NUJ Gives Shell Ultimatum over Detention of Journalists
From Omon-Julius Onabu in Warri, 09.05.2008
The Warri Chapel of the Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ) yesterday demanded a written apology from the Anglo-Ducth oil company, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) over its alleged role in the arrest and detention of journalists at the Utorogun Gas Plant in Delta State.
About 15 journalists from several states across the Niger-Delta were last Tuesday while on a working tour of Iwhrekan, an oil producing community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State , arrested by a company of soldiers attached to the JTF.
Members of the Environmental Rights Action (ERA), an NGO, as well as the Iwhrekan community Traditional Head, Chief Ogba Riegbu and Barrister Akporido Siemuri and other community leaders were among those detained under the rain for hours allegedly by SPDC security personnel who said they were ìacting on orders from above.
The Union vowed to liaise with its parent and sister bodies across the country to take tougher action against SPDC if it failed to tender an unreserved apology to the union within 72 hours.
In a strongly-worded statement, signed by Comrade Ben Dunno and Comrade Mike Ikogwu, the Chapel Chairman and Secretary, respectively, the Union also gave similar condition to the Joint Task Force (JTF) for allowing itself to be muscled and manipulated by the oil company.
The Union also indicated that it might be compelled to seek legal redress over the unwarranted action of the SPDC, which appears to be aimed at intimidating members of the Nigerian Press.
The NUJ statement, which gave reasons for its tough stance, read in part: “The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents’ Chapel, has unequivocally condemned the arrest and subsequent detention of 15 journalists under inhuman conditions on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 in Iwhrekan, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State while on legitimate assignment.
Six members of the Warri Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ were among the 15 Journalists arrested and the Union sees it as a slap on the journalism profession. It took the intervention of well-meaning individuals from within and outside Delta State to secure their freedom at about 10:00pm after being subjected to both physical and psychological trauma.
“We are taken more aback that the JTF was said to have acted at the instance of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) even though SPDC denied the fact that they had a hand in the arrest and detention. “During the unwarranted detention, the executive members of the Warri Correspondents’ Chapel (NUJ) contacted the Media Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Office of the JTF, Lt. Col. Rabe Abubakar, who said that he had mandated the detachment that arrested them to release our members immediately. “However, to our utter dismay, four hours after Abubakar’s instruction, the SPDC security men still held on to our members, which lends credence to the culpability of SPDC.”
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=121651
This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
MORE DETAILS:
A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
