The
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (
MEND) is one of the largest
militant groups in the
Niger Delta region of
Nigeria. The organization claims to expose exploitation and oppression of the people of the
Niger Delta and devastation of the natural environment by public-private partnerships between the
Federal Government of Nigeria and
corporations involved in the production of
oil in the Niger Delta.
The Economist has described the organization as one that "portrays itself as political organisation that wants a greater share of Nigeria’s oil revenues to go to the impoverished region that sits atop the oil. In fact, it is more of an umbrella organisation for several armed groups, which it sometimes pays in cash or guns to launch attacks." MEND has been linked to attacks on
petroleum operations in
Nigeria as part of the
Conflict in the Niger Delta, engaging in actions including sabotage, theft, property destruction,
guerrilla warfare, and kidnapping.