Nigeria

Mend affiliate attacks tanker in Niger Delta

Article published on the 2009-01-21 Latest update 2009-01-22 16:19 TU

MEND rebels
(File Photo : AFP)

The militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said Wednesday that one of its affiliates carried out an attack on a tanker in southern Nigeria earlier in the day, taking a Romanian crew member hostage. Mend says an 'affiliate group' in the Bonny axis carried out the attack on the MT Meredith.

Mend said this latest attack should serve as "a clear message to the oil companies." It says only justice -- not sophisticated security equipment -- can prevent further attacks.

The attack on the MT Meredith, laden with 4-thousand tonnes of diesel, was carried out by gunmen in speedboats at the Bonny Fairway Buoy.

Witnesses say that the ship sustained a substantial amount of damage, as the militants reportedly blew up the ship's engine with dynamite. The MT Meredith has yet to be pulled to the harbour and is still at sea.

"Piracy has become very frequent off the Coast of Guinea, according to estimates, it has become one of the most (volatile) regions where the highest number of attacks are taking place," Niger Delta expert Charles Ukéjé in Ife, Nigeria told RFI.