Hundreds of Nigerian rebel fighters gave up their weapons and accepted an amnesty deal on Saturday in the most concerted effort yet to end years of fighting in the oil-producing Niger Delta. Militant leaders Ateke Tom and Farah Dagogo, both responsible for years of attacks on the oil industry in the eastern Niger Delta, led gunmen from camps in the mangrove creeks to the oil hub of Port Harcourt to disarm. Government Tompolo, the final prominent militant who has yet to accept an amnesty offer from President Umaru Yar'Adua, was due to travel to the capital Abuja to meet the president before disarming in the western delta on Sunday, officials said. Tom, the leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante, an ethnic Ijaw militia group, warned that his fighters would resume attacks if authorities fail to make good on their pledge to develop the region. Several groups are waging an “oil war” for a fairer share of oil revenues for the impoverished people of the Niger Delta region. The government of President Umaru Yar'Adua has pledged to develop the region. Some of Tom's fighters, wearing T-shirts bearing his portrait, carried banners saying, “Thanks for amnesty but remember your pledge”, and “You can take the arms but the struggle continues.”
