MEND warned Nigerian authorities five days before bomb blasts

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, (MEND) the group which claimed responsibility for the deadly twin car bomb blasts that killed 12 people on Nigeria’s 50th Independence anniversary says, it warned the country’s security authorities five days before the acts but the warning was ignored.

The bombs which were planted in two separate cars went off during the anniversary parade in Abuja Friday October 1, 2010 as the president, Goodluck Jonathan inspected the guard of honour.

In an email to journalists, MEND said it regrets the deaths and said it was deeply sorry. The group which also sent condolences to families of the dead, blamed the Nigerian governmet for the deaths.

The MEND is an umbrella group of militants fighting for greater share of Nigeria’s oil wealth with communities in the Niger Delta where much of the country’s main foreign exchange earner, oil is extracted. Mend blames the Nigerian

Federal government and foreign oil companies of polluting the environment of oil areas and further improvising the people.

Meanwhile, the group’s former leader, Henry Okah who has been living in South Africa has been arrested by the authorities in that country.

Some dignitaries including former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, stayed away from the celebrations at last minute following security concerns.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi