Oil militants threaten independence day attacks

LAGOS (AFP) – Militants from  oil producing Niger Delta on Wednesday threatened to bomb areas in the capital Abuja, scene of last year’s Independence Day bombings which killed 12 people.

Abuja’s Eagle Square which MEND threatened to target usually hosts the main celebrations of Independence Day which comes up on Saturday.

“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) intends to place bombs within the vicinity of Eagle Square, venue of the proposed 2011 independence anniversary celebrations,” the group said in a statement.

MEND which claimed responsibility for last year’s twin bombings near the same venue, issued the threat in a statement emailed to journalists.

It warned the members of the public to take the warning seriously, adding that the attack “will be novel in nature”.

The group has been known to carry out most of its threats.

It is not exactly clear if authorities plan to hold any festivities this year, given a series of attacks that have rocked the capital recently.

An Islamist group, known as Boko Haram, has staged several attacks mainly in the north and in the capital city this year, including a suicide attack on the UN headquarters which claimed 23 lives in August.