Nigerian military troops fight back an attack by armed rebels

Nigerian military troops fought back an attack by armed rebels in the Niger Delta region on 15 September 2008. Authorities stated the attack occurred at an oil facility owned and operated by Royal Dutch Shell. Reports indicate that no one was injured when Shell's Alakiri station suffered significant damage as militants stormed into the oil plant from speedboats and used explosives to set the facility on fire. Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) militant group representatives claimed responsibility for the attack. The MEND group had released a statement on 14 September reiterating warnings to oil workers that the rebels have launched an all out "war" on foreign oil companies.