LAGOS, Aug 17: Authorities in southern Nigeria on Friday imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Port Harcourt, the region’s oil capital, a day after dozens were killed as troops battled cult gangs, a senior official said.

“The curfew will take effect from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am. This is for the first one week, after which there may be a review of the situation,” Rivers State Information Commissioner Emnmanuel Okah said.

He said the action was necessary to forestall fresh violence in Port Harcourt, hub of Nigeria’s multi-billion-dollar oil and gas industry, that had been terrorised by gangs before a crackdown by government troops on Thursday.

Police said around 40 suspected gang members were killed by the security forces in day-long gun battles, while local newspapers put the number at 32, but Okah could not confirm the toll.

“Three boats carrying cultists were sunk by a military missile and a boat normally takes 12 people,” Rivers State Police Chief Felix Ogbaudu said.

He said another three gang members were killed when the security forces launched a pre-dawn raid Thursday on the hideout of a gang leader, George Soboma.

Ogbaudu had no comment on reported casualties within the ranks of the security forces or the civilian population.

One member of a civil society group said it was very difficult to get an idea of casualties because most of the battles had taken place in parts of town where “journalists and NGO types have very limited access.” —AFP