The main armed rebel group in oil-rich southern Nigeria said it will make public its decision after midnight on whether or not to renew its amnesty-linked truce which expires on Tuesday.
“That decision will be made public after midnight tonight,” the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said in response to an AFP email asking if the ceasefire will be extended or if attacks are to resume.
MEND which has waged an “oil war” targeting oil installations and the military deployed in the oil hub, declared in July a 60-day truce in response to a government offer for unconditional amnesty.
The ceasefire came shortly after the release of its leader Henry Okah, who had been jailed for close to two years on charges of treason and gun-running.
MEND says it is fighting oil companies operating in the Delta and the federal authorities to ensure that the desperately impoverished people of the Niger Delta benefit from the oil income.
Militant activities have disrupted operations of oil companies in southern Nigeria, resulting in a sharp decline in production since 2006.
While some of the activists have publicly denounced the militancy and surrendered their arms, there are many other groups and factions yet undecided on the amnesty offer.
MEND has not clearly stated its position as a group although one of its commanders has already surrendered some arms.
In August MEND said of the ceasefire: “We are prepared to keep it and even extend it if the conditions are encouraging.”
On Monday it said it was waiting for directives from Okah on how to proceed after the expiration of the ceasefire.
The government’s amnesty which began on August 6 runs through October 4.
A government team overseeing the implementation of the deal said early this month a “huge” number of militants had embraced the amnesty offer making it so far a “huge” success. But no figures have been given of the estimated 10,000 militants believed to be in the region.
It also said it was holding “informal talks” with key leaders of the various armed groups in the oil-rich region of Nigeria, the world’s eighth largest oil exporter.