DATE=6/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250127
TITLE=NIGERIA / ETHNIC CLASH (L ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN PITMAN
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NIGERIA HAS SENT MILITARY REINFORCEMENTS TO THE VOLATILE
NIGER RIVER DELTA AREA, FOLLOWING SEVERAL DAYS OF DEADLY CLASHES
BETWEEN RIVAL ETHNIC GROUPS. REPORTS FROM THE CITY OF WARRI,
SOUTHEAST OF LAGOS, SAY MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN
THE FIGHTING. V-O-A'S JOHN PITMAN REPORTS FROM OUR WEST AFRICA
BUREAU.
TEXT: THIS LATEST ROUND OF VIOLENCE IN THE DELTA BEGAN WITHIN
HOURS OF SATURDAY'S PEACEFUL HANDOVER OF POWER FROM A MILITARY TO
A CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT.
ACCORDING TO CONFLICTING REPORTS, FIGHTING BEGAN SOMETIME
SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, WHEN ETHNIC IJAW YOUTHS ATTACKED THE VILLAGE
OF ARUNTON, WHICH IS INHABITED BY MEMBERS OF THE ITSEKERI ETHNIC
GROUP.
/// OPT /// THE VILLAGE IS LOCATED NEAR THE CITY OF WARRI,
ABOUT 300 KILOMETERS SOUTHEAST OF LAGOS. IT ALSO IS CLOSE TO A
MAJOR OIL STORAGE AND EXPORTING TERMINAL OPERATED BY CHEVRON.
ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS, THE OIL TERMINAL WAS NOT DAMAGED IN
THE VIOLENCE, ALTHOUGH THE COMPANY SAYS THREATS WERE MADE TO BLOW
UP THE STORAGE TANKS. /// END OPT ///
UNCONFIRMED REPORTS SAY 50 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE INITIAL
ATTACK, BUT DOZENS MORE WERE REPORTEDLY KILLED AS THE VIOLENCE
SPILLED INTO MONDAY.
NIGERIAN NEWS REPORTS SAY THE DEATH TOLL MAY BE AS HIGH AS 200
PEOPLE, INCLUDING WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND THE ELDERLY.
/// OPT /// IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT PROVOKED THE ATTACK DURING
THE WEEKEND, BUT LOCAL REPORTS SUGGEST IT MAY HAVE BEEN A
RETALIATION FOR AN ITSEKERI RAID ON AN IJAW VILLAGE IN MAY. ///
END OPT ///
ON WEDNESDAY, THE NEW CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT SAID MORE THAN 100
TROOPS HAD BEEN SENT TO THE DELTA TO REINFORCE THE MILITARY
CONTINGENT ALREADY IN THE AREA.
IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE REUTERS NEWS AGENCY, THE GOVERNOR OF
DELTA STATE SAID (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE SITUATION HAD BEEN
BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL, AND THAT THE TWO SIDES WERE TALKING TO
EACH OTHER.
ETHNIC TENSION HAS BEEN ON THE RISE IN AND AROUND WARRI SINCE
1997, WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MOVED A LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICE
FROM A PREDOMINANTLY IJAW TOWN TO ONE WHERE ITSEKERIS ARE IN THE
MAJORITY.
THE TWO GROUPS ARGUE THAT CONTROL OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICE
DETERMINES WHICH SIDE WILL REAP THE BENEFITS OF DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS.
/// REST OPT ///
NIGERIAN PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO HAS PLEDGED TO DEAL WITH THE
DELTA'S ETHNIC AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS -- AND WILL BE THE KEY-NOTE
ADDRESS SPEAKER AT A CONFERENCE ON THE DELTA LATER THIS MONTH IN
WARRI.
OBSERVERS SAY PRESIDENT OBASANJO MAY TRY TO RELEASE AN EMERGENCY
FUNDING PACKAGE FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE DELTA, AS PART OF
AN EFFORT TO EASE SOME OF THE TENSION, WHICH HAS BEEN INFLAMED BY
POVERTY DUE TO YEARS OF NEGLECT.
STILL, DIPLOMATS AND OTHERS SAY PRESIDENT OBASANJO WILL HAVE TO
MOVE CAUTIOUSLY TO ENSURE THE MONEY IS SPENT PROPERLY, AND NOT
SIMPLY ABSORBED BY CORRUPT LOCAL OFFICIALS. (SIGNED)
NEB/JP/JWH
02-Jun-99 12:08 PM EDT (1608 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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