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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Nigeria rebels claim Lagos attack | Nigeria rebels claim Lagos attack |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Nigeria's most prominent rebel group says it carried out an "unprecedented attack" on an oil tanker facility close to the main commercial city of Lagos. | Nigeria's most prominent rebel group says it carried out an "unprecedented attack" on an oil tanker facility close to the main commercial city of Lagos. |
| "The depot and loading tankers moored at the facility are currently on fire," said the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend). | "The depot and loading tankers moored at the facility are currently on fire," said the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend). |
| Residents of the city heard a loud blast, said the AFP news agency, but there was no official confirmation. | |
| Previous attacks by Mend have mostly hit the Niger Delta in the south. | Previous attacks by Mend have mostly hit the Niger Delta in the south. |
| Such attacks have severely cut Nigeria's oil output. Production has been cut by a fifth in the last three years partly as a result of violence. | Such attacks have severely cut Nigeria's oil output. Production has been cut by a fifth in the last three years partly as a result of violence. |
| In a statement, Mend said that "heavily armed" men had "carried out an unprecedented attack on the Atlas Cove Jetty in Lagos" at 2230 hours (2130GMT) on Sunday. | In a statement, Mend said that "heavily armed" men had "carried out an unprecedented attack on the Atlas Cove Jetty in Lagos" at 2230 hours (2130GMT) on Sunday. |
| The jetty is the main entry point for ships entering Nigerian waters from the west and for oil tanker loading. | The jetty is the main entry point for ships entering Nigerian waters from the west and for oil tanker loading. |
| Leader release | Leader release |
| The alleged attack follows claims by Mend in recent days that it had blown up several oil pipelines and captured six foreign crew from onboard an oil tanker. | The alleged attack follows claims by Mend in recent days that it had blown up several oil pipelines and captured six foreign crew from onboard an oil tanker. |
| The government recently offered an amnesty to members of any militant group which laid down its weapons | The government recently offered an amnesty to members of any militant group which laid down its weapons |
| Henry Okah, Mend's leader, is facing treason and gun-running charges since his arrest in Angola in 2007. His release has been a key demand of his Mend militant group. | Henry Okah, Mend's leader, is facing treason and gun-running charges since his arrest in Angola in 2007. His release has been a key demand of his Mend militant group. |
| On Friday, lawyers for Mr Okah said he had accepted the amnesty offer and he is expected to released early this week. | On Friday, lawyers for Mr Okah said he had accepted the amnesty offer and he is expected to released early this week. |
| "The case is coming up tomorrow," lawyer Femi Falana told the AFP news agency on Sunday. | "The case is coming up tomorrow," lawyer Femi Falana told the AFP news agency on Sunday. |
| He said it was "most likely" that the attorney general would decide not to pursue the case against Mr Okah. | He said it was "most likely" that the attorney general would decide not to pursue the case against Mr Okah. |
| The Mend rebels have been fighting the rights of local people in the Niger Delta and for an increased share of Nigeria's vast oil wealth. | The Mend rebels have been fighting the rights of local people in the Niger Delta and for an increased share of Nigeria's vast oil wealth. |
| In Sunday's statement, the group said the problems facing Nigeria were "nothing to do with militant freedom fighters but with the corrupt political leadership and certain arrogant tribes still living on past glory". | In Sunday's statement, the group said the problems facing Nigeria were "nothing to do with militant freedom fighters but with the corrupt political leadership and certain arrogant tribes still living on past glory". |
| But the government has in the past dismissed Mend as criminals. | But the government has in the past dismissed Mend as criminals. |