Nigerian kidnap gang threatens rocket attacks

[EuroObserver]

WARRI, Nigeria (AFP) - Separatist militants threatened to fire rockets into Nigerian oil terminals, amid confusion over talks aimed at securing the release of four kidnapped foreign oil workers
...

Meanwhile, the apparent hostage-takers threatened to step up a campaign of violence against Africa's largest oil industry, which has already killed more than 20 people and slashed production by 211,000 barrels per day.

A spokeswoman for President Olusegun Obasanjo's government, Remi Oyo, told AFP that a panel set up to find a "political solution" to the crisis had made contact with the kidnappers and had been assured of the hostages' safety. But in an email statement, the self-styled Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), denied this and threatened to step up its attacks unless two ethnic Ijaw leaders are released from prison. "Till date, our demands have not been attended to. We do not recognize this panel or its members. We have no dealings with it or its members," the statement said, as the oilmen endured their 10th day as hostages. The statement, signed by a Jomo Gbomo, also warned: "As earlier promised, we will step up our attacks on the Nigerian oil industry. We are expanding our targets to include petroleum product carrying road tankers in and around the Niger Delta. Drivers of such vehicles must understand that they cannot be protected," it threatened.

On January 11, the same day as the hostages were taken, the group blew up a major oil pipeline. Four days later, armed militants overran an oil plant run by the energy giant Shell, killing two oil workers and at least five soldiers. Following the attack, MEND claimed to have captured a large arsenal of military weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades and launchers.

/more... http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060121/afp/060121192959eco.html

[951-Riverside]

1. Are these the same morons that threatened to kill their other hostages...

...if their American hostage dies?

[EuroObserver]

2. That seems doubtful now:

It seems there are other groups pretending they're the kidnappers trying to get their hands on some money or kudos or whatever.

The BBC on Thursday had this (from Reuters):

Nigerian militants who kidnapped four foreign oil workers a week ago have dropped a Thursday deadline for their demands to be met, they say.

They say the four - from the UK, US, Honduras and Bulgaria - will not be harmed unless the authorities try to rescue them, Reuters reports.

They also say that they do not want money but insist that two ethnic Ijaw leaders be freed from custody.

/more...

But these guys with the rocket-grenades seem to be the real kidnappers.