Italian oil giant ENI-Nigeria - In it second online message in as many days, Nigeria's militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has said Italian oil giant ENI would be the first oil firm to be attacked when the group resumes its attacks in the region soon. 'Due to doubts as to the authenticity of our previous statement by the (military) Joint Task Force (JTF), the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is again stating it clearly that we will be commencing with our promised attacks on the oil industry and the occupying Nigerian government forces in the Niger Delta, starting with the ENI group, the occupying government forces and then all other oil companies operating in the Niger Delta,' MEND said in its latest statement

It also said that the group does not respect President Goodluck Jonathan, even though he hails from the oil region.

'Rather than addressing the root issues responsible for militancy in the Niger Delta, he is misleading gullible foreign investors and the oil companies operating in the Niger Delta in believing his presidency marks the end of militancy in the Niger Delta,' said the statement, signed by spokesman Jomo Gbomo.

MEND described as a 'charade' the amnesty programme that has led to a reduction in the militancy in the oil region, saying the Amnesty Committee 'is just another ploy to plunder the resources of the Niger Delta'.

'We urge the government to do the right thing by probing this Amnesty Committee and not listen to a group of miscreants calling themselves ex-creek warlords. This group of miscreants are only fighting to protect the bribes they are currently enjoying from the Nigerian government.

'International con artists from America and other countries are claiming to have reformed the miscreants assembled by the government at its post-amnesty camps after two weeks. If it is that easy why is the American prison system over-burdened with about 2.3 million in its jails?' the group queried.

Pana 09/06/2011