MEND threatens more attacks on oil companies in Nigeria
MEND – the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, on Tuesday renewed promises that it will will once again target oil facilities in the Niger Delta.
The group reiterated the threat in a statement released only days after they claimed responsibility for the attack on a marine police checkpoint in the Nembe River in Bayelsa State that left at least four police officers dead.
“The government of Nigeria seeks to mislead Nigerians and the rest of the world into thinking the unrest in the Delta is over,” MEND said in the statement.
“The oil companies know better and when we commence with our planned attacks on major oil facilities, we wonder what excuses the Joint Task Force will have,” it added.
Recently, the JTF had debunked claims by MEND that it was responsible for the murder of the Bayelsa naval policemen.
Director of naval information, Commodore Kabir Aliyu, recently paraded a suspect, said to be the only surviving assailant.
He said the attacker, identified as Mr. Apudu Gole, was not a member of the militant group, but part of a smaller group.
Aliyu said, “the attack on the JTF personnel in the last three months along Nigeria’s territorial waters have been carried out by a few uncoordinated groups within the Niger Delta,” adding that the revelation exposes “the lies and deception of the so-called MEND.”
MEND had launched its violent campaign and onslaught on oil companies in Nigeria between 2006 and 2009. The group had maintained that they were fighting for equal rights and better distribution of oil wealth in the impoverished oil-producing southern delta of Nigeria.
Its activities had cut oil production in Nigeria, but a 2009 amnesty program instituted by the government led to a significant decline in militant activities.
However, the group resurfaced again, claiming the February 5 attacks on an oil pipeline owned by EniSpA in the Brass area.
MEND – the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, on Tuesday renewed promises that it will will once again target oil facilities in the Niger Delta.
The group reiterated the threat in a statement released only days after they claimed responsibility for the attack on a marine police checkpoint in the Nembe River in Bayelsa State that left at least four police officers dead.
“The government of Nigeria seeks to mislead Nigerians and the rest of the world into thinking the unrest in the Delta is over,” MEND said in the statement.
“The oil companies know better and when we commence with our planned attacks on major oil facilities, we wonder what excuses the Joint Task Force will have,” it added.
Recently, the JTF had debunked claims by MEND that it was responsible for the murder of the Bayelsa naval policemen.
Director of naval information, Commodore Kabir Aliyu, recently paraded a suspect, said to be the only surviving assailant.
He said the attacker, identified as Mr. Apudu Gole, was not a member of the militant group, but part of a smaller group.
Aliyu said, “the attack on the JTF personnel in the last three months along Nigeria’s territorial waters have been carried out by a few uncoordinated groups within the Niger Delta,” adding that the revelation exposes “the lies and deception of the so-called MEND.”
MEND had launched its violent campaign and onslaught on oil companies in Nigeria between 2006 and 2009. The group had maintained that they were fighting for equal rights and better distribution of oil wealth in the impoverished oil-producing southern delta of Nigeria.
Its activities had cut oil production in Nigeria, but a 2009 amnesty program instituted by the government led to a significant decline in militant activities.
However, the group resurfaced again, claiming the February 5 attacks on an oil pipeline owned by EniSpA in the Brass area.
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