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Nigerian army moves on militants Army recaptures Nigerian oil base
(about 4 hours later)
The Nigerian army has sent extra troops and four gunboats to an oil platform occupied by militants since Sunday. Nigeria's army has recaptured an oil platform occupied by militants since Sunday after a gun battle, it says.
A BBC correspondent in the region says local villagers are fleeing in case they are caught up in heavy fighting. Military sources say 12 militants, two civilians and a soldier were killed in the operation, which last for hours.
The militants drove away the soldiers who were guarding the platform, run by Italian firm Eni, and seized about 28 people hostage, including some troops. Nine civilian hostages were rescued in the operation, army commander Lawrence Ngubane told the BBC.
There are unconfirmed reports that the army and militants have fought hours of gun battles for the platform. Italian firm Eni, which operates the platform, had said that about 28 people had been taken hostage - the reason for the discrepancy is not clear.
Brig Gen Ngubane refused to comment on the casualty figures but said the army was in "full control" of the platform.
The BBC's Abdullahi Kaura Abubakar in the Niger Delta said local villagers had fled the area in case they were caught up in heavy fighting.
The army had sent in troops reinforcements and four gunboats ahead of the battle.
President Umaru Yar'Adua pledged to try and bring peace to Nigeria's oil region when he took office last month.President Umaru Yar'Adua pledged to try and bring peace to Nigeria's oil region when he took office last month.
The BBC's Abdullahi Kaura Abubakar in the Niger Delta says Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva is trying to talk to the militants to persuade them to vacate the platform peacefully.
Analysts say negotiations may be more successful than the military option.
"It won't be an easy task to dislodge the boys. What they do is that they mine the platform as soon as they take it over, and they challenge the soldiers to dare [to] fire a shot. If a shot is fired, the entire area will go up in flames," an oil industry source told the AFP news agency.
'Injustice''Injustice'
Last week, militant leader Mujahid Dokubo-Asari was freed from prison on bail on health grounds after spending almost two years in custody on treason charges.Last week, militant leader Mujahid Dokubo-Asari was freed from prison on bail on health grounds after spending almost two years in custody on treason charges.
His release had been one of the main demands of the armed groups who have staged attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta.His release had been one of the main demands of the armed groups who have staged attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta.
Southern militants are fighting to retain oil wealth in their regionHe has since urged his followers not to take hostages.Southern militants are fighting to retain oil wealth in their regionHe has since urged his followers not to take hostages.
"We are fighting injustice, we should not do injustice to other people," he said on his return to the main oil city, Port Harcourt."We are fighting injustice, we should not do injustice to other people," he said on his return to the main oil city, Port Harcourt.
But there are many different armed group in the region - some with political demands for more of Nigeria's oil wealth to be used to help local people, others criminal, seeking ransom payments from foreign oil companies.But there are many different armed group in the region - some with political demands for more of Nigeria's oil wealth to be used to help local people, others criminal, seeking ransom payments from foreign oil companies.
Our reporter says no group has claimed responsibility for the seizure of the platform in the Ogbainbiri district of Bayelsa State. Our reporter says no group has claimed responsibility for the seizure of the Ogboinbiri platform in Bayelsa State.
Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer but most of its people live in poverty.Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer but most of its people live in poverty.
The violence in the Niger Delta has led to a 25% cut in Nigeria's output, costing about $4bn last year.The violence in the Niger Delta has led to a 25% cut in Nigeria's output, costing about $4bn last year.