The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has said it will take appropriate action if Britain goes ahead with its proposed military support to the Federal Government as a way of ending the Niger Delta crisis.

The militant group, which gave the warning in a statement signed by Jomo Gbomo and sent to Sunday Sun, said its combatants were not also threatened by the presence of Nigerian war ships in the oil region, describing them as "mere ornaments and a shade for the fishes."

The British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, had on Wednesday at the G8 Summit in Japan assured President Umaru Yar’Adua of assistance in tackling the intractable Niger Delta problem.
Brown and Yar’Adua are billed to meet in London next week to discuss the modalities.

MEND, however, said it saw Brown’s statement as an unnecessary intervention and a support for injustice being allegedly perpetrated by the Federal Government in the oil-producing region.
Its immediate reaction was to call off the unilateral ceasefire declared on June 24 from yesterday, warning that UK citizens and interests in Nigeria will suffer the consequences.
The group said it was waiting for Britain to take action before responding.

"…The British government has not taken any action yet. When that time comes, we will follow with the appropriate action. "As far as we are concerned, the warships in the region are mere ornaments and a shade for the fishes. We do not consider them a threat.
"Full-scale hostilities have a way of developing by itself. So we are prepared for it any time it happens," MEND said in the statement.

After the shock attack on the Bonga Oil Field operated by Shell by the militants in June, no fewer than three war ships have been deployed in the region by the military authorities to protect oil installation.
There has also been increased military presence in the area in the last three weeks, with regular helicopter patrols. The military has also vowed to deal decisively with the insurgents if they attempt any further attack on oil installations.