Nigerian oil militants extend ceasefire, warn government

Sep 16, 2009, 8:49 GMT

Nairobi/Abuja - Nigeria's main militant group said Wednesday it was extending a ceasefire for 30 days but warned it would resume attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta if its grievances were not addressed.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has conducted a long-running campaign of sabotage, cutting the West African nation's oil production by over 20 per cent since early 2006.

'MEND is extending its unilateral ceasefire which expired midnight, September 15, 2009, by 30 days,' MEND spokesman Jomo Gbomo said in a statement. 'The government should use this extension ... to do the right thing instead of pretending to talk peace while arming the military for a war it can not win.'

The group announced a sixty-day ceasefire in early August as a response to a government amnesty offering a presidential pardon, education and training to those who laid down their arms.

Despite the extension, MEND spokesman Jomo Gbomo said the group did not recognize the amnesty as it did not provide for any 'meaningful dialogue' on the root causes of the unrest.

Militants operating in the delta say they are fighting for a larger share of the wealth for local residents, who complain the oil industry has ruined their agriculture and fishing livelihoods.

However, illegal bunkering - the practice of tapping into oil pipelines and selling the crude on the black market - takes place in the background of the conflict.

Many of the gangs are backed by businessmen and politicians, who are believed to make millions of dollars from the trade.

Some militant leaders have taken the opportunity to dump their weapons and return to civilian life.

This week, however, a faction warned it would break the ceasefire. The faction is believed to be led by Henry Okah, who was released as part of the amnesty deal despite facing charges of treason and gun-running.