Nigeria: Explosions heard during amnesty talks

[March 15, 2010]  LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) -- Twin explosions rocked a government building in Nigeria's restive and oil-rich Niger Delta region Monday, only minutes after a militant group promised to attack amnesty talks being held there, a government spokesman said.

Delta state spokesman Linus Chima told The Associated Press that two people were injured in the bombing, which occurred at a government building in Warri. Chima said it initially appeared that the two bombs were placed inside cars near where a Nigerian newspaper, Vanguard, was helping hold a discussion with government officials about an amnesty deal offered to militants in the region.

Chima said he had no other information, but yelling could be heard in the background during the telephone call.

"I think it was a deliberate attempt to sabotage the peace talks," Chima said.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, the main militant group in the region, issued a statement to reporters only minutes before the attack. The group claimed to have planted three bombs around the building.

"The deceit of endless dialogue and conferences will no longer be tolerated," the group's statement read. "The lands of the people of the Niger Delta was stolen by the oil companies and Northern Nigeria with the stroke of a pen."

The group also promised to launch new attacks against oil companies in the coming days.

Militants in the Niger Delta have attacked pipelines, kidnapped petroleum company employees and fought government troops since January 2006. They demand that the federal government send more oil-industry funds to Nigeria's southern region, which remains poor despite five decades of oil production. They also criticize the oil giants for polluting their rivers with spilled oil and flared excess gas produced when drilling.

The region became peaceful after negotiations began for the government-sponsored amnesty program, which planned to offer cash payoffs for militants to abandon the fighting. Some militants also heralded Goodluck Jonathan becoming acting president as a positive sign, as he is the first Niger Delta politician to take over the country's highest office. However, many militants have grown restless in recent weeks as they say the government has stalled the peace process.

[Associated Press; By JON GAMBRELL]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.