Saudi ambassador to UK voted MENA diplomat of 2025    Saudi Awwal Bank signs SR2 billion credit facility with Saudi Binladin Group to propel development of King Fahd Sports City in Riyadh    Feast of Flavors and Prizes: LuLu Hypermarket kicks off the "World Food Festival" across Saudi Arabia    Pakistan closes airspace, suspends visaas in tit-for-tat measures against India    Saudia Group signs deal with Airbus for flyadeal's first wide-body aircraft    Saudi non-oil exports surge 14.3 percent to SR26.11bn in February    Saudi, Greek ministers co-chair inaugural meeting of Strategic Culture Committee    Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 26, Palestinian officials say    Trump's trade war olive branch met with derision and mistrust inside China    Ministry of Justice launches centralized court model to enhance judicial efficiency    Kyiv hit by deadly Russian missile and drone attack    Saudi Arabia elected chair of Asia region of World Meteorological Organization    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Super Max Verstappen scorches to pole with record lap in Jeddah    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Amnesty for Nigerian oil militants underway
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 06 - 08 - 2009


A 60-day amnesty for militant groups in
Nigeria's restive Niger Delta came into effect on Thursday - a move
the government hopes will end attacks on oil facilities, according to dpa.
Nigeria's main militant group the Movement for the Emancipation of
the Niger Delta (MEND) has conducted a long-running campaign of
sabotage in the oil-producing Niger Delta, cutting the West African
nation's oil production by over 20 per cent since early 2006.
President Umaru Yar'Adua in late June unveiled the amnesty,
offering a presidential pardon, education and training to those who
lay down their arms within that period. One of MEND's leaders Henry
Okah, who was arrested in Angola in 2007 on charges of treason and
gun-running, was also released.
However, it is not yet clear if MEND or other groups will
officially take up the offer.
MEND has said it will cease all attacks during the amnesty period
and admitted that one of its commanders, Ebikabowei Victor Ben -
known as Boyloaf - was in talks to return to civilian life.
However, MEND said it would wait for ongoing negotiations to be
completed before revealing its intentions.
"When we choose to disarm, it will be done freely; knowing that
the reason for our uprising , which is the emancipation of the Niger
Delta from neglect and injustice, has been achieved," MEND spokesman
Jomo Gbomo said in an emailed statement.
Militants operating in the delta say they are fighting for a
larger share of the wealth for local residents, who complain the oil
industry has ruined their agriculture and fishing livelihoods.
However, illegal bunkering - the practice of tapping into oil
pipelines and selling the crude on the black market - takes place in
the background of the conflict.
Many of the gangs are backed by businessmen and politicians, who
are believed to make millions of dollars each day from siphoning off
oil.
Analysts say that the amnesty deal, which is not the first such
offer, may not seem particularly tempting with such huge sums of cash
on offer.
Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation, with around 150 million
inhabitants. Despite its massive oil wealth, most Nigerians live in
poverty.


Clic here to read the story from its source.