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| Nigeria rebels claim Lagos attack | Nigeria rebels claim Lagos attack |
| (4 days later) | |
| Nigeria's most prominent militant 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 militant 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). |
| Some officials have confirmed there was an attack but another said it was a fire not caused by the militants. | Some officials have confirmed there was an attack but another said it was a fire not caused by the militants. |
| The attack marks a major escalation in Mend's activities. | The attack marks a major escalation in Mend's activities. |
| Its previous attacks have mostly been much further to the south-east, in Rivers and Delta States. | Its previous attacks have mostly been much further to the south-east, in Rivers and Delta States. |
| 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. |
| Militant message | Militant message |
| In a statement, Mend said that "heavily armed" men had "carried out an unprecedented attack on the Atlas Cove Jetty in Lagos" at 2230 (2130 GMT) 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 (2130 GMT) 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. |
| A reporter for the Reuters news agency has confirmed damage to the pipeline and terminal, which has shut for repairs. | A reporter for the Reuters news agency has confirmed damage to the pipeline and terminal, which has shut for repairs. |
| Staff from the state-run oil firm NNPC told the BBC there was a huge explosion, followed by gunfire which lasted for around 30 minutes. | Staff from the state-run oil firm NNPC told the BBC there was a huge explosion, followed by gunfire which lasted for around 30 minutes. |
| But they say there was no loss of life. | But they say there was no loss of life. |
| The BBC's Caroline Duffield in Lagos says the timing of the attacks is significant, coming at a time when the government has offered an amnesty to the militants. | The BBC's Caroline Duffield in Lagos says the timing of the attacks is significant, coming at a time when the government has offered an amnesty to the militants. |
| She says they are sending a message to the government - that they will continue to use violence at the same time as negotiation. | She says they are sending a message to the government - that they will continue to use violence at the same time as negotiation. |
| They hope to put greater pressure on the government to extract greater concessions as part of the amnesty. | They hope to put greater pressure on the government to extract greater concessions as part of the amnesty. |
| They want to show they have the capability to strike anywhere - even Lagos, the country's economic heart, our correspondent says. | They want to show they have the capability to strike anywhere - even Lagos, the country's economic heart, our correspondent says. |
| 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. |
| Release imminent? | Release imminent? |
| The government recently offered an amnesty to members of any militant group which laid down its weapons - including Mend leader Henry Okah. | The government recently offered an amnesty to members of any militant group which laid down its weapons - including Mend leader Henry Okah. |
| He is facing treason and gun-running charges since his arrest in Angola in 2007. His release has been a key demand of Mend militant group. | He is facing treason and gun-running charges since his arrest in Angola in 2007. His release has been a key demand of Mend militant group. |
| On Friday, lawyers for Mr Okah said he had accepted the amnesty offer and his lawyers say he is expected to be freed early this week. | On Friday, lawyers for Mr Okah said he had accepted the amnesty offer and his lawyers say he is expected to be freed early this week. |
| But Mr Okah remains in jail while the terms of his release are negotiated. | But Mr Okah remains in jail while the terms of his release are negotiated. |
| Lawyer Femi Falana told the AFP news agency that Mr Okah would appear at a hearing later and that it was "most likely" that the attorney general would decide not to pursue the case against him. | Lawyer Femi Falana told the AFP news agency that Mr Okah would appear at a hearing later and that it was "most likely" that the attorney general would decide not to pursue the case against him. |
| 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. |