Boat ambushed in Nigeria's Delta

At least 10 people, mainly women, have died after their boat was attacked on the way to market in Nigeria's southern Delta region, it has emerged.

The attack near Warri town took place last Thursday, and is the latest in an ethnic dispute between the Ijaw and Itsekiri people in the oil-rich area.

The government has appealed for calm and says it is investigating the incident.

The military have deployed helicopter patrols to prevent reprisal attacks.

Ijaw activists say three bodies have been recovered but several more are missing.

They blamed the attack on their Itsekiri rivals.

People get around by water

Violence subsided at the end of the year as the two sides began talks and a dusk-to-dawn curfew was lifted in Warri, the state's main town, earlier this month.

Last year, 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.