Nigeria’s MEND Says It Killed 15 Security Personnel In Gunfight

The Nigerian Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, the main rebel group in the area, said it killed 15 security personnel in an attack in the southern oil-producing Bayelsa state.

Two rebels also died in yesterday’s gunfight, which lasted for 40 minutes at a river in the Azuzuama area in Southern Ijaw local government region, MEND spokesman Jomo Gbomo said in an e- mailed statement today.

“All oil companies and the public are advised to ignore the false sense of security” portrayed by the security agencies “as we remain resolute in our resumption of hostilities,” Gbomo said.

The attack comes after MEND warned on April 3 they would resume their operations on April 5 after their suspected leader, Henry Okah, was sentenced to 24 years in prison in South Africa.

The rebel group will start to carry out “a plague of attacks,” Gbomo said last week. “The attacks will be sustained until an unreserved apology is offered to MEND and the Nigerian government shows their willingness for dialogue.”

Bayelsa state police spokesman Kingsley Omire said earlier today 11 policemen were still missing after unknown gunmen opened fire on them when they were on a boat heading to Azuzuama on April 5. 

The boat was carrying 15 policemen and the four policemen jumped into the river and were rescued, he said.

Omire said it was too early to know who the attackers were.