Nigeria ups security in oil-rich delta

UPI

14 September 2011

Nigeria ups security in oil-rich delta

Shell finds more problems in Nigeria

AdvertisementABUJA, Nigeria, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- A military task force in Nigeria ordered militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta to hand over their weapons, a spokesman for the military said.

The special Joint Task Force issued an order for increased surveillance near oil installations in the oil-rich south, giving militants a deadline for surrender.

"The JTF has issued a deadline of Sept. 18 this year to all militants still bearing arms in the Niger Delta to surrender such weapons at any of the JTF units. Anyone found with arms after the deadline will be arrested and treated as a criminal," JTF spokesman Timothy Antigha told the Platts news service.

Nigeria is dealing with renewed security concerns following a series of attacks by Islamic militant group Boko Haram, which took responsibility for an August attack on U.N. offices in Abuja.

Boko Haram had focused its militancy on Nigeria's north but Platts notes the group this week threatened to bomb universities in the south of the country.

Royal Dutch Shell declared force majeure in Nigeria, meaning it is released from contractual obligations because of circumstances out of its control, through October. The action came after the company said a series of spills in the area may have been the result of sabotage on a pipeline carrying crude oil through the Niger Delta.