**A key militant leader in Nigeria’s Delta region has handed over weapons under a government amnesty programme.**The militant, Ebikabowei Victor Ben, also known as General Boyloaf, is a top commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend).
Hundreds of rifles and rocket launchers, as well as gunboats, were handed in at a ceremony in Yenagoa, near the oil city of Port Harcourt.
Unrest in the region has seriously affected Nigeria’s oil production.
Gen Boyloaf has been seen as Mend’s leading tactician, and was responsible for spectacular attacks against the oil industry, the BBC’s Caroline Duffield in Yenagoa reports.
In 2008 he led a raid on Shell’s Bonga oil field which the Nigerian government had boasted was impregnable.
But he recently met Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua and accepted the offer of an amnesty.
In June the president unveiled the amnesty programme for all Niger Delta militants who agree lay down their arms.
The offer ends in October.
On Saturday about 300 assault rifles, a few rocket-propelled grenades, and mounds of ammunition were dumped in a square in Yenagoa. At least 12 gunboats were also handed in.
But our correspondent says it is far from clear that the entire stock of weapons held by Gen Boyloaf’s group is being decommissioned.
It is believed many of his men will accept amnesty along with him.
Militant attacks have reduced Nigeria’s out to 1.3m barrels per day. Nigeria’s Opec quota is 2m.
The rebels say proceeds from oil production have not benefited the region.