MEND faction disowns October 1 bombing threat

The Nation

1 October 2011

MEND faction disowns October 1 bombing threat

A wing of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF), has dissociated itself from plans by the group to blow up the venue of the 51st Independence celebration in Abuja today.

The NDLF, formed by deceased MEND Commander, ‘General’ John Togo, said it was not a party to the plot, adding that the faction behind the threat “does not represent the interest of the good people in the Niger Delta struggle, and we NDLF, a very strong organisation, condemn the threat.”

It will be recalled that a faction of the group, purportedly led by Henry Okah, who is standing trial in South Africa for alleged connection with last year’s blast, threatened to bomb the

Eagle Square

today.

Already, President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered a low-key celebration, ostensibly as a result of the threat by the group and it’s northern counterpart, BOKO Haram, even though the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, claimed the subdued celebration has nothing to do with security threats.

But Captain Mark Anthony, speaking on behalf of NDLF yesterday, fingered unknown northern leaders as the masterminds of the latest bomb threat.