MEND claims responsibility for felling the 12 policemen in the Niger Delta

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta on Sunday claimed that its fighters killed the 12 policemen whose boat was ambushed in Azuzama, Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State, on Saturday and that the deaths were to teach the security forces a lesson for scorning its warning.

The militant group had last week announced that it would resume attacks in the oil rich Niger Delta by Friday to avenge alleged collaboration between the Federal Government and South Africa to jail its former leader, Henry Okah. Security agencies had dismissed the threat and said they were ready for MEND which tagged its promised resurgence of attacks, ‘Hurricane Exodus.’

It said it intercepted and engaged government forces in a fierce gun battle and killed the security agents in the process.

MEND, in an online statement on Sunday, also disclosed that two of its fighters died in the exchange of fire with security agents. The crossfire lasted for 40 minutes.

I just like the fact that everybody knows "amnesty programme" was hugely unsuccessful and there is no use towing that line again.

Nigeria:12 missing policemen-More news emerging

News has emerged that 12 Nigerian policemen which are missing or presumed dead following an ambush on their boat in the Niger Delta region.

Gunmen attacked a police boat in the delta's creeks on Friday, officials said, in what appeared to be a dispute over amnesty payments.

A boat carrying some 50 police officers was on its way to a funeral when it developed engine trouble in one of the creeks."The officers became soft target for some hoodlums, who we have confirmed were part of a militant group that was supposed to be enjoying an amnesty," police commissioner Kingsley Omire said.All but the 12 officers reported missing were now safe, he added.Thousands of former militants are supposed to be receiving a monthly salary as part of the amnesty agreement

Mend threatened to resume violence after its leader, Henry Okah, was recently jailed by a South African court for terrorism.The group had been fighting to gain a greater share of the oil wealth from its part of southern Nigeria.

On the other hand, thousands of former militants are supposed to be receiving a monthly salary as part of the amnesty agreement.However, whilst some former commanders have grown extremely rich out of the deal, some of the junior militants have not received what they are owed.

I just hope the Government is culling one or two lessons from these occurrences in their Boko Haram decisions.