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Deadly Blasts Hit Nigeria Independence Day
4:08pm UK, Friday October 01, 2010
Emma Hurd, Africa correspondent
At least eight people have died after two explosions in the Nigerian capital Abuja, following threats by a militant group.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content...1/15749611.jpg At least one Nigerian police officer is thought to be among the dead
The car bombs went off during a military parade to mark 50 years of independence in the West African nation, which was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The blasts happened an hour after Nigeria's biggest rebel group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), said in an email warning it had planted bombs in the area and telling people to evacuate.
The threat claimed militant operatives within the Nigerian security forces had planted the explosives.
Mend has been fighting for years for a bigger share of the country's oil wealth.
In the past the group has attacked oil installations and carried out kidnappings in the Niger Delta, home to Africa's biggest oil and gas industry.
Witnesses said the second bomb exploded as fire crews and security forces were trying to extinguish the flames from the first blast.
At least one police officer is thought to be among the dead.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content...1/15749377.jpg President Goodluck Jonathan is from the restive Niger Delta region
On Nigerian television, the independence celebrations - featuring a military march and troupes of dancing children - appeared to continue uninterrupted.
Mr Jonathan, who faces an election next year, was seen inspecting the troops from an open-top jeep.
The explosions came only hours after an armed gang released 15 school children who had been kidnappednear the country's southern delta.
The celebrations to mark half a century of independence from Britain have also highlighted Nigeria's ongoing problems.
The nation of 140 million people has suffered though a series of military dictatorships and a devastating civil war.
The huge oil revenues have done little to improve the lives of most Nigerians.
The security forces are investigating the bombings, but with Mend already claiming responsibility, there seems to be little doubt who is to blame.
The militant group had previously criticised the 50th anniversary celebrations, saying that there was "nothing to celebrate in Nigeria".
