Lagos/Warri — Security has been beefed up in the Deep South in preparation for the resumed attacks threatened by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) when its self declared ceasefire expires tomorrow.

A source said Aso Rock has instructed Defence Minister, Godwin Abbe, to "clip the wings of these militants once and for all. "

Abbe, who doubled as the Chairman of the Amnesty Panel, is taking the threat seriously, insisting that the militants would lose an opportunity for peace if they return to the trenches.

The source added that, "We have appealed to their consciences not to carry out the threat because they have more to lose if they go back to militancy, they should not continue to bring anguish to women, children, and the elderly in the region.

"This government will crush any move to embarrass it, and I can tell you that security meetings are being held. "

Abuja has been flaunting the amnesty as the reason for the increase in oil output to 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd).

Nigeria penultimate Monday raked in N22.99 billion ($156.4 million) from oil proceeds in four days as the commodity sold for about $68 per barrel (pb) four days consecutively.

Buoyed by that, Abuja on Sunday sent a delegation to plead with militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, to accept the amnesty offer.

The team will also meet with Ateke Tom, another militant leader.

The Presidential team comprised Abbe; Joint Task Force (JTF) Commander, Major General Sarki Bello; Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta, Timi Alaibe; former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees Chairman, Tony Anenih; Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, and Amnesty Panel Co-ordinator, Lucky Ararile.

The team met with leaders of six militant groups in Warri before proceeding to Gbaramatu, scene of the confrontation between the military and militants earlier in the year.

The miltant groups told the delegation that they would lay down their arms and embrace the olive branch.

Their Spokesman, Edmund Ebiware, said they have mopped up arms from camps in the creeks which they would hand over by tomorrow.

Abebe restated the determination of the government to grant amnesty to all militants who surrender themselves and their weapons.

The delegation headed to Oporoza, where Abebe solicited the co-operation of the Pere of Gbaramatu, Godwin Bebenimibo, and other community leaders to make the amnesty work "so that the peace and development that we desire can start to blossom. "

Abbe said the militants have until October 4 to embrace the amnesty.

Uduaghan promised that the state government would re-start all projects that were stopped during the clashes in Gbaramatu in May.

News also emerged on Sunday that Ibe Nathans, a Nigerian medical doctor based in the United Kingdom who was abducted in Imo State has escaped from his captors.

Nathans, who was in the country to continue his free medical treatment was abducted on September 3 while returning from Ngor-Okpala where he had gone to treat a patient.

Nathans told reporters that he stopped to assist two young men on the road who blocked part of the way repairing a motorcycle.

"I stopped to know what the problem was. Suddenly they pounced on me and threatened to kill me with a gun one of them was holding, ' ' he recalled.

He said his abductors told him at their hide out that all they wanted was money to survive the global economic meltdown and high rate of unemployment.

He said he escaped when the only member of the gang detailed to guard him left the building.

"I thank God for saving my life, it was an ugly experience. "