Nigeria militants ‘to end truce’

The main militants group in Nigeria’s oil producing Niger Delta say it will not extend its month-long ceasefire which expires on Tuesday.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) says it has been kept on the sidelines of government-led talks about the region’s future.

Mend called the truce to give the new Nigerian leader time to set up talks.

The BBC’s Abdullahi Kaura in Nigeria’s oil capital Port Harcourt says the militants are likely to resume their attacks on oil installations and kidnapping of foreign workers.

But he says a second Mend faction based in Warri appears to want to maintain the ceasefire.

Other criminal armed groups in the region have continued sporadic attacks and kidnappings in the region during Mend’s truce.

BBC