January 22, 2009:
The military believes that most of the violence against the oil companies is being carried out by a MEND group operating out of a camp in Ajakaja, in Rivers state in the Niger delta. The military is trying to obtain a precise location and launch an attack. But MEND has learned to move around. With all the money the rebels obtain from stealing oil and kidnapping, they can afford lots of fast boats, and cash to pay for local accommodations wherever they need to go. While MEND is making little progress in their campaign to be more government money to improve the lives of people in the Niger delta, the rebels continue to grow rich from criminal activities, and react particularly violently if the military interferes with oil theft and oil smuggling. Mostly, MEND steals from the rich and gives to the wicked.
January 21, 2009: In the Niger delta, gunmen attacked a Romanian tanker, carrying 4,000 tons of diesel fuel, and tool one of the crew captive. The tankers was shot up pretty bad by the attackers.
January 18, 2009: In the Niger delta, two oil company boats were attacked, killing one person and kidnapping six others on board.
January 17, 2009: Troops attempted to rescue two British oil workers, who have held four months. The rescue attempt failed and the hostages were moved deeper into the Niger delta swamps. The two Brits are being held in an attempt to obtain the freedom of MEND leader Henry Okah.
January 13, 2009: Tubotamuno Angolia, one of the MEND leaders in the Niger delta, was killed by soldiers.
January 12, 2009: Two soldiers were killed and one wounded in the Niger delta, after rebels retaliated for the seizure of a ship used to transport stolen oil.