Mr. Paul,
Your article is insightful although I find in it some elements of Bias.
It is mystifying how u failed to condemn the monstrosity of the Nigerian Government and their army proxy that is responsible for more Civilian deaths and less capture or killing of the real tragets "Militants". Maybe if you had a brother or relative in the war zone, your conclusion could have been different.
Secondly, You asked what MEND has being doing with the money they get from bunkering and hostage taking, well, need I remind you that OBJ squandered 16 billion USD on electricity projects, yet no one is asking him what he did with it. Ibori is the biggest known theif in the land today but no one is asking him the hospital he built with all those booty wealth.
I think you have to create some balance in your hypothesis. If the Niger Delta is bombarded because they reduce Nigeria's wealth when actually the Nigerian masses are having no smell of that wealth, then OBJ should be Blown up for keeping us in the dark albeit injecting so much money in the power sector, Yar'dua should also be shot 2wice for defrauding Nigeria wit a 7 point agenda and electoral heist. Orji Uzor should also be hanged for spending 8yrs in Abia state without acheiving anything, Aba is all about refuse dump and Ariaria market which feeds almost all the inhabitants. All the corrupt men have to face bombardment if we are to justify the gory bath in Ijaw today.
The militants are theives/has become thieves... YES! I agree, but since 3 decades ago when they did not take arms, what has Nigerian done for them? When Saro-Wiwa came with diplomacy, what happened? was he not called a common crimminal and hanged? I Believe it is better to die honorably than to postrate at the feet of your oppressor.
The monster which the fake and unjust entity called 'Nigeria' has hatched is on its tail now seeking its own pound of flesh. Every body is now dragging what part of the country he can get, very soon there would be nothing left in the Center... a total collapse is looming
