Rebels to resume attacks on pipelines

Nigeria’s main rebel group said on Saturday it would resume attacks against Africa’s biggest energy industry next month, overshadowing…

Nigeria’s main rebel group said on Saturday it would resume attacks against Africa’s biggest energy industry next month, overshadowing the surrender of hundreds of arms by rebels in an amnesty programme.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), responsible for attacks that have wrought havoc on the Opec member’s oil operations, said it would resume its campaign of violence on September 15th.

Mend, a loose coalition of militant groups, denounced the hundreds of rebels who have participated in President Umaru YarAdua’s 60-day amnesty programme, which aims to stem unrest in the Niger Delta.

“The ongoing amnesty programme by the government of Nigeria seems to have achieved separating those who still have the zeal to fight for our freedom from those who were in it for the money,” the group said.