10 MEND militants were killed Sunday night during an attempt to free a hostage, when their speed boat encountered heavily armed Nigerian military convoy on Brass Creek. The hostage, a Nigerian employee of Royal Dutch Shell, was killed in the shootout.

Nigerian Defence Ministry expressed "deep regret" for the incident and has commenced investigations. State government officials frequently seek the help of MEND militants to secure the release of hostages, and would tip off security forces of such operations for the avoidance of confrontations.

MEND in an email to Reuters wrote: "It was an unprovoked attack on people on a peaceful mission to free a hostage. Our response to Sunday's killings will come at our time, but for certain it will not go unpunished."

Unlike the gin-­swilling, flip-flop-wearing youths of previous movements such as Niger Delta Volunteer Force(NDVF), Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta(MEND) members wear matching camouflage body armour, boots and masks. MEND launched a series of attacks this year that cut-off twenty five percent of Nigerian oil output. The group warned China to stay away from Niger Delta and has threatened further attacks on oil companies operating in the area.

Little is known about MEND but it has shown that it is capable of destablizing Nigeria's oil industry. Its leaders are unknown, the same is applicable to the members as they wear masks. Mend's leaders like to be faceless, they usually send statements to the media via e-mail.

Niger Delta government officials who use MEND in securing release of hostages are reported negotiating with unknown faces in mask armed to the teeth. They always got the job done without incident, except last Sunday.

Photo Above: An unidentified woman walking on oil pipeline in Utorogun, Nigeria belonging to Shell oil company.


Photo Above: Nigerian youths walking on the same oil pipeline belonging to the Shell Oil company in Utorogun, Nigeria.