Posted by By EDWARD HARRIS on
LAGOS, Nigeria -- Nigeria's main militant group claimed Saturday it killed at least 29 military personnel in three separate attacks across the restive southern oil region.
LAGOS, Nigeria -- Nigeria's main militant group claimed Saturday it killed at least 29 military personnel in three separate attacks across the restive southern oil region.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said in an e-mail statement the battles came in the three main oil producing states of southern Nigeria, leaving 29 dead and others unaccounted for after they jumped from their military boats.
The group reported six of its fighters were also killed in the clashes, which they say they launched as reprisals for attacks they allege the military carried out on civilians.
If confirmed, the death toll would be the highest ever in clashes between militants and the military unit charged with calming the southern area, from which crude is pumped in the country that is Africa's biggest oil producer.
Militants have stepped up attacks in three years of violence aimed at forcing the government to send more oil industry funds to the Niger Delta, which remains impoverished despite five decades of lucrative production.
The militants said the attacks in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states came after sunset and involved fighters wielding machine guns, rocket propelled granades and anti-tank missiles. They said that the raids came in response for civilian deaths caused by the military shooting at boats. plying the myriad creeks and rivers in the region. The military has denied any civilians died in recent weeks.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said in an e-mail statement the battles came in the three main oil producing states of southern Nigeria, leaving 29 dead and others unaccounted for after they jumped from their military boats.
The group reported six of its fighters were also killed in the clashes, which they say they launched as reprisals for attacks they allege the military carried out on civilians.
If confirmed, the death toll would be the highest ever in clashes between militants and the military unit charged with calming the southern area, from which crude is pumped in the country that is Africa's biggest oil producer.
Militants have stepped up attacks in three years of violence aimed at forcing the government to send more oil industry funds to the Niger Delta, which remains impoverished despite five decades of lucrative production.
The militants said the attacks in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states came after sunset and involved fighters wielding machine guns, rocket propelled granades and anti-tank missiles. They said that the raids came in response for civilian deaths caused by the military shooting at boats. plying the myriad creeks and rivers in the region. The military has denied any civilians died in recent weeks.