At least seven people have been reported killed in the aftermath of two explosions near the area where official celebrations were being held marking the 50th anniversary of the independence of the West African state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
LAGOS (AFP) – Nigerian militant group MEND on Friday warned of an "imminent" attack in the country's capital, after having claimed responsibility for twin car bombings on independence day two weeks ago.
"We have decided to carry out another attack in Abuja without altering our mode of operation to (prove) the suspects' innocence," the statement said after criticising authorities' response to the previous explosions.
"As usual we will give a 30-minutes advance warning to avoid civilian casualties, then sit back and watch how the blame game will be played out on all those already falsely accused."
The statement from MEND -- the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta -- was titled "imminent bomb attack in Abuja."
Referring to the previous bombings, it claimed the government "responded by arresting innocent persons on trumped-up charges, linking them with the attack."
It came from the same email address and was signed with the same name -- Jomo Gbomo, believed to be an alias -- as a statement warning of the independence day bombings about an hour before they went off.
Another statement signed with the same name and from the same address later took responsibility for the bombings which killed at least 12 people.
The car bombings occurred near celebrations marking 50 years of independence for Nigeria attended by the country's leaders and foreign delegations.
MEND claims to be fighting for a fairer distribution of oil revenue in the impoverished Niger Delta, the heart of the country's oil industry.
Ex-MEND leader Henry Okah was arrested after the bombings in South Africa, where he lives.
Prosecutors said in court in South Africa on Thursday that police believe Okah had a "leading role in the explosions."
They alleged that he was in contact with the authors of the attacks immediately before and after the bombings.
On Friday, Okah denied any links with the nine people arrested in Nigeria in the aftermath of the attacks.
"In an obvious attempt to intimidate anyone opposed to the presidential ambition of Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian government hiding under the cloak of terrorist hunters have been witch-hunting, falsely accusing and harassing its perceived opponents," MEND's statement said.
It named Okah and another person detained in connection with the blasts, Raymond Dokpesi, the head of an influential media group in Nigeria, as being falsely implicated.
Dokpesi, who was freed after being questioned, is also campaign manager for ex-military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, who is President Goodluck Jonathan's main rival for the ruling party's nomination in elections early next year.
Shortly after the attacks, Jonathan blamed "a small terrorist group that resides outside Nigeria that was paid by some people within to perpetrate the dastardly act."
Jonathan, who is from the Niger Delta and faces pressure to resolve the situation in the region, also seemed to cast doubt on MEND's claim of responsibility.
"There was a statement purported to have been written by MEND, but investigations show that members of MEND have said they don?t know about it," the president said at the time.
Authorities call MEND an "amorphous" group. It has been seen as an umbrella organisation for local criminal gangs and is believed to have splintered, especially over a government amnesty offered last year.
Thousands of ex-militants signed up to the amnesty, which has been credited with greatly reducing unrest in the Niger Delta.
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