January 8, 2008: The highly effective Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which was putting many senior
politicians in jail, or at least in court, is being dismantled. The corrupt
politicians had more power than those being pressured by the public to really
do something about corruption. The government is describing the destruction of
the EFCC as a "reorganization." Meanwhile, in the Niger Delta oil region, the military
is going after the many private armies that exist there. Most are aligned with
politicians, and the army is taking down those groups that are least popular,
or most unruly, at the moment. Raids are particularly keen on seizing stores of
weapons and ammo. With these, a warlord can quickly expand his force by arming
many temps.
Some of the political gangs in the
Delta region have not responded well to recent police attacks. On New Year's
Day, there were a series of deadly attacks in Port Harcourt, the largest city
in the Delta. At least 18 were killed. Two of the targets were police stations.
Several groups of gunmen entered the city at the same time, shot up their
targets, and sped away.
The separatist groups like MEND have
threatened to shut down the entire oil operation this year, if the government
does not grant the tribes in the Delta a larger share of the oil wealth. The
politicians don't want to do this, but they don't want to admit that either.
However, it all comes down to the money, and people will kill for a share of
that oil revenue.
