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Ceasefire called off in Nigeria Ceasefire called off in Nigeria
(10 minutes later)
Militants in Nigeria's oil producing Niger Delta has said it is calling off a four-month ceasefire after a military attack on one of their camps. Militants in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta have said they are calling off a four-month ceasefire after a military attack on a camp.
The Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said they repulsed the attack but did not say if there were any casualties. The attack on a camp belonging to the Niger Delta Vigilantes (NDV) lasted over an hour, militants said.
Another militant group the Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said the attack was repulsed but did not say if there were any casualties.
Mend called the ceasefire after a two-week "oil war" in September.Mend called the ceasefire after a two-week "oil war" in September.
Oil production has been cut in Nigeria by about a fifth since 2006 due to militant attacks on oil infrastructure.Oil production has been cut in Nigeria by about a fifth since 2006 due to militant attacks on oil infrastructure.
The military attacked the camp with gun boats in an assault that lasted over an hour, militants said. Mend is the most publically visible group, but there are a number of other factions that operate under its umbrella, and are subject to shifting alliances.
Mend said the attack was on the camp of an affiliated group, the Niger Delta Vigilantes, in Rivers State.
'Sweeping assault''Sweeping assault'
The group's spokesman told news agency Reuters they sank one of the boats that attacked their camp. An NDV spokesman told Reuters news agency that the group had sunk one of the gunboats that attacked their camp.
The fighting could not be independently verified.The fighting could not be independently verified.
Mend promised a "sweeping assault" on the oil industry.Mend promised a "sweeping assault" on the oil industry.
Mend have announced an end to the ceasefire before, following the killing in January of a militant arrested by the Joint Military Task Force in charge of security in the Delta.
This time they said the ceasefire would end at 0100 local time on Saturday.
Violence has continued in the Delta during the Mend ceasefire, including attacks by Mend "affiliate" organisations.
The announcement comes at a time when violence and kidnapping by armed gangs of jobless youths is on the rise.The announcement comes at a time when violence and kidnapping by armed gangs of jobless youths is on the rise.
Mend say they are fighting a political battle to get more money from oil to the people of the Niger Delta.Mend say they are fighting a political battle to get more money from oil to the people of the Niger Delta.
The Niger Delta Vigilantes, and their leader Ateke Tom, have been in and out of allegiance with Mend over the last three years.The Niger Delta Vigilantes, and their leader Ateke Tom, have been in and out of allegiance with Mend over the last three years.
There are several armed gangs who operate in the Niger Delta that make money through kidnapping and extortion, without any apparent political motive.There are several armed gangs who operate in the Niger Delta that make money through kidnapping and extortion, without any apparent political motive.
On Thursday an 11-year-old girl was killed as she tried to protect her brother from being kidnapped.
And on Sunday armed men kidnapped a catholic priest, who was later released.