UK security involvement in Nigeria

There has been unfavourable coverage given in the Nigerian and UK media to possible UK security involvement in the Niger Delta (http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/page15989.asp). Lots of other commitments were also discussed in the meeting of the two national premiers this week, but it is the training and advisory support for security that has attracted the attention. Apparently, France has also made a similar offer to Nigeria (http://allafrica.com/stories/200807170595.html).

British petroleum companies have interests in the Niger Delta, and production has been halted by attacks by local militias who want increased control over oil revenues from the region, where much of Nigeria's oil wealth is concentrated. British involvement would be commercially motivated, and at best morally neutral; much of the oil wealth has been allegedly (with much documentation) stolen by corrupt leaders in the past, and Nigeria's elections have been heavily criticised for fraud and violence (http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/04/24/nigeri15763.htm).

Personally, I do not support secessionist groups which spring up whenever oil is discovered in their region, but the social context in the Niger Delta makes me more sympathetic towards the Delta insurgents. As I looked for information on the British involvement on Allafrica.com, I came across these other stories from the Nigerian press, which put a context on the activity. Perhaps there is some journalistic licence, but the stories are consistent with others coming out of the country:

"WOMEN of Obodogugu-Ogume community in Ndokwa area of Delta State protested naked, yesterday, while no fewer than eight persons, including a policeman have been shot by armed youths in a renewed orgy of violence between the community and the people of Emu-Ebendo over negotiations with an oil company..."

"The trouble with Nigerian youths has been highlighted by the death of a dozen or more applicants for jobs at the Nigeria Immigration Service last Saturday. Many jobseekers died from exhaustion during a 3-4km marathon race to determine their physical fitness before they could take part in a written test. Others were victims of stampedes at the venues where millions of unemployed youths were chasing a few hundreds of jobs."

"The Chief of Defence Staff, General Owoye Azazi, yesterday told the Senate ad-hoc committee on the Green Tree Agreement that the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, did not consult the military before the cession of Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. General Azazi also told the panel that the fighting between Nigeria and Cameroon over Bakassi is courting the attention of France and would likely result into war, giving the recent pact between France and Cameroon."