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Nigeria rebels hand over weapons Nigeria rebels hand over weapons
(about 5 hours later)
A key militant leader in Nigeria's Delta region has handed over weapons under a government amnesty programme. Hundreds of militants in Nigeria have handed over weapons at a ceremony in the southern Delta region.
The militant, Ebikabowei Victor Ben, also known as General Boyloaf, is a top commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend). The handover in Yenagoa, west of the oil city of Port Harcourt, took place after regional rebel leaders accepted an amnesty offer from the government.
Hundreds of rifles and rocket launchers, as well as gunboats, were handed in at a ceremony in Yenagoa, near the oil city of Port Harcourt. However a faction of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), the main rebel group, denounced the offer and said it would resume attacks.
Unrest in the region has seriously affected Nigeria's oil production.Unrest in the region has seriously affected Nigeria's oil production.
Gen Boyloaf has been seen as Mend's leading tactician, and was responsible for spectacular attacks against the oil industry, the BBC's Caroline Duffield in Yenagoa reports. The weaponry handed over on Saturday included hundreds of assault rifles, a number of rocket launchers, and at least 12 gunboats.
In 2008 he led a raid on Shell's Bonga oil field which the Nigerian government had boasted was impregnable. The BBC's Caroline Duffield in Yenagoa says it is unclear how many heavy weapons have been handed over, and many of those put on display appeared to be old and rusty.
But he recently met Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua and accepted the offer of an amnesty. We have to give peace a chance Gen Boyloaf
In June the president unveiled the amnesty programme for all Niger Delta militants who agree lay down their arms. The senior Mend commanders who have accepted the amnesty offer include Ebikabowei Victor Ben, also known as General Boyloaf.
The offer ends in October. "So long as the government has said they will give the people what the people want, I think we have to give peace a chance and see how soon or how real they will perform," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio programme.
On Saturday about 300 assault rifles, a few rocket-propelled grenades, and mounds of ammunition were dumped in a square in Yenagoa. At least 12 gunboats were also handed in. Fighting on
But our correspondent says it is far from clear that the entire stock of weapons held by Gen Boyloaf's group is being decommissioned. Gen Boyloaf has in the past been blamed for spectacular attacks against the oil industry in Bayelsa state.
It is believed many of his men will accept amnesty along with him. But earlier this month he met Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua and accepted his offer of an amnesty for Niger Delta militants.
Gen Boyloaf and other militants have been fighting for a fairer share of the region's oil wealth for local people.
Our correspondent says they have also made huge amounts of money from kidnappings and the theft of crude oil.
But some Mend factions in neighbouring states have refused to sign up to the amnesty.
One rebel group on Saturday said accused the government of "deceit" and said it would resume "ferocious attacks on the oil industry at the end of our ceasefire" on 15 September.
Militant attacks have reduced Nigeria's out to 1.3m barrels per day. Nigeria's Opec quota is 2m.Militant attacks have reduced Nigeria's out to 1.3m barrels per day. Nigeria's Opec quota is 2m.
The rebels say proceeds from oil production have not benefited the region.The rebels say proceeds from oil production have not benefited the region.