This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/5408118.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Nigerian army raids oil militants Nigerian army 'razes oil village'
(about 19 hours later)
The Nigerian army has carried out a series of raids on the bases of oil militants following the reported deaths of 17 soldiers in the Niger Delta. The Nigerian army has carried out a series of raids on oil militants after the reported deaths of 17 soldiers in the Niger Delta, several sources say.
The military have used gun boats and helicopter gunships in the Delta's creeks, sources say, but there are no details of arrests or casualties. The militants say a village in the oil producing area was razed to the ground but this was denied by the army.
The militants claim to have killed the troops in two attacks but this has not been independently confirmed. The militants claim to have killed the troops in two attacks but this has not been independently confirmed. They are now threatening further attacks.
Nigeria's oil output is still 25% down after a wave of attacks in February.Nigeria's oil output is still 25% down after a wave of attacks in February.
The raids come as army commanders have been summoned to the capital, Abuja, however the military refuses to say whether the talks concern the recent escalation in violence in the Niger Delta, the source of most of Nigeria's oil.
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.
Weapons Helicopter gunships
"In the light of this attack on a helpless community, we are at present considering reciprocal action against the military or oil installations in Rivers [State]," said an e-mail from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend).
The military have used gun boats and helicopter gunships in the Delta's creeks, sources say, but there are no details of arrests or casualties.
But local army spokesman Sagir Musa said: "There is no truth in the story that the military have attacked any community in the creeks."
The raids came as army commanders were summoned to the capital, Abuja, however the military refuses to say whether the talks concern the recent escalation in violence in the Niger Delta, the source of most of Nigeria's oil.
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.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.
Mend also say they seized two military gunboats.Mend also say they seized two military gunboats.
In a separate incident, Mend said they killed two soldiers and six sailors.In a separate incident, Mend said they killed two soldiers and six sailors.
"After a brief shoot-out in which they were all killed, we boarded the houseboat and collected all the weapons aboard," the group said."After a brief shoot-out in which they were all killed, we boarded the houseboat and collected all the weapons aboard," the group said.
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.
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 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.
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.
DilemmaDilemma
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 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 wealthThe 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. But 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.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.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.
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.