2006年VOA标准英语-Army Confirms Casualties as Violence Flares in

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
05 October 2006

Renewed violence in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta¹ has reportedly killed nine soldiers in the latest firefight involving militants³ and government troops.   

Nigerian seperatist rebels brandish  weapons in a show of strength for reporters  (file photo - Feb. 24, 2006)

The Nigerian army confirms it suffered casualties in clashes with delta militants this week. The Nigerian militant² group, Movement for the Emancipation⁴ of Niger Delta, said it killed nine soldiers and seized two military boats during a 90-minute shoot out with troops Wednesday in the Niger Delta.

But army spokesman Ayo Olaniyan will not comment on the number of soldiers killed by militants.

"As far as the exact number of soldiers we have lost in that operation, I am not in a position to tell you because we have been waiting for confirmation⁵ of how many soldiers we have lost. But, certainly we have suffered some casualties," he said.

The group has also ordered oil companies in the area to leave the delta immediately or risk further attacks on their facilities and personnel.

The escalating⁶ violence in the oil heartland of the world's eighth-largest oil exporter has prompted President Olusegun Obasanjo to summon military commanders to Abuja to discuss the growing insecurity.

The violence has reduced Nigeria oil production by about 800,000 barrels per day and the West African country cannot afford a further production cut.

Colonel Olaniyan says the military will step up its security operations in the region.

"Regardless of the casualties, regardless of what has happened; the loss of our soldiers, the determination is on the high to ensure that their mission is accomplished⁷, and that is to curtail⁸ the criminal activities of the militants and to protect the national treasures that are in these areas, to protect lives and property of law-abiding Nigerians and foreigners who are in the Niger Delta area and that exactly is what is going to be done," he continued.

Armed men attacked a facility belonging to the Shell Oil Company in Rivers state last Monday, killing⁹ 14 soldiers and kidnapping 25 workers, who were later released.

Another group of seven expatriates, including three British oil workers, were kidnapped late Tuesday and are still being held.

Armed attacks against expatriates in the restive¹⁰ region have increased tremendously since the beginning of this year.

1 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

2 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

3 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

4 emancipation   

n.（从束缚、支配下）解放

参考例句：

• We must arouse them to fight for their own emancipation. 我们必须唤起他们为其自身的解放而斗争。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They rejoiced over their own emancipation. 他们为自己的解放感到欢欣鼓舞。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

6 escalating   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的现在分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The cost of living is escalating. 生活费用在迅速上涨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cost of living is escalating in the country. 这个国家的生活费用在上涨。 来自辞典例句

7 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

8 curtail   

vt.截短，缩短；削减

参考例句：

• The government hopes to curtail public spending.政府希望缩减公共事业开支。
• The minister had to curtail his visit.部长不得不缩短访问日期。

9 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

10 restive   

adj.不安宁的，不安静的

参考例句：

• The government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive.政府未采取任何措施放松出口限制,因此国内制造商变得焦虑不安。
• The audience grew restive.观众变得不耐烦了。