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The Movement for
the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has described the Federal
Government’s amnesty programme for former militants from the Niger
Delta region as a failure, accusing President Goodluck Jonathan of
bribing them to sing his praise.

“The amnesty is a
colossal failure as far as we are concerned. The government claims to
be sending so-called ex-militants to places like Ghana and Malaysia for
training. We find this very laughable as we know they would end with
worthless certificates and given jobs as labourers if employed by the
oil companies. The real fighters are who we have as they understand
what they stand and fight for.

“The so-called
ex-militants are not singing Jonathans praises for nothing. They are
being bribed to do so. They know in their hearts that the amnesty is a
big failure.” Jomo Gbomo, the group’s spokesperson said this while
responding to questions from NEXT reporters. The group, however,
restated its plan to “get rid of all Western oil companies operating in
the region that have only polluted and destroyed our land with impunity
and connived with the government to hide the extent of damages caused.”

Threats of bomb attack

In an earlier
e-mail sent on Monday with the theme, ‘Bomb blasts and oil
installations attack’, the group had announced its desire to “soon
commence with simultaneous bomb blasts and attacks on oil installations
in the Niger Delta and other strategic locations in Abuja and Lagos
States of Nigeria.” According to the group, in order to avert avoidable
loss of lives, “advance warnings for immediate evacuation as previously
will be issued and a final warning thirty (30) minutes prior to the
blasts, after which will follow a statement of claim in line with our
modus operandi.” However, when asked why some of its previous e-mail
notifications had not been carried out, Mr Gbomo said “Previous threats
have been issued but not yet carried out for security reasons best
known to us. It is up to the general public to yield to this warning
for their best interest. The security services know themselves that
there is a massive planned attack but don’t know when or where.” The
group however warned the general public to steer clear of all political
gatherings or meetings of any sort.

Reaction to the warning

Already, people are
responding to the threat issued by the group. The Action Congress of
Nigeria has since cancelled its presidential rally to Bayelsa State for
security reasons. The National Youth Leader of the party, Ebikibina
Miriki, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the
party’s flag bearer Nuhu Ribadu’s rally was cancelled by the national
headquarters due to security reports.

He said the party has decided to take its campaign to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The Inspector
General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Abubakar Ringim has called on Nigerians
to disregard the threats by the Movement for Emancipation of Niger
Delta to bomb Abuja, Lagos and some oil installations.

Mr Ringim, however, urged Nigerians to be cautious and report any suspicious movement