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Leading local militant accepts amnesty over Niger Delta attacks

A leading Nigerian militant leader will stop his 2,000 rebels from carrying out attacks on oil installations in the oil-producing Niger Delta after he accepted an unconditional amnesty offer from Nigeria’s President Umaru Yar'Adua. News reports say Ateke Tom was one of three factional leaders within the militant group Mend who had yet to accept the offer. But just the other day Mend warned China over its oil interests in the Delta, saying it should not invest until there is peace in the region. The reports also said it was still unclear whether militant hardliners Government Tompolo and Farah Dagogo would also take the amnesty before Sunday's deadline. What you believe depends on the news you read.

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