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Just as the Federal Government yesterday made good its promise by releasing Henry Okah, leader of the main militant group, a surprise attack was launched Sunday on Atlas Cove Jetty, the main reception facility for imported refined petroleum products by elements of a Niger Delta group.
Although the attack damaged the manifold of the jetty, it was not enough to impede petroleum products.
However, five people, including a naval lieutenant, a rating and three other unidentified men killed in the resulting inferno.
The attack came just as Okah, leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) was yesterday released by the Federal Government as part of the general amnesty granted all militants to end the conflict in the oil rich Niger Delta.
Michael Aondoakaa, minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation (AGF), was on hand to facilitate the release of the militant leader.
Aondoakaa cited “nolle prosequi” as the reason for Okah’s release.
“Having reviewed what the attorney general said, you have become a free man at this moment. You are now discharged,” Justice Mohammed Liman told Okah yesterday at a hearing in Jos.
One of Okah’s lawyers confirmed his client had been freed and would travel to the capital Abuja later yesterday.
“We are relieved this has finally happened after more than a year,” the lawyer said
The rebel leader is the first senior militant to participate in the federal amnesty programme, which President Umaru Yar’Adua created last month in hopes of halting the unrest in the Niger Delta.
Nigerians, on Monday, condemned the attack expressing surprise that the attack is coming at a time the economy needed a peaceful environment to attract investments.
Bashir Borodo, president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), said the attack on Atlas Cove in Lagos is shocking and disappointing as it will have negative impact on every sector of the economy because that is where the bulk of oil is coming from for now. He described the attack as “a disaster to the economy”.
Muda Yusuf, director general, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it is a dangerous dimension, noting that it poses a new security risk.
He said such attack on a very sensitive facility like Atlas Cove could paralyse the economy, saying it is a very bad omen and a disturbing development.
Yusuf added that the attack is a wake up call to beef up security around sensitive facilities across the country.
Reacting to the attack, John Aluya, chairman, Apapa branch of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), said it means the economy will be in danger, noting that the attack will cripple business activities in the country.
He, however, called on government to take urgent steps to address the prevailing atmosphere hindering the growth of manufacturing, saying, “it is time to stop playing politics and face squarely the problems facing our nation so as to create massive employment, and repair basic infrastructure, else Nigeria’s quest to be among the comity of developed nations and the target of vision 20-2020 may remain a mirage.”
The group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mohammed Barkindo, told journalists while inspecting the damaged manifold of the jetty that the incident was strange as it had never happened in the area before.
Also with Barkindo during the tour were Abdulsalam Mohammed, managing director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the chief of naval staff, Ishaya Ibrahim.
The attack was said to have started at about 8pm on Sunday when the militants stormed with four speed boats until 11.30 pm when they blew up the manifold of the jetty. 
Acknowledging that the authorities were caught unawares by the attack as the facility had 24 hours security, Barkindo assured that the magnitude of the damage would not affect the supply of fuel. “As far as we are concerned, this is the first time this type of incident is happening at the Atlas Cove and its environ. Literally everybody concerned was taken by surprise because these facilities have been secured 24 hours bases seven days a week”.
According to the NNPC boss no staff or officials of the corporation lost his or her life despite the fact that some of the people who are said to have been working as support staff for several years , about three of them were killed in the incident along with two naval officials.
 The fire that engulfed the facilities according to him was put off at about 4.10 am yesterday morning. Construction giant Julius Berger was mobilised to put off the fire. The vehicles belonging to the company and other fire service vehicles were stationed at the jetty
The security house housing the naval official was completely burnt down just as the building housing the transformer that supplies power to the jetty
“The jetty supplies 35 percent of the nation’s need in terms of fuel supply.”
The pumping of fuel to the storage tanks in the jetty would now done through the Single Point Mooring Bouy which is about seven nautical miles into the sea.
 The chief of naval staff Ishaya Ibrahim said the navy is committed to protect the interest of the country any where and would give the NNPC the necessary support to ensure that the supply of petroleum product in the country is done without hitches.
He said the incident would not the Navy to waver nor deter from it commitment of save guiding the facilities that strategic to the country economically.
 He said the children of those that are involved in this act would see peace whoever they may be and whatever position they would attained.