Nigeria: Group Asks Yar'Adua to End Niger Delta Crisis - Daily Trust

Posted to the web 7 December 2007

Sunday Williams
Abuja

A non-governmental organization, International Crisis Group (ICG) has urged President Yar'Adua to take urgent and decisive action to stop the persisting violence in the Niger Delta and avoid its escalation.

In its latest report titled, "Nigeria: Ending Unrest In The Niger Delta" which was made available to Daily Trust, the group said despite the opportunity presented by the inauguration of the new government and the truce declared by the armed groups thereafter after, attacks on oil installations by militants and hostage-taking by criminals has been on the rise. "Hostage-taking has turned into a lucrative criminally driven enterprise. The practice is threatening to spread beyond the core Niger Delta to other part of the country", the group said.

It noted that Yar' adua's early statement and actions were positive steps that raised hope in the area, but the ambiguous provisions for the Niger Delta and security in the 2008 budget are also threatening a relapse into more conflict. Full Story