Nigeria’s most prominent militant group on Saturday warned oil companies in the restive Niger Delta to withdraw their workers in the next 24 hours after security forces attacked rebel strongholds.
UPDATE: Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, spokesman for the military task force in Rivers state, said security forces with the aid of helicopters exchanged gunfire with militants in Tombia after a military patrol boat was attacked.
He said there were no casualties.
“From: Jomo Gbomo
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2008 12:27 PM
Subject: Government Troops begin full scale offensive on MEND camps!
At about 0900 Hrs today, September 13, 2008, the armed forces of Nigeria began a full scale aerial and marine offensive on the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) positions and neighboring Ijaw communities in Rivers state with helicopter gunships, jet fighters and over 20 gun boats and landing crafts filled with heavily armed soldiers mainly from the northern axis of Nigeria.
We hold the governor of Rivers state and the president of Nigeria accountable for the genocide on the defenseless civilians who are bearing the brunt from indiscriminate airforce bombs.
All MEND positions in the Niger delta will respond to this unprovoked attack coming at a time the government is canvassing the so-called Niger Delta Ministry to hoodwink the people.
Rotimi Amaechi, the governor of Rivers state must realize that this action also puts his family and community at the risk of reprisals with dire consequences.
Oil companies are warned to move out their workers within the next 24 hours because a hurricane is about to sweep through oil installations in the entire Niger Delta region.
An update on the fighting will be continuously relayed.
Jomo Gbomo”