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September 21, 2005
Nigeria militia violence threat
Separatists in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta region have threatened to sabotage oil installations as they call for the release of their leader.
Mujahid Dokubu-Asari, head of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force, was arrested in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Mr Asari's group seeks more control of oil resources for the Ijaws, the biggest group in the Niger Delta.
Last year the group contributed to a sharp rise in world oil prices when it threatened war against oil companies.
The Niger Delta remains one of Nigeria's poorest and least developed regions, although it accounts for most of the 2.4 million barrels of oil produced by Nigeria, Africa's largest oil-producer, each year.
'Mayhem'
A statement issued by the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force on Wednesday warned of "grave mayhem" if Mr Asari were not released by early afternoon.
A BBC correspondent in Port Harcourt says at least 150 of Mr Asari's supporters, all armed with machetes, were demonstrating on Wednesday, following an overnight protest. Gunshots were heard in the area.
"If word has not been received from our leader, all state agencies, oil companies and their agents should cease functioning in their Niger Delta flowstations and related facilities must be shut down," the statement read.
Mr Asari's group warned all oil company staff to leave the Delta region.
The Nigerian arm of Shell later told Reuters that staff were being sent home from its Port Harcourt offices because of "general insecurity", but that the oil multinational's other operations in the Delta were continuing.
Sensitive issue
Nigerian Oil Minister Edmund Daukoru told Reuters in London it was too early to tell whether the threat to oil production was serious.
"It is premature to say if the threats are unfounded or frivolous," he said.
"It is a sensitive security issue. We have lived through this threat for 10 years or so."
Police told the BBC that Mr Asari was being taken to the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
A police statement said he could face prosecution over comments which according to the police may be seditious and treasonable.
There has been no word on this from Mr Asari himself.
Posted by Publisher at September 21, 2005 04:01 PM
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