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Army warns warring communities

    ABIDJAN

    Representatives of warring Ilaje and Ijaw communities in Edugugba, in the southern Nigerian state of Ondo, have been told to restrain their people from shooting at soldiers sent to bring order to the area, state owned Radio Nigeria reported at the weekend.

    The general officer commanding the 2 Mechanized Division ordered his troops to shoot if attacked but also to resist any influence to subvert the relative peace that has returned to the area.

    The division was sent to the riverine community when fighting broke out early August between the two communities. The conflict originated in September 1998 over control of land, following rumours that Western oil companies were interested in the area. In Nigeria, land ownership often leads to substantial financial compensation to the communities.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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