Nigerian militants warn of bomb attacks on oil industry

Lagos (Platts)--14Mar2011/724 am EDT/1124 GMT

Nigerian militants said Monday they will begin bombing oil installations in the Niger Delta and other targets in the country's key cities, to protest the government's failure to address the lack of development in the region.

The militants, claiming to be members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, issued the threat in an e-mailed statement to reporters using the group's usual address.

"The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta will soon commence with simultaneous bomb blasts and attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta and other strategic locations in Abuja and Lagos states of Nigeria," the statement said.

The statement, signed by Gbomo Jomo, said President Goodluck Jonathan had not shown willingness to address the key issues in the Niger Delta, and warned the public to stay away from political campaign rallies.

Former MEND leaders on February 25 declared that the notorious militant group no longer existed and was not capable of further attacks against the oil and gas industry. They said some criminal elements were using the group's name, however.

MEND has issued warnings on three occasions so far this year of threats to attack oil installation but failed to carry out such threats.

MEND was responsible for the most of the attacks on Nigeria's oil production facilities between 2006 and 2009, which cut the country's output down to around 1 million b/d from 2.6 million b/d.

The government's amnesty and unconditional pardon to militants in October 2009 saw thousands surrender their weapons, ending hostilities in the region and helping Nigeria's oil production rebound to 2.6 million b/d, according to government figures.

--Staff, newsdesk@platts.com

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