Nigerian gunmen attacked an oil industry barge, a jetty and a government building on Wednesday, briefly capturing 18 Filipino crew and fighting with troops, officials said on Thursday. Violence has been on the increase for the past month in the Niger Delta, where about 2.1 million barrels of crude are pumped every day.
Armed rebels say they are losing patience with peace talks launched in June by Nigeria's new government. Wednesday's fighting occurred in and around Okrika, a riverine community in Rivers state which is the stronghold of a powerful local militia led by Ateke Tom.
Local newspapers quoted sources from Tom's gang as saying the attacks were in retaliation for an army incursion into Okrika on December 10, but this could not be confirmed. Officials said the gunmen had been trying to hijack an oil industry barge when troops opened fire, causing them to flee in their speedboats.
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