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Niger Delta

Restoration of Nigeria's environmentally devastated oil-producing Niger Delta region could take up to 30 years, cost $1 billion and become the largest cleanup operation in history, the United Nations said Thursday.

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Goodluck Jonathan wins Nigeria primaryupdated: Tue Jan 18 2011 14:47:00

Nigeria's ruling party declares incumbent Goodluck Jonathan its presidential candidate, reports CNN's Christian Purefoy.

Nigerian military admits 'possible' civilian casualties in offensiveupdated: Sun Dec 05 2010 12:59:00

The Nigerian military acknowledged Sunday that civilians may have been "caught in the crossfire" last week during an operation to root out criminal gangs in the country's Delta State.

Doing business in Africaupdated: Tue Nov 30 2010 09:14:00

Oil and gas entrepreneur Wale Tinubu says the continent is evolving and that good governance is spreading.

Militant group says it has attacked Nigerian oil pipelineupdated: Tue Nov 23 2010 04:07:00

An armed militant group is claiming that it has attacked an oil pipeline in the Niger Delta region.

Nigerian army: Gang leader arrested in kidnappingsupdated: Sat Nov 20 2010 05:56:00

The Nigerian army has arrested a militant gang leader believed to be behind the kidnapping of 19 people, authorities said Saturday.

Nigerian militants threaten new raids to seize more hostagesupdated: Fri Nov 19 2010 09:38:00

Rebels in the oil-rich Niger Delta region said Friday they will launch new raids on oil installations to seize more hostages after Nigerian authorities freed 19 who had been seized.

Nigerian military frees 19 hostagesupdated: Thu Nov 18 2010 08:51:00

Nigerian authorities have freed 19 hostages seized by rebels in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, a military spokesman said Thursday.

Military to step up activities in Niger Delta regionupdated: Sat Nov 13 2010 14:09:00

Nigeria's military has ordered an incursion into militant camps in the oil-rich Niger Delta region after violence flared up again with attacks against oil companies and foreign workers, a military spokesman said Saturday.

5 more people arrested, charged in Nigerian bombingsupdated: Tue Oct 19 2010 11:52:00

Five more people will face criminal charges this week in Nigeria, suspected of being linked to deadly car bombings earlier this month in the oil-rich nation's capital, a spokeswoman for Nigeria's secret service told CNN Tuesday.

Man held after Nigeria attack separated from prison populationupdated: Tue Oct 05 2010 11:15:00

A Niger Delta leader arrested in South Africa after a bombing in Nigeria will be held separately from other prisoners until a bail hearing next week, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Explosions on Independence Dayupdated: Tue Oct 05 2010 11:15:00

A militant group claims responsibility for a pair of car bombs that rocked celebrations in Nigeria.

Nigeria terrorist attack suspect's court date pushed backupdated: Mon Oct 04 2010 15:35:00

The court date of a man held after deadly bombings in Nigeria has been postponed because of fears about his safety in custody, his lawyer said Monday.

Militants in Niger Deltaupdated: Sat Oct 02 2010 21:57:00

CNN's Christian Purefoy explains MEND, the group that claimed responsibility for Nigeria's recent bombings.

Three questioned in Nigeria terror attack that killed 12updated: Sat Oct 02 2010 21:57:00

Three people have been arrested in Nigeria and are being questioned in connection with the Friday blasts that killed 12 and injured 50 in the nation's capital, a spokesman for President Goodluck Jonathan said Saturday.

Explosions kill 8 as Nigeria marks anniversary eventsupdated: Fri Oct 01 2010 21:26:00

A militant group said it carried out the car bombing that rippled through Nigeria's capital Abuja Friday, a blast that killed eight people and wounded 21 others.

Blast mars Nigerian celebrationsupdated: Fri Oct 01 2010 21:26:00

Independence day celebrations are marred by a deadly blast in Abuja, Nigeria. CNN's Isha Sesay reports.

Singer Nneka tells world of love and injustice in Nigeriaupdated: Wed Sep 01 2010 07:09:00

It is a long journey from the Niger Delta to the concert halls of the United States, but it is one that Nneka is taking in her stride.

Nneka on injustice in Africaupdated: Wed Sep 01 2010 07:09:00

Nigerian singer-songwriter Nneka talks about love and injustice in Africa.

Death and oil in Niger Delta's illegal refineriesupdated: Wed Aug 04 2010 12:20:00

The young man, his body glistening with black oil and sweat, poured more oil onto the fire. The flames roared, heating two barrels of oil to explosive temperatures. He escaped to a safer distance, a slight smile breaking his grim face ­-- he had survived.

Nigeria's deadly oil businessupdated: Wed Aug 04 2010 12:20:00

CNN's Christian Purefoy reports on the dangers of Nigeria's illegal oil refineries.

Nigerians angry at oil pollution double standardsupdated: Wed Jun 30 2010 10:38:00

Nigeria's Niger Delta is one of the most oil-polluted places on the planet with more than 6,800 recorded oil spills, accounting for anywhere from 9 million to 13 million barrels of oil spilled, according to activist groups.

Nigeria's oil spill crisisupdated: Wed Jun 30 2010 10:38:00

Nigeria's Niger Delta has suffered from 50 years of oil spills. CNN's Christian Purefoy reports.

Nigeria swears in acting presidentupdated: Thu May 06 2010 22:45:00

Nigeria's acting president took the oath of office Thursday morning, hours after Africa's most populous nation woke up to news its elected leader Umaru Yar'Adua had died after a long illness.

Nigerian president dead at 58updated: Thu May 06 2010 22:45:00

CNN's Christian Purefoy looks back at the life of Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua.

Nigerian President Yar'Adua has diedupdated: Thu May 06 2010 11:21:00

Nigeria's ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua, who gave amnesty to armed militants in the troubled oil-rich Niger Delta region, died Wednesday, the country's information minister said. He was 58.

Rebels claim pipeline attack in Nigeriaupdated: Fri Mar 19 2010 11:56:00

Rebels in oil-rich Nigeria say they have set off an explosion at a pipeline in the southern part of the country.

Rebel group bombs Nigerian government buildingupdated: Mon Mar 15 2010 11:33:00

Two blasts shook a Nigerian government office Monday shortly after a rebel group sent out a message that it had planted bombs around the building, according to officials.

Nigeria militants claim attack on Shell pipelineupdated: Fri Feb 12 2010 09:45:00

A previously unknown armed group said Friday it attacked a Nigerian oil pipeline this week on the first full day in office for Nigeria's new acting president.

Traveling film festival lands in heart of troubled Niger Deltaupdated: Tue Dec 08 2009 11:39:00

Nigeria's Port Harcourt International Airport is buzzing with unusual activity. And perhaps for the first time it's not the departure hall that is attracting all of the attention.

Photos capture plundering of Earth's resourcesupdated: Wed Oct 14 2009 04:39:00

Last year's inaugural Prix Pictet photography award for environmental sustainability produced a stunning shortlist of photos.

Amnesty for rebelsupdated: Tue Aug 25 2009 07:03:00

Nigeria offers amnesty to militants in the Niger Delta but many are still skeptical. CNN's Christian Purefoy reports.

Nigeria hails rebel amnesty amid 'charade' claimupdated: Tue Aug 25 2009 07:03:00

The crowd of young men gathered around as police officers unloaded a small arsenal from the bed of a truck: buckets of bullets, boxes and boxes of machine guns and rocket launchers.

Nigerian banks get $2.5 billion injectionupdated: Mon Aug 17 2009 13:53:00

Nigeria's Central Bank governor has injected more than $2.5 billion into five Nigerian banks and fired their managing directors and has vowed to hold bank officers to high professional and ethical standards.

Nigeria's troubled banksupdated: Mon Aug 17 2009 13:53:00

Nigeria's government is shaking up the country's banking sector to avoid a meltdown. CNN's Christian Purefoy reports.

Nigerian rebel cease-fireupdated: Wed Jul 15 2009 17:10:00

Nigerian rebels call for a cease-fire after the government releases one of its leaders. CNN's Christian Purefoy reports.

Nigerian rebels threaten to end cease-fireupdated: Wed Jul 15 2009 17:10:00

Nigerian militants threatened to end their cease-fire not long after it began Wednesday because they claimed the government was threatening one of their camps.

Lawyer: Leader of Nigerian militants accepts amnesty offerupdated: Fri Jul 10 2009 11:56:00

The imprisoned leader of the Nigerian militant group MEND has accepted an unconditional amnesty offer from the government, his lawyer said Friday.

Nigerian militants claim oil pipeline sabotageupdated: Wed Jul 08 2009 08:41:00

A Nigerian militant group claimed Wednesday it sabotaged oil pipelines in the country's oil-rich southern Niger Delta, but the country's military denies the assertion.

Nigerian militants claim pipeline blast, tanker crew's seizureupdated: Mon Jul 06 2009 14:39:00

Nigerian militants said Monday they had blown up an oil pipeline and captured six crew members of a chemical tanker.

Nigeria oil company rejects damning Amnesty reportupdated: Wed Jul 01 2009 13:22:00

Nigeria's state oil company rejected criticism from a leading human rights group Wednesday, calling an Amnesty International report "inaccurate."

Nigerian militants claim bomb attack on 'major' oil pipelineupdated: Fri Jun 19 2009 10:49:00

Nigeria's main militant group said Friday it destroyed another oil pipeline owned and operated by a foreign company in the Niger Delta region.

Nigerian militants threaten international football tournamentupdated: Mon Jun 15 2009 12:52:00

Nigeria's main militant group issued a veiled threat Monday against an upcoming world football tournament that is tentatively scheduled to take place in the west African nation later this year.

Nigerian group says British hostage freedupdated: Fri Jun 12 2009 15:06:00

A Nigerian militant group said Friday that it has freed a British hostage.

Nigerian militant group attacks major oil pipelinesupdated: Mon May 25 2009 06:57:00

A militant group operating in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria said Monday that it had destroyed several major oil pipelines in response to a military offensive.

Nigerian military frees hostages in oil-rich regionupdated: Mon May 18 2009 09:39:00

Nigeria's military has rescued 18 hostages held by militants in its oil-rich Niger Delta region, a military spokesman said Monday.

Nigerian soldiers, militants clash in oil-rich regionupdated: Wed May 13 2009 12:36:00

Fighting erupted Wednesday between Nigerian soldiers and armed militants in the country's oil-rich southern Niger Delta, both sides said.

Inside a hijackingupdated: Wed Apr 08 2009 18:00:00

The head of a shipping company describes the experience of being hijacked. CNN's Brian Todd reports.

African pirates copy ideas for ransom richesupdated: Wed Apr 08 2009 18:00:00

Incident details: "Armed pirates chased, boarded and hijacked a fishing trawler underway" southeast of Mogadishu, Somalia. "Several persons armed with machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and machetes attempting to climb onboard with use of rope" at Lagos anchorage, Nigeria.

Nigerians want oil on road to peaceupdated: Tue Jan 13 2009 14:58:00

Residents of this small town in Nigeria's oil-rich delta region fled after fighting over scant resources reduced their homes to rubble and turned their neighbors into foes.

Planet in Perilupdated: Mon Dec 15 2008 10:42:00

Lisa Ling travels to the Niger Delta, where the thirst for oil has created a deadly situation.

World's most valuable resource, a curse for most Nigeriansupdated: Mon Dec 15 2008 10:42:00

Trash litters its cities. Electricity is sporadic at best. There is no clean water. Medical and educational services are limited. Basic infrastructure is severely lacking.

Rebels attack Nigerian oil pipelinesupdated: Mon Jul 28 2008 10:42:00

A rebel group in Nigeria said it sabotaged two oil pipelines in southern Nigeria on Monday.

Nigerian militants: We'll destroy oil pipelinesupdated: Wed Jul 23 2008 10:39:00

A Nigerian militant group issued a statement Wednesday saying it will destroy major oil pipelines "within the next 30 days" to disassociate itself from a government pipeline protection deal.

Nigeria pushes talks to halt oil attacksupdated: Tue Jul 01 2008 07:56:00

Leaders in a volatile region of Nigeria have agreed to participate in government-backed talks intended to stop attacks on the country's oil industry, a government spokesman said Tuesday.

Rebels blamed for oil attacks announce truceupdated: Sun Jun 22 2008 20:03:00

A Nigerian rebel movement blamed for an number of recent attacks on the African country's oil industry announced a unilateral truce Sunday after an appeal for negotiations by tribal leaders.

Nigeria Oil Pricesupdated: Wed May 28 2008 23:27:00

Christian Purefoy reports on rebel activity in Nigeria that helps drive up the price of gas.

Assault at gas pumps related to attacks on Nigerian pipelinesupdated: Fri May 23 2008 08:22:00

Violence in oil-rich southern Nigeria is having a ripple effect thousands of miles away -- at gas stations in the United States.

Nigerian rebels drive gas pricesupdated: Fri May 23 2008 08:22:00

CNN's Christian Purefoy reports on rebel activity in Nigeria that is contributing to higher gas prices .

CNNMoney: Oil poised for another $100 dayupdated: Thu Jan 03 2008 10:09:00

Oil traders awaited an inventory report early Thursday that could push crude prices back to the $100 mark and continue a six-year, five-fold spike in oil prices driven by surging demand and limited supply.

Curfew in Niger Delta after deadly battlesupdated: Fri Aug 17 2007 02:08:00

Authorities imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew Friday in the heart of Nigeria's oil region, where security forces and gang members have clashed in battles that left dozens feared dead.

Girl recovers after Nigeria kidnapupdated: Mon Jul 09 2007 07:48:00

Three-year-old British girl Margaret Hill is recovering in Nigeria after she was released by kidnappers who had held her for four days.

3 year old girl set freeupdated: Mon Jul 09 2007 07:48:00

3 year old girl set free

Girl's kidnappers 'demand money'updated: Fri Jul 06 2007 02:41:00

Gunmen who kidnapped a 3-year-old British girl in Nigeria have demanded money and talks to secure her release are about to start, the girl's mother said on Friday.

CNNMoney: Oil edges up ahead of inventoriesupdated: Wed Jul 04 2007 00:17:00

Oil edged higher Wednesday, supported by low U.S. fuel inventories and expectations of strong gasoline demand in the world's top consumer.

CNNMoney: Oil flat despite tensions in Nigeriaupdated: Tue Jun 19 2007 03:57:00

Oil prices were flat Tuesday, hovering near a 10-month high posted in the previous session on concerns that a strike call in Nigeria could further cut crude output in the world's eighth-biggest oil exporter.

4 Americans abducted off Nigeria's coastupdated: Wed May 09 2007 05:09:00

Four Americans working off the coast of southern Nigeria were abducted by unknown kidnappers overnight, an oil company official said Wednesday.

Nigeria's Obasanjo defends electionupdated: Wed Apr 25 2007 08:25:00

Just days after a presidential election marred by accusations of violence, fraud and voter intimidation, CNN's Isha Sesay sat down with Nigerian ruler Olusegun Obasanjo. In the exclusive interview, the former general defended the election and his administration's record on battling corruption. With just weeks remaining in office he reflects on his eight-year rule and looks forward to returning to his family farm.

Fortune: Holding an oil-rich country hostageupdated: Thu Apr 19 2007 11:51:00

Blesso Amakiri, a logistics manager at Smit Nigeria in Port Harcourt, canceled an order for a new SUV in early March. Amakiri, 42, whose company operates tugboats in the oil-rich Niger River delta, reckoned he might be laid off, now that more than a fifth of Nigeria's oil production has been shut down by unrest in the region. Late last month he lost his job.

Nigeria kidnap: Filipinos homeupdated: Sat Feb 17 2007 06:56:00

Twenty-four recently freed Filipino hostages safely arrived home to Manila Saturday after militants held them captive for 25 days in a clandestine jungle camp in Nigeria.

Nigerian kidnappers release hostagesupdated: Tue Feb 13 2007 05:20:00

A group of 24 Filipino hostages kidnapped more than three weeks ago have been freed, a spokesman for Baco-Liner, their employer, said Tuesday.

CNN denies Nigerian allegations of staging reportupdated: Mon Feb 12 2007 16:19:00

A Nigerian government spokesman on Monday accused CNN of paying for and staging a report that showed 24 Filipino hostages being held by masked gunmen in the remote mangrove swamps of southern Nigeria.

Koinange: Big guns, big oil collide in Nigeriaupdated: Tue Feb 06 2007 12:49:00

Splashing across the murky waters of southern Nigeria in a speedboat, I suddenly found myself in one of the scariest positions of my journalistic career: masked militants firing machine guns at me and my crew.

Militant leader warns: 'We will destroy lives'updated: Tue Feb 06 2007 12:11:00

In the remote mangrove swamps of southern Nigeria, 24 Filipino hostages appeared frightened and disheveled. Around them, dozens of militants, dressed in black and wearing black ski masks, danced wildly and fired their automatic weapons into the air.

CNNMoney: Oil zigs, then zagsupdated: Wed Sep 13 2006 09:26:00

Oil prices climbed back above $64 barrel, then settled below that level after a government report revealed a bigger than forecast drop in crude stocks along with a jump in inventories of other products.

German oil worker kidnapped in Nigeria updated: Thu Aug 03 2006 15:07:00

A German oil contractor was kidnapped Thursday in the Nigerian oil city of Port Harcourt in the southeast Niger Delta region, police said.

Fortune: As China rises, so does its riskupdated: Thu Jun 08 2006 09:13:00

On April 29, a call from a mobile phone detonated a car bomb near an oil refinery in the southern Nigerian city of Warri. No one was killed, but the effects of the blast were felt as far away as Be...

Militants attack Nigeria oil fieldupdated: Wed Jun 07 2006 04:33:00

Nigerian militants on Wednesday staged a bloody attack on an oil facility in the Port Harcourt area, abducting five South Korean oil workers to be held until two imprisoned local leaders are freed from jail, militants told CNN.

Report: Abducted oil workers freedupdated: Thu May 11 2006 14:29:00

Three foreign oil workers kidnapped in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt have been freed, the Italian oil and gas company Eni SPA said Friday, according to Italian media.

Bomb explodes near Nigerian refineryupdated: Sat Apr 29 2006 19:19:00

Nigerian militants claimed Saturday that they detonated a car bomb outside an oil refinery in Warri.

Nine abducted in Niger delta updated: Sat Feb 18 2006 12:57:00

A Nigerian group has claimed responsibility for the abduction of nine foreign workers during its attack on an oil facility Saturday.

CNNMoney: Oil ends higher after inventory reportupdated: Wed Dec 21 2005 09:56:00

Oil prices held steady before climbing further above $58 a barrel Wednesday after the Energy Information Administration reported that crude stockpiles rose, but that the supply of distillates used for heating fell.

Nigeria reaches cease-fire with rebelsupdated: Fri Oct 01 2004 16:08:00

The Nigerian government has signed a cease-fire with three rebel groups that had been targeting foreign oil companies and their workers in the Niger Delta region, government officials said Friday.

CNNMoney: Oil closes at another recordupdated: Tue Sep 28 2004 05:44:00

Oil prices closed at record highs for a third straight session on Tuesday, despite a pledge to increase production by Saudi Arabia, a top exporter in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Shell admits blame in Nigeria updated: Fri Jun 11 2004 09:03:00

Royal Dutch/Shell has taken responsibility for contributing to the fighting and corruption in oil-rich Nigeria.

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