afrol News, 26 June - Nigerian oil militants vowed to breach ceasefire agreement made last Sunday following a blockade at militia camp by Nigeria's Joint Task Force (JTF).

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) which declared ceasefire just days after one of its most daring attacks so far, which forced Royal Dutch Shell to halt its operations on its main Nigerian offshore oilfield in Bonga, had its camp raided and 15 of its militia killed in the process.

The raid was a result of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua last weekend directive to the country's task force to flush out militants in the Niger Delta.

MEND spokesperson, Mr Jomo Gbomo said heavily armed Nigerian military boats blocked all access channels to one of its major camps last Tuesday, which was a clear indication that the army was ready to invade its camp.

MEND which declared ceasefire in respect of pleas by elders after being assured of mediation between government and MEND, expressed its wishes and willingness to respect its unilateral ceasefire but said it would not hesitate to call it off if they are being provoked by government.

Mr Gbomo warned Nigeria government that the organisation would embark on guerilla tactics to destruct the entire oil industry along the Niger Delta if any of its camps would be attacked by Nigeria Armed Forces.

He described Nigerian government's attitude to resolving the Niger Delta crisis as hypocrisy, saying the only way to bring peace to the region was to release Mr Henry Okah - one of MEND leaders who is facing a 48-count charge in the country's courts - unconditionally and to allow him become part of the peace process.

Nigeria's Niger delta region has seen most militant attacks during the last two years, targeted mainly on oil infrastructure pushing production down to a quarter of total capacity.

Recent attacks on oil infrastructure are also targeted to labour deployed at oil fields in the delta, with latest abduction of two expatriates four weeks ago at Omoku who have just been released.

The Nigerian government has promised to hold a summit with the Niger Delta communities to try to resolve piracy problem in the region though a date has not yet been announced.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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