Hundreds arrested after Nigeria oil attacks

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (AP) -- Nigeria's military has arrested more than 400 suspected militants following a spate of attacks in the restive southern oil region, an official said Tuesday.

The 443 suspects were detained during a week of military raids in the area surrounding the oil hub, Port Harcourt, said regional military spokesman Lt. Col. Sagir Musa.

He said the raids were prompted by intelligence reports that the militants were launching a recruitment drive to replace heavy losses suffered in their recent six-day campaign.

Many of the suspects were released following questioning but some were held in prison awaiting trial, he said.

The recent spike in militant activity was the worst in years in Nigeria. The country's most potent militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, declared a unilateral cease-fire on September 21.

The group, which is a loose alliance of various armed gangs operating in the southern Niger Delta, attacked military positions, destroyed pipeline-switching stations and blew up pipelines that carry crude from wells to export terminals in southern Nigeria.

The state oil company said daily production is now down about 40 percent from Nigeria's normal daily output of 2.5 million barrels, helping send crude prices to historical heights this year in international markets.

The militant group emerged about three years ago, calling for more federally controlled oil-industry revenue to flow to the impoverished southern states where the petroleum is pumped.

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