Kidnapped McKinney Man Gets an Up-Close Look Into Nigeria's Oily Heart of Darkness

For a long time, Plake would search the Internet every morning for news of Egbema One or MEND. Not anymore.

Earlier this year, Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua granted amnesty to a host of militants in the Niger Delta. According to Vanguard, a news publication covering the country, Egbema One was on the amnesty list. Yar'Adua has also reportedly directed his government to step up its efforts to rebuild and develop the region. But still, the violence only seems to increase. MEND has recently taken credit for a rash of pipeline bombings against Shell and Chevron, propelling Chevron to evacuate hundreds of employees from the area, according to The Christian Science Monitor. The group continues to wage attacks against the oil companies, claiming that amnesty is not enough to solve the long-standing problems.

Allison V. Smith

Courtesy of Larry Plake

Plake (seated far right) talks to A Russian reporter who stumbled upon the hostages while writing a story about the Niger Delta region.

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More About

• Larry Plake
• Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta
• Kevin Faller
• New York Crime
• Kidnapping

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The irony of it all is not lost on Plake.

"The group I had heard about and was most afraid of, MEND, were the ones who ended up rescuing us," he says. "I've been told it never happened before or ever since. I understand their plight more now and the reason why they do all this. I'm very appreciative because no one else was coming to get us. But the bottom line is that I got out. I'm here now, and I'm staying put."