Nigeria's military government has sent troop reinforcements to the state of Bayelsa in the Niger Delta following Wednesday's declaration of a state of emergency there.

Youths from the ethnic Ijaw group have been involved in clashes with soldiers in the region.

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.

The Ijaws have been campaigning for months for a greater share of the oil wealth from the troubled Niger Delta, often using violence to seize oil installations and kidnap oil workers.

Now the Nigerian Government appears to have decided on a tougher approach towards the unrest.

Move to end unrest

The country's military ruler, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, gave a clear indication in his New Year's address that enough is enough.

He said the activities of rampaging youths were totally unacceptable and that he was resolved to prevent lawlessness and anarchy.

Ijaw sources say that there are now about 1,000 troops in Yenagoa, enforcing a dusk to dawn curfew and arresting Ijaw activists.

Many residents of the town are reported to have fled to nearby Port Harcourt.

Militant Ijaws also say that the oil companies have again withdrawn from many of their installations in the Delta because of fears for their security, but oil companies have not confirmed this.

Next step unclear

One of the leading Ijaw groups, the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, told the BBC that it was still prepared to talk with the government and the companies.

Bu the group said its demands involve a significant increase in oil revenues, as well as undertakings from the companies to employ many thousands of local youths.

Until now, the Nigerian Government has appeared undecided as to how to deal with the problems of the Delta.

It cannot afford to do nothing as the disruption to oil production has badly crippled Nigeria's economy.