Nigeria police hunt militia chiefs after riots

Members of the Oodua Peoples Congress, who took over a gasoline station in Lagos, use whips against people seeking fuel on Wednesday

LAGOS, Nigeria (Reuters) -- Nigerian police launched a manhunt on Thursday for leaders of a tribal militia banned by the government after four days of violence in the commercial capital of Lagos in which more than 100 people have been killed.

The government on Wednesday night outlawed the Odua People's Congress (OPC) and ordered the arrest and prosecution of its leaders and those of other similar groups.

"We are going for the OPC leaders one by one. We have a list of its leaders," Lagos police chief Mike Okiro told Reuters.

He said two militia leaders had already been picked up: "In all, 204 persons were arrested in action and they will soon be charged."

Lagos, with a population of over 10 million, has been paralyzed by skirmishes between the OPC, a militia loyal to the southwest Yoruba people, and Muslim Hausa-Fulanis from the north.

The clashes flared last Sunday night after OPC militants raided a Hausa-Fulani stronghold, ostensibly chasing criminals.

ALSO Nigeria calm under night curfew imposed to stop ethnic clashes

Calm returned to the city on Wednesday after soldiers backed by armored vehicles joined police patrolling major streets.

Health workers struggled to clear corpses, some already decomposing, from the roads.

A gasoline shortage in parts of the country has been aggravated by the violence, which has grounded haulage trucks, driven mainly by Hausa-Fulanis.

Tanker owners are also demanding compensation for trucks burnt by rioters before returning to the depots to ferry fuel.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Nigerian police struggle to disperse rioters in ethnic violence
October 18, 2000
Tribal rioting rocks Lagos; leaders agree to meet
October 17, 2000
Clinton pledges aid, promotes democracy in Nigeria
August 27, 2000
Clinton says U.S. will be 'friend for life' of Africa
February 17, 2000
Clinton pledges help to ease Nigeria's debt
October 28, 1999
Albright hails Nigerian democracy but warns transition not complete
October 20, 1999
Nigeria's Obasanjo takes plans for democracy on the road
March 30, 1999

NigeriaWEB
Nigeria on the Net
Nigeria law center
The Nigerian transition to Democracy

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.