A powerful militia leader from Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta has accused the government of talking peace while provoking rebel commanders with army raids. Ateke Tom’s armed group is one of several in the anarchic delta that have fought with troops and attacked government targets.
At least 12 people were killed over New Year in Nigeria’s oil capital, Port Harcourt, when gunmen attacked two police stations and a hotel, a military officer in the city said on Wednesday. ”For now what we are looking at is between 12 and 16 dead in total,” the officer, who asked not to be named, said, adding that the total included both civilians and police.