- Title: NIGERIA: Militants claim bomb attack, threaten more
- Date: 21st April 2006
- Summary: CLOSE ON DEBRIS ON ROAD
- Embargoed: 6th May 2006 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA41NW9GVKY5N2AFG04OT67DF0I
- Story Text: In the aftermath of Wednesday night's (April 19) explosion, the littered debris of broken glass and burnt out vehicles lie at the scene after an attack claimed by militants in the southern city of Port Harcourt.
The car bomb attack on the military barracks, headquarters of Nigeria's 2nd Amphibious Brigade in the Niger Delta killed two men and critically injured six other people.
The militant Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which demands more local control over the delta's oil resources, said in an email they detonated 30 kg (66 lb) of dynamite in a car using a cellular telephone. Observers said it was the first time a car bomb has been used in Nigeria.
Speaking to the media the day after the attack, Brigade commander, Brigadier-General Samuel Saliu could only confirm the number of causalities.
"There was explosion and two people died, two boys and six are critically injured, two women and four men and they are receiving treatment in the military hospital," he said.
The attack was the latest in four months of attacks by militants in the south of the world's eighth-largest oil exporter.
The Movement of the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) whose attacks have cut Nigeria's crude oil exports by a quarter, has threatened to carry out more such attacks on oil installations and individuals. The movement says it wants the oil rich Niger Delta to benefit from oil revenues. afr/jrc - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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