prompting MEND to deploy "heavily armed fighters in hundreds of war boats" with the intention of carrying out "destructive and deadly attacks on the oil industry in Rivers State." As part of its operation -- dubbed "Hurricane Barbarossa" -- MEND said it intercepted 22 Nigerian soldiers at the Soku Gas Plant, Chevron Platform, at Kula. It said the soldiers were "killed and dispossessed of their weapons," but was not specific. It also said it blew up several points on the major crude trunk pipeline at Nembe Creek.
"The operation will continue until the government of Nigeria appreciates that the solution to peace in the Niger Delta is justice, respect and dialogue," MEND said.