Lagos: Nigeria`s main rebel group on Saturday called off a truce in the oil-rich Niger Delta, threatening an "all-out onslaught" and adding to the political and economic woes of Africa`s oil and gas giant.
The announcement is a fresh blow for the government amid uncertainty over the health of the country`s president, in hospital in Saudi Arabia for more than two months, which has sparked an unprecedented political crisis.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the most sophisticated and daring of the militants operating in the region, had declared the unilateral ceasefire on October 25 to give a chance to "meaningful" dialogue with authorities.
But three months on, MEND said: "It is sufficiently clear that the government of Nigeria has no intentions of considering the demands made by this group for the control of the resources and land of the Niger Delta to be reverted to the rightful owners, the people of the Niger Delta.”
"All companies related to the oil industry in the Niger Delta should prepare for an all-out onslaught against their installations and personnel," warned MEND, adding: "Nothing will be spared."
Previous MEND attacks on Nigeria`s oil industry have contributed to havoc with oil prices on the world market.
At the peak of the attacks, the violence slashed Nigeria`s crude production by about a million barrels a day and saw Angola overtake the west African giant as Africa`s top oil producer
Nigeria is the world`s eighth largest crude exporter.
A key demand from MEND is that local communities benefit from the region`s oil wealth.
The truce was declared just days after President Umaru Yar`Adua held his first direct talks with MEND leader Henry Okah.
It followed a government amnesty offer months earlier, but was breached in December when the rebels attacked a major pipeline jointly operated by Shell and Chevron.
Bureau Report
