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Sunday, January 3, 1999 Published at 21:18 GMT

World: Africa

Refugees flee Niger Delta
News image

Troops are preparing to defend oil platforms

Around 1,000 people are reported to be fleeing continued fighting between militant Ijaw youths and security forces in the oil-rich south Nigerian state of Bayelsa in the Niger Delta.

The refugees began arriving in Port Harcourt as troop reinforcements were sent to the Niger Delta by Nigeria's military government.

[ image: The Ijaws are demanding a better deal from the oil companies]
The Ijaws are demanding a better deal from the oil companies
The forces were deployed following Wednesday's declaration of a state of emergency in the state of Bayelsa.

Ethnic Ijaws have been involved in clashes with soldiers and there are unconfirmed reports that the Ijaw leader is being held in police custody.

The Ijaws say that there have been more than 20 deaths in and around Bayelsa's capital, Yenagoa. So far there has been no independent confirmation of this figure.

Checkpoints were being set up in the state capital as security forces prepared to protect oil installations and other public property.

The Ijaw and other communities in the region are demanding greater control over local oil resources.