ENERGY

Some Oil Strikers Return to Work in Nigeria: For the first time since they began a pro-democracy stoppage more than six weeks ago, some workers returned to their jobs. The news helped drive world oil prices sharply lower. Oil industry officials said it was too early to assess whether the strike had been broken even though some workers appeared to have heeded a government order to return to work. Oil Minister Don Etiebet said many of the workers had reported to work after being ordered to do so by military ruler Gen. Sani Abacha. Nigeria’s vital oil industry has been severely disrupted by the strike, which was called to demand the release and installation of Moshood Abiola as president.