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MEND Issues Final Ultimatum to Julius Berger to quit All Projects in Abuja by Monday August 11 2008

August 9, 2008

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) reiterates its previous position warning the staff of Julius Berger Plc to vacate from all on-going project sites in the FCT, Abuja from 0001 Hrs on Monday, August 11, 2008 until further notice.

To demonstrate our seriousness, MEND has rejected an offer of $20 million (Twenty Million US Dollars) bribe by the Federal Government through its chief negotiator, the Secretary to the Federal Government.

We suggest the government puts that money to better use through the moribund National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) by providing relief materials such as tents, blankets, medicine, portable water, etc. to the displaced Agge community in Bayelsa state.

Disregarding our threat will be putting the expatriate staff nationwide including the two currently being held hostage at risk, for which the management of Julius Berger should be held liable.

-Jomo Gbomo
Nigeria militants repeat attack warning to firm Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:29pm BST

ABUJA, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Nigeria's main militant group repeated its warning on Sunday that it will target foreign workers with the country's biggest construction firm if it does not halt operations in the capital Abuja in the next 24 hours.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which launched a campaign of violence against the oil sector in early 2006, first issued the threat against Julius Berger JUBR.LG last Monday to pressure the firm to resume work in the delta.

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The Nigerian unit of German builder Bilfinger Berger (GBFG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) halted work last month in the oil-rich delta after two German employees were kidnapped.

"Disregarding our threat will be putting the expatriate staff nationwide including the two currently being held hostage at risk, for which the management of Julius Berger should be held liable," the group said in an e-mailed statement.

Officials with Julius Berger, one of Nigeria's biggest private sector employers, have declined comment on the threats.

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Security sources doubted the ability of the militants to make good on threats of attacks outside the Niger Delta, where they are demanding development and a greater share of the region's oil wealth.

MEND, responsible for most of the attacks in the delta that have cut a fifth of Nigeria's oil production, has threatened to target cities outside the delta in the past two years but has not followed through, security sources said. (Reporting by Randy Fabi, editing by Mary Gabriel)


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