Nigerian Rebel Faction Relinquishes Arms

A faction of Nigeria’s main rebel group has relinquished its weapons following an amnesty offer from the government.

Hundreds of the militants belonging to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) handed over the weapons at a ceremony in Yenagoa, a city in Nigeria’s oil-rich Delta region.

However, another MEND faction has denounced the offer, saying it might resume attacks. The amnesty deal was offered in early August by Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua. 

MEND has been fighting since 2006 for a fair share of the region’s oil revenues to trickle down to the local people. [GR]