Niger Delta deaths

YENAGOA: Six Nigerian soldiers died in a new military campaign against militants in the country’s Niger Delta oil hub, security officials said yesterday.

The region had been largely quiet since the start of the year because militants halted attacks on oil pipelines to give the government a chance to conduct peace talks. However, security forces moved in to hunt down militants involved in oil theft and kidnapping. At least six soldiers were killed, as was the leader of a gang.