Up to 150 dead in Nigerian military 'killing spree'

A Nigerian military attack using heavily armed soldiers and aerial bombing runs has killed as many as 150 people in the oil-rich southern delta, a human rights activist said today.

Oghebejabor Ikim, national co-ordinator for the Forum of Justice and Human Rights Defence, said civilians had suffered a heavy toll in the military operation that began on Wednesday. He did not say how many of the 150 dead were civilians, but said militants left the area before the offensive began.