Nigerian oil delta militants say 'surrendered'

AFP

16 May 2011

Nigerian oil delta militants say 'surrendered'

LAGOS — A renegade militant group targeted in recent days by Nigerian troops in the southern oil producing delta on Monday said it had surrendered, but the military said it was unaware of such a declaration.

The military last week said it was engaged in an operation to flush out the militants in an area of Delta state in the Niger Delta region.

A spokesman for the group calling itself the Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF), said it had ordered its troops out of their bases and to prepare to lay down arms.

The spokesman said the group's leadership had directed its militants to return "to their various towns and villages" and to "hand over unconditionally all NDLF weapons."

The group has claimed responsibility for a number of incidents in the Delta, including attacks on oil facilities. On Monday it said bombs planted at oil installations in recent months had been "de-activated".

A spokesman for a military task force in the region said it was unaware the group had surrendered.