Mark these little insurrections. We'll see more and more of this as oil supply diminishes, capital is consolidated in the hands of fewer and fewer, and demand continues to increase.
In fact, watch the same effect as potable water continues to diminish.
Photo: George Osodi/AP
Nigeria's militants highlight woes amid wealth
"We ARE not terrorists," screamed a black-masked militant brandishing an assault rifle. "We are freedom fighters!"
He had arrived minutes earlier in a motorboat bristling with machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades held by fighters in camouflage body armour and balaclavas.
White flags, a tribute to their tribe's god of war, fluttered from the stern.
The Niger government recently requested a contingent of US Marines to hunt MEND down. The US declined...for now. Just wait 'til we really start feeling the pinch.
MEND at Wikipedia including timeline and tactics.
And from NPR's On Point:
Oil in the Niger Delta
The Niger Delta is rich with oil, but the local residents are some of the poorest in the world. We'll look at the rise in militancy and the fight for oil money.
A little side analysis. I want to draw attention the photos because I think they're an important element to the story. First indicator - they have embraced the media, which is significant in itself. Second - notice how they're outfitted? Matching vests, balaclavas, reasonable weaponry. These are folks who want to be seen as organized, reasonable, competent. They don't want to be seen as crazed, back-water terrorists, reactionaries. In no way do I mean to diminish their fight, but I find it interesting that they've managed to get so much coordinated gear. I'm sure the guerrillas in the bush aren't quite as well uniformed. They imply as much in the text, but these people understand the power of image.
It'll be an interesting struggle to keep an eye on.
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