Nigerian oil militants threaten new attacks

AFP

14 July 2011

Nigerian oil militants threaten new attacks

LAGOS — Militants in Nigeria's southern oil delta on Thursday issued a new threat to resume hostilities as authorities battle a wave of bomb attacks blamed on Islamists in the north of the country.

"The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is preparing very hard for the resumption of hostilities with the training of new fighters joining our various camps," the group said in a statement.

After a lull in attacks in the Niger Delta, Africa's largest oil-producing region, following an amnesty deal two years ago, renewed violence would pile pressure on the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Jonathan is the first president from the Niger Delta.