Igali follows oil conflict in Nigeria

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Twenty-four Filipino hostages are the latest victims caught in a battle over Nigeria’s oil profits. The group was seized Jan. 20 by the militant group known as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). A TV crew from CNN was recently taken to the hostages by the group. The militants are threatening other action.

Canadian Olympian and SFU graduate student Daniel Igali has just returned from another stay in the heart of the region, where he has established a new school. He has spent much of the past nine months there and is heading back next week. Igali is currently working on his criminology master’s thesis on the Niger Delta struggle.

Igali says, “The degradation of the environment, lack of social amenities, oil spillage in the million of barrels, gas flaring resulting in perpetual daylight for most communities in the Niger Delta have been recurring issues in the delta’s history. It is sad that after 40 years of dialogue without success, armed resistance is getting the world’s attention.”

Igali spent the past five years fund-raising for his school and says efforts to turn lives around in the region are needed. “It is my belief that development of mind and body in every ramification is the most needed ingredient in that region.”

In November, Igali was attacked by thieves who broke into his family’s home. Igali can talk about the volatile situation in Nigeria and offer some first-hand insights into the conflict brewing over oil profits.