THE mainstream militant group in the Niger Delta, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND), yesterday, warned it would resume fresh war in the area if the Joint Task Force (JTF), launches any attack on militant camps and riverside communities in the region under the guise of searching for the angry youths who on Monday killed three naval ratings and abducted four service men at Nembe creeks in Bayelsa State.

An unconfirmed report, however, indicated that a top militant leader in Bayelsa State who led the April 6 attack on Agip and Daewoo facilities four days after the Federal Government announced amnesty for militants is among those killed by JTF on Monday at Okilo Creek, near Igbomotoru.

No fewer than 18 militants were killed when JTF sunk four of the speedboats with which they attacked the troops.

Spokesman of JTF, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, told Vanguard that the task force had not confirmed the death of the militant leader, but suspected that he was among those that died just as MEND relocated the two British hostages in its custody.

MEND spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, in a statement, announcing a possible outbreak of fresh hostilities in the region, said, "Shifting blame for the attack and humiliating defeat on a MEND commander to cover their shame is one thing, considering attacking him is another."

Nevertheless, Abubakar ruled out any revenge by the JTF on the militants, saying that the task force was not carrying out any revenge mission and had no plan of attacking communities.

He urged the people to go about their normal duties, as the troops were only looking for criminals.

According to MEND statement, "The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), will join the fray between the military Joint Task Force and angry youths from oil-bearing communities, who retaliated an unprovoked attack by overwhelming and abducting four service men and leaving three naval ratings dead along the Nembe creek of Bayelsa State."

It stated, "We wish to warn that should any MEND camp be attacked, the entire Niger Delta region will become a theatre of another civil war. The same position will be taken if the military carries out any punitive invasion on the impoverished communities that protested against Shell, which led to this current crisis.

"As a precaution, MEND has moved the two British hostages out of harm's way by taking them to a secured location.

"The re-entry plans of the Shell Petroleum Development Company into the EA oil fields should not even be considered as we cannot guarantee the safety of their staff and equipment," the group asserted.

Col. Abubakar, who spoke to Vanguard on phone, said law-abiding citizens should not be afraid of JTF troops, as they were not enemies but friends.

He said while the task force was not on any revenge mission, it would continue to pursue those responsible for the Nembe offensive.

He urged the people in the riverside communities to go about their lawful duties freely, saying the only thing the task requires of them is to give them information on militants taking refuge in their communities.

The JTF spokesman said the task force would continue to carry out its responsibilities in the region without the rules of engagement but would not condone militants or criminals attacking its men or oil facilities in the region and expect the troops to fold their hands.