Nigerian military dismisses MEND's threat to attack SA interests

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The Nigerian military on Monday dismissed threats by the militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to attack South African interests in Nigeria, especially the telecommunication firm MTN.

Spokesman for the military Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to the Niger Delta oil region, Lt.-Col. Nwachukwu Onyema, said the task force is ready to counter any threat by the militants and protect all facilities in the region.

MEND said in a statement on Saturday that it would attack South Africa's investments in Nigeria following the continued detention of its leader, Mr. Henry Okah, by the South African authorities.

Mr. Okah is facing trial in South Africa over the 1 Oct. 2010 bombing in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, that left a dozen people dead during the country's 50th independence anniversary.

Lt.-Col Onyema said with the successful amnesty programme of 2009, MEND had ceased to exist because its perceived leaders had embraced the programme.
-0- PANA SEG 16April2012