Explosions rock Nigeria amnesty ceremony


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(AFP) – 1 hour ago

WARRI, Nigeria — Two explosions rocked the southern Nigerian oil city of Warri on Monday during talks on an amnesty for former rebel fighters in the oil-rich Niger Delta, a government official said.

One device went off and after some few minutes another one was heard near the main hall where the event was taking place, sending large plumes of smoke into the air. It was not immediately clear whether anyone was injured.

"There were car bombs, two of them. The first one exploded just as the governors came in and the second one was about 30 minutes later," Delta State government spokesman Linus Chima to AFP.

"I think the intention is obvious, just to scuttle the talks and make it seem as if Warri in Delta state is not safe," he added.

The blasts shattered windows, people were running, and the governors were rushed out of the conference room to their cars, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

Soldiers were ordering everyone to evacuate the building.

The blasts went off moments after the region's main armed group MEND threatened to detonate three devices it had planted near the venue.

Several hundred top officials and community leaders had gathered at the ceremony. At least four governors and the federal minister in charge of the region, Ufot Ekaette, were attending the ceremony organised by the independent newspaper Vanguard.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jJVMhmPuitgAigoReGpfwhlzEPkA

What a shame. Please see the link below for more info.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-413520.0.html