Army fails to quell unrest in Nigerian oil city

Fighting has broken out again in the Nigerian oil city of Warri today despite reports more troops had been sent in after gunbattles…

Fighting has broken out again in the Nigerian oil city of Warri today despite reports more troops had been sent in after gunbattles between ethnic groups last week.

The fighting between the Ijaw and Itsekiri groups is theworst seen in the Niger Delta since March, when an Ijaw revolt led to dozens of deaths and forced oil companies to close down about 40 per cent of production in the OPEC member nation.

Mr Misam Ukubeyenje, a local politician from the Itsekiri ethnic group, said fighting surged in the McIver market area this morning after a return to calm during the curfew hours. A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed on Warri.