DATE=6/9/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250422
TITLE=NIGERIA/CLASHES UPDATE (L/S VER)
BYLINE=JOHN PITMAN
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AFTER MORE THAN 10 DAYS OF VIOLENCE, CALM HAS REPORTEDLY
RETURNED TO THE CITY OF WARRI, IN SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA. VOA'S
JOHN PITMAN HAS MORE FROM OUR WEST AFRICA BUREAU.
TEXT: ON WEDNESDAY, A HEAVY POLICE AND ARMY PRESENCE WAS
REPORTED ON THE STREETS OF WARRI. WITNESSES SAY ORDINARY PEOPLE
WERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CALM TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES IN SEARCH
OF SUPPLIES.
OVER THE LAST 10 DAYS, UP TO 200 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN CLASHES IN
AND AROUND WARRI BETWEEN GANGS OF YOUTHS FROM THE IJAW, ITSEKERI
AND URHOBO ETHNIC GROUPS.
/// OPT FOR LONG VERSION; KEEP FOR SHORT VERSION /// NEWS REPORTS
SAY MANY PARTS OF WARRI WERE BURNED IN THE FIGHTING, WHICH ALSO
FORCED HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS TO FLEE THEIR HOMES. /// END OPT
///
AT ISSUE BETWEEN THE GROUPS IS A DISAGREEMENT OVER THE PLACEMENT
AND CONTROL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
/// OPT FOR LONG /// ALL OF THE GROUPS CLAIM TO HAVE BEEN
PERSECUTED OR IGNORED OVER THE YEARS BY THE FORMER MILITARY
GOVERNMENT, WHICH THEY ACCUSE OF RULING THROUGH ETHNIC
FAVORITISM. /// END OPT ///
THE APPARENT PAUSE IN THE VIOLENCE COINCIDES WITH THE
POSTPONEMENT OF A MAJOR SUMMIT ON THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
PROBLEMS FACING THE NIGER RIVER DELTA. THE SUMMIT WAS TO HAVE
BROUGHT TOGETHER LOCAL ACTIVISTS, OIL COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES, AS
WELL AS A GOVERNMENT DELEGATION LED BY PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN
OBASANJO.
A NEW DATE FOR THE SUMMIT HAS NOT YET BEEN ANNOUNCED.
/// REST OPT -- DROP FOR SHORT VERSION ///
THIS LATEST EXPLOSION OF VIOLENCE IN THE DELTA, AND THE POSTPONED
SUMMIT, COMES LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER PRESIDENT OBASANJO TOOK
OFFICE, AMID PROMISES TO WORK FOR A QUICK RESOLUTION TO THE
CRISIS IN THE DELTA. TO DO THIS, THE NEW PRESIDENT WILL NOT ONLY
HAVE TO DEFUSE THE ETHNIC TENSIONS, BUT ALSO ADDRESS THE EFFECTS
OF DECADES OF UNDER-DEVELOPMENT IN THE DELTA, ESPECIALLY POVERTY.
NEWS OF THE SUMMIT'S POSTPONEMENT ALSO COMES AS PRESIDENT
OBASANJO BEGINS CLEANING HOUSE (MAKING CHANGES) IN THE TOP RANKS
OF THE NIGERIAN MILITARY.
ON T/U/E/S/D/A/Y, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THE RETIREMENT OF 11
TOP-RANKING GENERALS, INCLUDING TWO FORMER COMMANDERS OF THE WEST
AFRICAN "ECOMOG" PEACEKEEPING FORCES IN LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE.
ACCORDING TO AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT, THE RETIREMENTS OF FORMER
ECOMOG COMMANDERS GENERAL TIMOTHY SHELPIDI AND GENERAL RUFUS
KUPOLATI -- AS WELL AS THE NINE OTHER TOP OFFICERS -- WERE ALL
VOLUNTARY.
SINCE TAKING OFFICE ON MAY 29TH, GENERAL OBASANJO HAS MADE
REORGANIZING AND DE-POLITICIZING THE MILITARY A TOP PRIORITY.
(SIGNED)
NEB/JP/PCF
09-Jun-99 3:18 PM EDT (1918 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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