Nigeria's most prominent militant group has renewed its threat to end a unilateral cease-fire after the military killed a gang leader.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, issued a statement Wednesday saying every uniformed Nigerian soldier in the oil-producing Niger Delta region is a fair target.

The Nigerian military says troops shot and killed gang leader Tubotamuno Angolia in southern Nigeria's Rivers state on Tuesday as he tried to escape after being arrested.

MEND says Angolia was not a member of the group but described his killing as unacceptable.

MEND declared a cease-fire in its conflict with Nigeria's government in September after a week of violence in which the group fought Nigerian troops and attacked oil industry targets.

The group's attacks, along with gang activities, have helped reduce Nigeria's oil production by about 20 percent over the past three years.

The militant group has been holding two British oil workers hostage since kidnapping them in September. The group has demanded that authorities release one of its leaders, Henry Okah.

MEND says it is fighting so the government will direct more of the Niger Delta's oil revenue to impoverished local residents.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.