One for the radar maybe:
In early September, the Grand Alliance of the Niger Delta (G.A.N.D.) threatened to attack Nigeria's oil and gas industry unless energy companies took action to employ the region's unemployed youth. Although new militant groups in the delta pop up frequently and do not receive significant media attention, G.A.N.D. was greeted with alarm by journalists. It is, however, far from certain whether G.A.N.D. poses any serious threat to Western energy interests and to the Nigerian government. Other than its threatening statements, there may not be substance to the group since new militant groups come and go in the delta and sometimes only exist on paper.Nevertheless, there is the possibility that G.A.N.D. could evolve into a threatening militant organization. For instance, in 2006 G.A.N.D. may have been involved in a small-scale bombing campaign. Although G.A.N.D. has been described as a "new militant organization," in July 2006 G.A.N.D. -- or a group using the same name -- claimed credit for bombing the homes of a few individuals linked to some Nigerian politicians, for instance the home of the brother-in-law of the then Rivers State Governor Peter Odili.
It may not be any more than some local nutter’s fantasy outfit, but it’s noteworthy that there’s at least the idea of a formal push towards coherence in the local guerilla/cult/gang environment. Though it was quite amusing to have a guerilla movement whose headqaurters was a mobile phone number registered somewhere in South Africa.
Comments