The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has threatened to disrupt Nigeria’s observance of the 51st independence anniversary on 1 Oct. with bombs, just like it did during the 50th anniversary.
‘On October 1, 2011, The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) intends to place bombs within and in the immediate vicinity of Eagle Square, venue for the proposed 2011 independence anniversary celebrations,’ the group said in a statement e-mailed to journalists on Wednesday night.
‘The general public is strongly advised to consider this as a first and final warning. No additional warnings will be issued subsequent to deployment or detonation of these devices which will be novel in nature,’ the statement said.
MEND said after 51 years of independence, Nigerians still have nothing to celebrate, the same reason it gave for using car bombs to ruin the 50th anniversary last year.
Since the largely successful amnesty for Niger Delta militants, there has been a lull in the attacks by MEND that once cut Nigeria’s oil production by one third.
Instead, the Islamic sect Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for a series of bombings, mostly in the northern part of the country and the capital city of Abuja.