Nigeria militants extend truce by 1 month

ABUJA, Nigeria – Militants in Nigeria announced Wednesday they will extend a cease-fire that expired overnight by one month, holding off on attacks on oil installations and kidnapping foreigners, but warned that the government must address its grievances.

The militants are pressing the government to send federal oil revenues to the impoverished southern Delta region, where the oil came from, and wants the government to withdraw troops and help people return to homes they had fled.

In July, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta called a two-month halt to its violent campaign, saying it hoped the truce would help foster talks with the government. The group said Wednesday the government should use the truce extension "to do the right thing instead of pretending to talk peace while arming the military for a war it cannot win."

In August, the government offered amnesty to militants. One MEND militant leader, Ebikabowei Victor Ben, surrendered with 1,000 fighters and handed over weapons.

However the group said in a statement Wednesday that it does not recognize the amnesty offer and criticized the government for not making "any provision for meaningful dialogue."

The government has acknowledged the grievances of many in the Niger Delta, but denounces the militants as criminals who steal crude oil from Nigeria's wells and pipelines and profit by selling it overseas.

The unrest has cut Nigeria's production by a million barrels a day, allowing Angola to overtake it as Africa's top oil producer.