Two warships recently acquired from the United States are to be deployed to Warri to fight bunkering, pipe-line vandalizing and other violent activities, while the three warships formerly deployed in Warri are now to be deployed to Calabar for a more effective policing of the entire Niger-Delta and the nation's Maritime resources.

Nigerian troops denied a claim by an activist group that a special military task force stationed in the volatile region near the southern oil town of Warri opened fire on unarmed villagers, killing at least 51 people. The March 9 incident occured only hours after a soldier was killed in a clash with an armed gang. - Adam Geibel