Many dead in Nigeria land clashes

At least 30 people have been killed in inter-communal fighting in south-eastern Nigeria, officials say.

The fighting between the Ukelle community in Cross River State and their neighbours, the Izzi people of Ebonyi State, erupted two weeks ago.

The clashes have been attributed to land rivalries.

Nigeria's 130m people are divided into many different ethnic and religious groups, which often clash for control of economic resources such as land.

More than 10,000 people have been killed in such clashes since 1999.

An Ebonyi state government spokesman told the BBC that more than 30 people had been killed.

But local reports quoting community leaders say more than 100 people are feared dead.

Peter Chigbe Ilop, a community leader in Cross River state, told Reuters news agency that more than 70 of his people had so far died in the fighting.

Joe Nwonumara, chairman of the Izzi local council in Ebonyi, told Reuters that 37 members of his community had died.

More than 150 houses are reported to have been burnt, and grain stores looted.