MILITANT GROUP THREATEN TO END CEASEFIRE

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) militant group announced that it is planning to resume attacks on foreign oil and gas installations and personnel after its ceasefire ends on 15 October. The group added that it will “burn down all attacked installations,” no longer limiting its actions "to the destruction of pipelines." MEND announced its ceasefire in July 2009 in order to allow time for talks concerning the government's amnesty proposal. Although several prominent militant faction leaders accepted the amnesty, MEND dismissed the offer, saying that its provisions did not adequately address the group’s grievances.