Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) on Friday suspended the ceasefire accord it declared last year, provoked by what the movement called "unprovoked attack" on one of its leaders by operatives of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF).
Rivers State is to have the first taste of its bitter pill, MEND threatened in a statement on Friday night, adding that the decision is to avenge the attack on Ateke Tom.
MEND Spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said in the statement that "at about 11.30 hrs today, Friday, January 30, 2009, the Nigerian armed forces carried out an unprovoked attack on the camp of Ateke Tom.
"The forces were repelled in spite of the massive aerial and marine assault and the element of surprise on their side. Tom is a signatory to the MEND unilateral ceasefire of September 2008.
"During this ceasefire, we had hoped the Nigerian government would take advantage of the cessation of hostilities to embrace dialogue and reconciliation but instead, the government deceived individuals into fake peace parleys where they were arrested and in some cases killed.
"This latest attack is an indication that the Nigerian government prefers to make military inroads during the ceasefire instead of inroads towards genuine peace and reconciliation.
"Because the Nigerian government and military continues to act in bad faith, MEND is compelled to call off its unilateral ceasefire effective 01.00hrs on Saturday, January 31, 2009.
"The oil industry should, therefore, brace itself for Hurricane Obama; a sweeping assault starting from Rivers State that will change the face of oil and gas exports from Nigeria."
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