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| Photo: AP Today's attack was the militants' boldest yet, striking in Nigeria's capital during an event with heavy security held hundreds of miles from the delta |
Today marks Nigeria's Independence Day. On a day that should have consisted of fun-filled celebration and festivities, the day was interrupted with devastation and tragedy. The number one militant group in the country attacked Abuja, Nigeria's capital and carried out their movement known as The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta. The unexpected attack killed eight people and wounded 18 others.
The militant group warned the government to stay away from the oil-rich area or they would indeed attack. The attackers warned, but according to them the Nigerian Government failed to take proper precautions.
"For 50 years, the people of the Niger Delta have had their land and resources stolen from them," the group said in a statement. While Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, is oil rich most people live on less than $1 a day. The delta is very impoverished and polluted from spills.
CNN is reporting that the Nigerian Government is looking into all possible who set the car bomb off and at the present time the militant group are reporting that they caused the huge explosion.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta later claimed responsibility for the attack in the capital. MEND, the key militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta, is an umbrella organization of several rebel groups. It has been battling the government for years over fairer distribution of the country's oil wealth.
"MEND is claiming responsibility for the attack," the group said in an e-mail to CNN.
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| Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan Photo Courtesy of AP |
The city was "very calm" later Friday, according to Nigerian Information Minister Dora Akunyili.
"Whatever happened, we are able to have a very successful celebration," Akunyili said.The Red Cross said at least 38 vehicles were destroyed by the blasts.
President Goodluck Jonathan was at the main event in Abuja, where he inspected a guard of honor as police scoured the scene for clues. Check out what CNN's reporting...
Nigeria, a member of OPEC, is one of the top crude oil suppliers to the United States. Last year when militants attacked the oil production saw a influx in their production allowing Angola to replace Nigeria as Africa's No. 1 exporter.
OPEC: a permanent intergovernmental organization of 12 oil-exporting developing nations that coordinates and unifies the petroleum policies of its Member Countries. Learn more about the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) visit their website: http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/17.htm
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/10/01/nigeria.explosion/index.html
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