A militant youth in the Niger Delta Photo: Sun News Publishing

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America has ordered its nationals out of areas in and around the Niger Delta following what officials said are readable threats that militant groups will attack foreign personnel and oil facilities.

The State Department, which described the threat as imminent asked Americans to limit their trips within the region and take extra safety precautions. "They are advised to stay in contact with the embassy and await further development. They should also give contact numbers in case of emergency evacuation," the agency stated.

Washington's worry was from a statement by the MEND that it intends to launch a new wave of attacks within 30 days to counter allegations that the group had taken money to protect NNPC facilities. A MEND spokesman denied claims of the alleged dealing. "To prove we are not a part of this deal, the Chanomi Creek pipeline and other major pipelines will be destroyed within the next 30 days," the militant statement said.

Chanomi Creek is located in the western Niger Delta. "MEND will never sell its birthright for a bowl of porridge when the impoverished masses in the region continue to live in abject poverty," the statement said.

The e-mail said profits of the alleged deal were split among military and government officials. The group also said "huge payments" had been made by authorities to criminal gangs in the Niger Delta to protect oil facilities, but those groups were not part of the militant movement. Militants say their campaign of oil-infrastructure attacks is aimed at forcing the Federal Government to send more money to the six states comprising the southern Niger Delta. Such attacks have slashed this west African nation's oil output by almost a quarter in the past two years, helping push world crude prices to historic highs.
Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer and is routinely ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.