Nigeria posted guards yesterday near pipelines damaged by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.
(Sunday Alamba/ Associated Press)
Nigeria fears rebel offensive is widening as militants kill 5 at Lagos oil depot
Nigeria posted guards yesterday near pipelines damaged by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.
(Sunday Alamba/ Associated Press)
Reuters
/
July 14, 2009
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LAGOS, Nigeria - The country’s main militant group widened its offensive against Africa’s biggest oil sector yesterday despite the release of its suspected leader, raising concern there may be further attacks.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, sabotaged an oil offloading dock in Lagos state, killing five people in the group’s first attack outside the Niger Delta since the offensive.
The attack has heightened security concerns beyond the oil industry and dashed hopes that the release of its suspected leader, Henry Okah, would halt the offensive, analysts said.
“What the government has done in the case of Okah is like treating the symptom and not curing the disease,’’ said Abubakar Momoh from Lagos State University. “That will not put an end to militancy because there are many Henry Okahs there, except that they are not as well known.’’
MEND said its fighters set the depot ablaze overnight at the Atlas Cove Jetty in Lagos.
Analysts say the militant group may be trying to strengthen its position before possible talks with the government.
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
