S. oil imports. The country produces about 2.5 million barrels a day.

Violence, hostage-taking and sabotage of oil operations have been common in the oil-rich Niger Delta in the past 15 years amid demands by the region's impoverished communities for a greater share of the oil revenue flowing from their land.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181721,00.html

[Aerosoul]

****, this doesn't sound good...

[usa320]

why not hire companies like blackwater to protect the oil platforms?

They are probably better trained and far better equipped than the nigerian troops.

[Aerosoul]

i would imagine some do....

[Howitz]

hey! silencer's back!

[Aerosoul]

lol...yeah. been back a few days.
back on topic though.

[Kingswat]

why not hire companies like blackwater to protect the oil platforms?

They are probably better trained and far better equipped than the nigerian troops.



One of my friends worked for an oil company in Africa as a paramedic, he got $160k a year.


He showed me pics of the "security" at the company he worked for.

Above having their own airfield on site with about 12-13 helicopters including 2, mi-24 hinds, they had a few SU-25's and a few migs.

The company had over 1400 armed guards on the site at all times with the smallest weapons being an ak47. They had a few of, what looked to me t-55's and a few other types of tanks aswell.


I asked him if that was the government troops and he said "No, that's the private militia they hired for security"

[Aerosoul]

^ yup, doesnt surprise me. my english/writing teacher worked in the oil business for a while, supposedly. i have a feeling he did other work though...

[Nizark]

i'm guessing this Brig. Gen. Elias Zamani is a US commander? TF-horn?

[dacanadianbomb]

One of my friends worked for an oil company in Africa as a paramedic, he got $160k a year.


He showed me pics of the "security" at the company he worked for.

Above having their own airfield on site with about 12-13 helicopters including 2, mi-24 hinds, they had a few SU-25's and a few migs.

The company had over 1400 armed guards on the site at all times with the smallest weapons being an ak47. They had a few of, what looked to me t-55's and a few other types of tanks aswell.


I asked him if that was the government troops and he said "No, that's the private militia they hired for security"

Did he mean militia as in security company, or actual warlord selling his army for safety?
That is a huge arsenal for a legally working company.I wonder how they got all the ok's for that.
Either way, it makes good money sense to protect your most valuable assets like that. If you lose a pipeline for 3 days, it isnt pocket change that is missing on the books.

160k a year ? Doesnt sound like his chequebook was in pain.

[CFD Ambos]

All I can say is :

1) I answered to a job offer last week for Nigeria.
2) A buddy of mine offered me to work with him if he can convince a company to hire a PSD team, in Nigeria again.

In one week. Sounds like things are moving there. I'd like to have a word about the situation there from the mods.

[SHAM]

One of the guys i worked with worked for shell in west africa before, he was heading through the shell compound to go out for the night, when he was picked up by shell security inside the compound and filled in for not giving one of there pals a couple hundred litres of diesel during the day. Needless to say he was hospitalised, and the next time he was told to give some guy diesel, he did so gladly:)

[Roaming East]

I pity the guys who decide to put a rag tag militia up against a ruthless and well financed oil company security force.

[HoboWithAK]

Did he mean militia as in security company, or actual warlord selling his army for safety?
That is a huge arsenal for a legally working company.I wonder how they got all the ok's for that.
Either way, it makes good money sense to protect your most valuable assets like that. If you lose a pipeline for 3 days, it isnt pocket change that is missing on the books.

160k a year ? Doesnt sound like his chequebook was in pain.

Anything, including security by militias and private armies can be bought in Africa. You don't need go-aheads from anyone. The trick is, though, to not get roped in where they will hold you under seige for more money. I would rather work with a company stateside or from a well developed nation than contract out to the very people who may pose a threat to your assets.

[Kingswat]

Did he mean militia as in security company, or actual warlord selling his army for safety?
That is a huge arsenal for a legally working company.I wonder how they got all the ok's for that.
Either way, it makes good money sense to protect your most valuable assets like that. If you lose a pipeline for 3 days, it isnt pocket change that is missing on the books.

160k a year ? Doesnt sound like his chequebook was in pain.


It was a militia, that was made up of former government soldiers that the oil company paid.


160k a year is nothing, now he's making $240k a year working on the oil rigs themselves.

[dacanadianbomb]

Niiice. That is a lot of money. Although possibly medics are paid more in general.
Question is, what about benefits,travel,lodging( lol ) ,food etc.Would he happen to be the only Paramedic onboard and the Medical Chief there ?

My Mother was working for the UN in Kinshasa until recently, and she was making a ****load of cash, but when a Chicken cost 30$ and a normal joghurt 2$, it puts it in a different perspective.

Im sure there are little holds barred for the right amount of cash in Africa. Although on the other hand,if you purchase locally, how are you guaranteed standards ?
It doesnt help much if 75% of your security forces weapons are badly maintained,their tactics non-standardized and their training poor.

The other question is,will the militia then of possibly change sides if offered the right amount of money?
Although when your talking about one of the worlds largest oil firms, I think money isnt the problem.

[Dominique]

why not hire companies like blackwater to protect the oil platforms?

They are probably better trained and far better equipped than the nigerian troops.

They do. And Blackwater has been sending teams to Nigeria ( I know a couple of local sheriff's deputies who did one deployment) for a while know. There are also several British companies tht supply static site security.

[Scottie]

lol...yeah. been back a few days.
back on topic though.
no not back on topic!! lets party :D :D yay...silencer is back..

http://bcn.boulder.co.us/community/icons/party/balloon2.gif

[Laworkerbee]

I pity the guys who decide to put a rag tag militia up against a ruthless and well financed oil company security force.

They deserve our pity, these poor people whose land is stolen by corrupt officials and polluted by Shell are without any rights what so ever, they get no compensation and in the end the only thing left is the gun. Sad.

[Roaming East]

They deserve our pity, these poor people whose land is stolen by corrupt officials and polluted by Shell are without any rights what so ever, they get no compensation and in the end the only thing left is the gun. Sad.
pshht, they would've just f--ed it up and become a charity case anyway. the whole continent really hasnt contributed much beyond a test ground for infantry weapons and a huge test bed for experimental drugs in a good looong while.

[Laworkerbee]

B'ah they need an A-team to defend them as much as Shell does.

Imagine a huge oil company coming into your town, tearing up the countryside, laying pipelines, leaving pollution everywhere because there are no enviromental laws. Your water is ruined, your family gets sick and the corrupt politicians are paid off by Shell so there is no legal recourse. These people deserve to be defended.

[ed316]

OFF topic- Is Total a french oil company.?.any french members in the forum?

[Greek soldier]

OFF topic- Is Total a french oil company.?.any french members in the forum?

Yes and the full name is Total-Elf-Fina (merged with Elf and Fina)

[ed316]

Yes and the full name is Total-Elf-Fina (merged with Elf and Fina)

haha, Knew it. They rented out 4 floors in the building I work in. Thanx Greek

[Greek soldier]

haha, Knew it. They rented out 4 floors in the building I work in. Thanx Greek

Why do you think France was against the war on Iraq? p-)

[ed316]

Why do you think France was against the war on Iraq? p-)

Everyone has to look out for Number 1.

[liberation]

Westerners working in Nigeria earn 240K a year while the locals earn a pitiful 1K per year. Nigerians have to watch their oil being stripped from them by outsiders under their noses.

Little wonder they are attacking companies like Shell.

[Kingswat]

Westerners working in Nigeria earn 240K a year while the locals earn a pitiful 1K per year. Nigerians have to watch their oil being stripped from them by outsiders under their noses.

Little wonder they are attacking companies like Shell.


Yeah, but in return they also get other stuff.



The company my friend worked for, built hospitals, hotels, markets, schools, my friend was brought over mainly for the oil company workers but every week they would go to the hospitals and have a free clinic for people, aswell as teach local Dr.s, nurses and ambulance drivers new skills.

[Red]

Yeah, but in return they also get other stuff.



The company my friend worked for, built hospitals, hotels, markets, schools, my friend was brought over mainly for the oil company workers but every week they would go to the hospitals and have a free clinic for people, aswell as teach local Dr.s, nurses and ambulance drivers new skills.
And this is the "other stuff"? you are joking right?

[Laworkerbee]

Yeah, but in return they also get other stuff.



The company my friend worked for, built hospitals, hotels, markets, schools, my friend was brought over mainly for the oil company workers but every week they would go to the hospitals and have a free clinic for people, aswell as teach local Dr.s, nurses and ambulance drivers new skills.

Sure they get "other stuff", meaning that white men come there and "build stuff" more jobs for the white man, "hey we built you a hospital why are you fighting against us?". Perhaps they want something you can't build for them like self respect? perhaps they want what the rest of us take for granted a voice to speak out with. sovereignty.

Like "hey don't lay that pipeline there thats my families land", or "your polluting our groundwater and my children are getting sick" these people have no courts, no nothing but corrupt officials stealing from them and white men doing as they please. They have no choice but to take up arms. God help them.

[Moghi]

240K's a year? That's nothing compared to my $47,500,000.00 (FORTY SEVEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) i just got transfered to my account by the Central Bank of Nigeria!

[Hemaworstje]

that is mini scale , the mainframe of Shell in Houston and rotterdam has been hacked in the past, you get your data and acces back if you pay the randsom, or spend a huge amount on repairs, they can almost shutdown the whole platform with a keyboard.

[Will Clark]

240K's a year? That's nothing compared to my $47,500,000.00 (FORTY SEVEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) i just got transfered to my account by the Central Bank of Nigeria!

I'll give you my account number if you promise to send me a million dollars.

[Digital Marine]

How dare they attack the proud Dutch company Shell!p-)