Nigeria's militants in oil-rich Niger Delta region on Tuesday warned the public that they would soon resume land-based attacks on petroleum related installations.

In an e-mil message to Xinhua, Jomo Gbomo, a self-described spokesman for the Movement of Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said the public should right now "keep away from the offices of all oil companies including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation."

He said all facilities utilized by oil companies would be targeted, including petroleum product storage depots, tanker parks, tankers carrying petroleum products, residential estates belonging to oil companies and all vehicles belonging to oil and oil service companies in the Niger Delta.

"These attacks will be complemented by attacks on creek and offshore installations," he said, adding that Nigerians should keep well clear of the convoys of governors of the Niger Delta as well as individuals who have sought in recent days to kill the dreams of the Niger Delta peoples.

"The blood of the innocent will be shed if any Nigerian invites these traitors to social functions," he said.

According to him, there will be no further warnings before the attacks commence.

However, he added, the militants would give notice shortly before the commencement of attacks with details following immediately after.

Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa or the sixth largest oil exporter in the world with a daily crude output of some 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd).

However, the past four months of militant attacks on oil facilities and kidnapping of oil workers in the Niger Delta region have cut the oil output by 630,000 bpd, or a quarter.

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2006)