Militants in western Niger Delta threaten chaos

On 24 November 2008 militants in the western Niger Delta threatened chaos in the region unless the local military commander is removed. The Ijaw Youth Leaders Forum (IYLF) -- which is essentially the political arm of a network of militants and activists from the ethnic Ijaw community -- stated that it will interrupt shipping and attack oil and gas facilities run by the U.S. oil company Chevron if its demands are not met. Chevron has already declared force majeure on its Escravos crude oil facility as a result of attacks on its pipelines in recent weeks. The threat has raised the prospect of a new campaign of violence against the oil industry in the restive Niger Delta.