More deaths in war-torn Niger Delta - Oil Co. evacuate

[dArKeR]

More than 20 people were killed over the past week in clashes between rival ethnic groups in southern Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta, sources in the region said on Saturday.

The incidents mark the most serious upsurge of violence in the Niger Delta since March, when ethnic Ijaws launched an armed rebellion, leading to dozens of deaths and forcing oil majors including ChevronTexaco and Royal Dutch Shell to evacuate the area.

Joel Bisina, of non-governmental organisation Niger Delta Professionals for Development, said the latest clash occurred on Thursday, when a village of ethnic Itsekiris, Abi-Gborodo, was burnt down by Ijaws.

Itsekiri and Ijaw sources confirmed the attack.

'The Ijaws are going to retaliate before the end of next week'
Bisina said the attack was by "aggrieved Ijaw youths", in retaliation for killings earlier in the week by Itsekiris.

He told Reuters the village was completely razed. Although he could not say how many people had been killed or injured in the attack, a source close to Ijaw militant groups said the death toll was eight.

The source said the violence was likely to continue, and warned that oil companies should put on hold any plans to restart production at facilities that have been cut off by the violence since March.

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