Deadly bombing at UN building in Nigeria's capital

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/26/explosion-nigeria-un-building-bomb

At least 16 people have been killed after a car laden with explosives blew up outside the United Nations' main office in Nigeria's capital, tearing a huge hole in one side of the building.
Witnesses told the Associated Press that a sedan broke through the exit at the UN compound, ramming through two separate gates as guards tried to stop it. The suicide bomber drove the car up to the main reception of the building before detonating, inflicting the most damage possible, witnesses said.
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There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but oil-rich Nigeria faces multiple terrorism threats. Last year a militant group from the country's crude-producing Niger Delta blew up car bombs in the capital during Nigeria's 50th independence anniversary ceremony, killing at least 12.
Nigeria is a nation of 150 million people split between a largely Christian south and Muslim north. In recent months the country has faced an increasing threat from a radical Muslim sect called Boko Haram, which wants to implement a strict version of sharia law. The sect has carried out killings and bombings, including the June car bombing of the national headquarters of Nigeria's federal police that killed at least two people.
This month the commander for US military operations in Africa said Boko Haram may be trying to link with two al-Qaida affiliate groups in other African countries to mount joint attacks in Nigeria.

Shell's failure to protect Nigeria pipeline 'led to sabotage'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/aug/25/shell-oil-export-nigeria-pipeline-sabotage

Shell Nigeria's declaration this week that it cannot meet its international commitment to export 300,000 barrels a day of crude oil was caused by the company withdrawing contracts to pay people to monitor and protect the pipeline, Shell and independent reports indicate.
Nine oil spills in three weeks along one pipeline in the Niger Delta have forced Shell Nigeria to declare that it cannot meet its international contracts to export 300,000 barrels a day of crude oil.
Nine oil spills in three weeks along the Adibawa-Okordia pipeline in the Niger Delta are believed to be the result of sabotage by disaffected youths using hacksaws. An unknown quantity of oil has been lost and, since 2 August, fishing grounds and farmland have been polluted . With three more spills reported in the last 24 hours it appears that the company has now lost some control of the pipeline.
On Tuesday the company declared "force majeure" on all Bonny light [crude] exports until the end of October. Force majeure is a legal term releasing a company from contractual obligations due to circumstances beyond their control. "On August 21, another three hacksaw cuts were reported on the nearby Adibawa delivery line," said Shell in a statement. "Some production is shut in while the line is repaired."
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Unpublished independent reports of the latest incidents, seen by the Guardian, suggest that the nine spills have occurred because Shell recently withdrew contracts to pay people to monitor and protect the pipeline. In interviews conducted by Friends of the Earth (FoE) Nigeria within hours of the latest incidents, community leaders said Shell must take the blame.
"The oil spills in Ikarama are caused by Shell. The youths of Ikarama were pushing for an upward review of the wages paid [by Shell] to surveillance guards and the employment of more persons in the community for the security of the pipelines. [But] we suddenly heard that Shell has stopped the surveillance contract. This is the main reason behind the series of spills experienced in the community recently", said Livingstone J. Berebo, secretary of the Ikarama Youths group.
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Last week more than 100 women from the community demonstrated against the company. "Each time there is a spill, Shell attributes it to sabotage and prevents our people from witnessing when the spill point is being clamped [repaired] and to know the cause of spill. The company makes use of the military men to threaten and chase us away from the site. The community is never represented in joint investigations. Only Shell really knows what they are doing in our land," Berebo said.
"Shell is not helping our community; the company disregards us and is wicked. Any spill here is attributed to sabotage always by Shell since about twenty years ago, chief Luke Ogbona told FoE Nigeria. "Shell will not listen to us because they know we don't have people to fight for our rights."

YK: Shell tuhosi ympäristön ”yllättävän” pahasti
http://www.uusisuomi.fi/ulkomaat/114522-yk-shell-tuhosi-ympariston-%E2%80%9Dyllattavan%E2%80%9D-pahasti

Wikileaks paljasti Shellin vallan – ”Tiedämme kaiken”
http://www.uusisuomi.fi/ymparisto/107322-wikileaks-paljasti-shellin-vallan-%E2%80%93-%E2%80%9Dtiedamme-kaiken%E2%80%9D