PH...

Solomonsydelle asked a few poignant question about the events in Port Harcourt, on her entry for the Nigerian Discussion Series. 1. Why is there so little media coverage and public outcry about what is going on in PH? Could it be because the oil prices have stabilized and the activities of the militants are no longer a major threat to the global economy. Market is everything 2. Could the extensive training garnered by this gangsters spread into other cities and affect other demographics? We have turned a blind eye as the militants have schooled themselves in the lucrative act of kidnapping, will Nigeria become the next Colombia. we may assume that kidnapping is not entrenched in our culture but let us all remember that in many cases supply has been known to create its own demand. Be warned market is everything 3.Will this events matter when one of ours gets kidnapped and we all have to put down our retirement money to get them back? This does not look too far in the future for Nigerians, call me a prophet of doom, but I watched the armed robbers become more violent and sophisticated. Human capital is restless one way or the other it will be used as a factor of production. Besides Nollywood I am yet to see an outlet for the skills being honed by this militant wannabees. Whatever the factors produce Nigeria will consume. 4. Is our government handling this issue like a government with a plan or are they hoping this menace will just go away?
Solomonsydelle on the Nigerian Discussion Series writes; If you have paid attention to Nigerian news, then you know that Port Harcourt is under siege. Rival gangs turned the city into a war zone last week, leaving many innocents dead in their wake. This compelled the government to send in the military. The soldiers were meant to bring peace to a chaotic situation, but it seems that they have simply compounded the situation. They are ordered to seek and kill insurgents and militants and have seemingly gone on a killing spree. And, despite a dusk till dawn curfew, people are still losing their lives.

Jaja captures the confusion first hand while moving back and forth in the timeline as events unfolded. I find it interesting that events unfolding in front of Nigerians can still remain rather confusing and sometimes pointless. Why is the government taking this stand and also where do the citizens of PH stand on this? All of this remains rather confusing looking in from afar.

Jaja writes In little time, the long-started, genuine agitation for resource control in the Niger delta had become tainted because of the activities of the Militants who have usurped the ‘Cause’, kidnapping expatriates and school kids for a ransom.We shrugged our shoulders, puzzled at the day-mare we now walked in. It has become more and more difficult to explain the attendant issues of the Niger delta.

Nilla who presently lives in PH comments; What's happening in PH, I never quite know what to say most times....partly cos I'm not sure what's really happening at times, since i was away for years.I mean, today most places are back to normal (well except the banks which have to close by 2, so they can be home before it's curfew time). But I wonder for how long.

Jaja on the soldiers; They have orders to shoot. The soldiers bark at us to raise our hands well for them to see. We must be hiding weapons. Some of us laugh out loud as we walk over to join the cab again. We laugh to mask our humiliation. As though it was not such a bad treatment after all. The soldiers were having a great time at intimidating.

Porter deHarqourt remarks on the effect of the curfew on the Market for prostitutes, (these is the kind of stuff my Chiconomics colleagues will kill for, Market is everything innit?) The curfew adds to the chaos. The ashewos are cheaper and desperate. The brothels do brisk business between morning and evening. The soldiers have their pleasure on the house.

The whole MEND confusion, if the movement can not define or recognize itself how on earth can they hope to achieve anything meaningful, even the Nigerian resistance acts like a true Nigerian.

A Chieftain speaks; "First and foremost, the MEND is a faceless organization. I don't know who is in MEND and who is not MEND but I know that participants in MEND activities are pro-Niger-Delta struggle and in that group, we have different reports and cases by the different groups but we have not saddled ourselves with the responsibility of mending MEND but MEND cannot speak on behalf of the Ijaw nation, it can only support the position of the Ijaw people if it finds the views correct".

Some routine Change up at the elms of the Nigerian military in PH

The Army Headquarters in Abuja has removed the Brigade Commander of the 2ND Amphibious Brigade and Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) operating in the troubled Niger Delta, Brigadier General Samuel Salihu, and replaced him with Brigadier General Sakin-Yaki Bello.