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Nigeria oil violence crisis talks Nigeria oil violence crisis talks
(about 4 hours later)
The Nigerian government has summoned army chiefs to the capital for crisis talks after an upsurge in violence in the oil-producing Delta region.The Nigerian government has summoned army chiefs to the capital for crisis talks after an upsurge in violence in the oil-producing Delta region.
The summons comes after a militant group said it had killed nine soldiers during a gun battle in the Niger Delta. The meeting comes after a militant group said it had killed 17 soldiers in two gun battles in the Niger Delta.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said the clash happened near an oil-pumping station operated by the Shell oil company. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said one clash happened near an oil-pumping station operated by the Shell oil company.
The army has confirmed a firefight took place, but gave no other details.The army has confirmed a firefight took place, but gave no other details.
Nigeria's oil production is still about 25% down on normal following a wave of Mend attacks in February.Nigeria's oil production is still about 25% down on normal following a wave of Mend attacks in February.
Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer but the militants demand more local control of oil wealth for residents of the Niger Delta.Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer but the militants demand more local control of oil wealth for residents of the Niger Delta.
Escalation Weapons
The latest attack comes two days after another armed group killed at least 10 soldiers by raiding a convoy of barges carrying fuel in the same region. Nine soldiers were killed when Mend fighters battled nine military patrol boats backed up by a helicopter gunship for one-and-a-half hours around Shell's Ekulama oil flow station, 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of Port Harcourt, the militants said.
The BBC's Alex Last in Lagos says Wednesday's clash appears to be the escalation in violence that many had feared. Mend also say they seized two military gunboats.
Mend has said it would send more forces into the area to prevent any military reprisal, as rumours grew of a potential military response to Monday's attack. In a separate incident, Mend said they killed two soldiers and six sailors.
It is not clear who fired first in this encounter, our correspondent says. "After a brief shoot-out in which they were all killed, we boarded the houseboat and collected all the weapons aboard," the group said.
In a separate incident, a convoy of boats working for the Italian oil company Eni was ambushed 80km (50 miles) west of the oil hub city of Port Harcourt, the Nigerian military said.
No further information was available about the attack.
The British government has responded to the attacks by warning against all but essential travel to the Niger Delta.The British government has responded to the attacks by warning against all but essential travel to the Niger Delta.
Crackdown The latest attacks comes two days after another armed group killed at least 10 soldiers by raiding a convoy of barges carrying fuel in the same region.
The ambushed soldiers were en route to a terminal when they were attacked, the Associated Press news agency quoted Brig Gen Alfred Ilogho as saying.
Mend said its fighters battled nine military patrol boats backed up by a helicopter gunship for one-and-a-half hours around the Ekulama oil flow station, 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of Port Harcourt.
The militants say they are fighting for greater local control of oil wealthThe militants also say they seized two military gunboats.
Two months ago, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered the military to take a tougher line with the armed groups in the Delta.
But our correspondent says it would be difficult to defeat the militants using the military option, as they know the region's creeks and swamps so well.
Meanwhile 16 oil workers kidnapped in a raid on Monday have been freed, the last of a group of 25 captives to be released.Meanwhile 16 oil workers kidnapped in a raid on Monday have been freed, the last of a group of 25 captives to be released.
Five foreign oil workers - including four Britons - seized during a raid on a residential compound operated by ExxonMobil in Akwa Ibom state on Tuesday remain missing.Five foreign oil workers - including four Britons - seized during a raid on a residential compound operated by ExxonMobil in Akwa Ibom state on Tuesday remain missing.
Dilemma
The BBC's Alex Last in Lagos says the Nigerian military and oil companies face a serious dilemma in how to respond to the upsurge in violence.
The oil companies do not want to see any heavy-handed military action which could exacerbate the situation and endanger the lives of their workers, our correspondent says.
The militants say they are fighting for greater local control of oil wealthBut he says that so many soldiers' deaths would prompt a fierce military response anywhere else in the country.
Two months ago, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered the military to take a tougher line with the armed groups in the Delta.
However, targeting the armed groups would take a major increase in the military presence in the Delta, whose maze of creeks and swamps give the local insurgents a major advantage.
Attacking the communities simply terrorises populations and increases support for the militants.
Our correspondent says some fear further violence in the build-up to elections next year.Our correspondent says some fear further violence in the build-up to elections next year.
It is widely believed that local politicians pay the militant groups to intimidate their opponents.It is widely believed that local politicians pay the militant groups to intimidate their opponents.
Our correspondent also says that what happens in the Delta could be linked to politics at the national level, pointing out that these attacks embarrass President Olusegun Obasanjo. Our correspondent also says that what happens in the Delta could be linked to politics at the national level, pointing out that these attacks embarrass President Obasanjo.