Further unrest in the oil rich Delta area killed eighteen people, all from the Itsekiri tribe. The victims were passengers on a boat attacked by Ijaw men as part of longstanding disputes between the two tribes.. November 14; Six Shell Oil employees kidnapped in October have been released. The Ijaw young men who held the captives demanded money, jobs and other considerations. Some of these demands were apparently met.
November 13; Ten soldiers guarding oil facilities in the Niger Delta were killed by Ijaw gangs, The Ijaw have become increasingly violent in their demands for a share of the oil wealth that is extracted from their region.
November 13; Nigeria's new civilian government is investigating charges that some of the weapons used in the continuing inter-tribal skirmishes were provided by or stolen from the Nigerian military. In an effort to end the harassment of civilians by off-duty soldiers, the new civilian government has ordered that the old "Code of Conduct" (ignored during the Junta regime) be reinstated. This includes a provision prohibiting soldiers from wearing their uniforms off-post when not on official duty.--Stephen V Cole
November 12; Ethnic strife in the Niger Delta continues between Ijaws and Yorubas. One person was killed and several injured. In the last week, at least a dozen policemen have been killed trying to control the violence.
November 10; The government has threatened to impose martial law on the Niger Delta (where most of the oil comes from) unless the violence declines. Young Ijaw men have been openly carrying automatic weapons, hijacking boats and indulging in general mayhem.
November 8; Eight policemen were kidnapped by Ijaw gangsters. They would have been killed if not for the intervention of Ijaw tribal elders.
