Violence reignites in Niger Delta

Several people have died in a clash between security forces and armed youths in three days of fighting near the Nigerian oil city of Warri, police have said.

Reports say some of those killed were innocent bystanders.

The violence began on Monday, in Effurun, just outside the Niger Delta river port of Warri after the pastor of a church shot dead a youth who was part of a gang trying to extort money from the clergy.

The youths, who were seeking protection money, then took to the streets burning people's homes.

Patrol

A local police officer, Joseph Abiona, told AFP news agency that the youths engaged a joint patrol team of police, soldiers and navy in "a gun battle and a number of people were killed".

Security forces have been patrolling the troubled city of Warri since last month when dozens of people were killed and thousands displaced, following ethnic clashes between the Ijaw and Itsekiri people.

In March, several multi-national oil companies were force to halt their operations due to attacks on the oil facilities and clashes between the two ethnic groups, fighting for political power and the spoils of Nigeria's oil wealth.