On December 26th, up to 500 people died after an oil pipeline exploded in Lagos, Nigeria. It is feared the final death toll could be much higher. The explosion comes at a time when tension has been rising -- especially in the Niger Delta -- over who controls the region's vast natural resources. Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer and the United States' 5th largest oil supplier.

Last week, two car bombs exploded outside an oil company compound. On Saturday a car bomb exploded outside the state governor's office in Port Harcourt. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta or MEND claimed responsibility for the bombing. In an email to the press, the group stated that governors in the Niger delta and other political figures "have acted against the interest of the people of the Niger delta, sabotaging all efforts at resource control for selfish reasons."

Saturday was the first time MEND has targeted a government building in over a year, the group has kidnapped foreign oil workers and occupied pumping stations run by multinational oil companies. MEND has also held four foreign oil workers hostage since December 7th. The group has said the hostages will not be released until the government releases two jailed leaders from the Delta, gives compensation to villagers for oil pollution, transfers control of oil resources to local communities and provides reparations for 50 years of enslavement by the oil industry.

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