Monthly Conflict Incident Tracker

Rivers State - May/June 2016 B a c k gro u n d East and killed over 10 people Emohua, Gokana and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni suspected to be rival cult members. In some LGAs. In Emohua, cultists reportedly This monthly tracker is designed to update cases the cult violence was connected to attacked a police station, freed the detainees Peace Agents on patterns and trends in political tensions as cultists were allegedly and thereafter attacked three communities conflict risk and violence, as identified by the supporting different political parties. where they killed about a dozen people Integrated Peace and Development Unit Violent Criminality Incidents of criminality including security personnel. In Ikwerre, (IPDU) early warning system, and to seek included several kidnappings in , Asari members of the Greenlanders reportedly feedback and input for response to mitigate -Toru, Emohua, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Ogba/ invaded a community in a reprisal against areas of conflict. Egbemi/Ndoni, , and Port Harcort, as members of Icelanders cult group and killed

well as crude oil theft in Gokana and Ogu/ an estimated two dozen people including Patterns and Trends Bolo LGAs. two naval personnel and police inspector. In M a r 2 0 1 6 - M ay 2 0 1 6 Recent Incidents or another reprisal attack against members of Icelanders, the Greenlanders invaded a Incidents reported during the period Issues, June 2016 community, killed about a dozen persons included political tensions, violent Incidents reported in June included cult and abducted a medical doctor in Ogba/ criminality, cult violence and crude oil theft. violence, violent criminality, inter-communal Egbema/Ndoni.

Political Tension: During run-up to the conflict, and sexual violence. Violent Criminality: An APC chieftain was March re-run elections, dozens were Cult Violence: During the month dozens of reported shot dead and beheaded in Abua/ reportedly killed across the state, especially fatalities were reported in rival cult clashes Odual. In Obio/Akpor, two policemen were in Tai, , Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru, and and cult attacks on communities in Obio/ reported shot dead by gunmen who made Eleme. During the re-run elections, a staff of Akpor, Khana, Ikwerre, Abua/Odual, away with their riffles. Separately, four the Independent National Electoral Figure 1: Incidents and Fatalities Commission (INEC) was reportedly killed in Ikwerre. In April, a chieftain of the All 100 Progressive Congress (APC) who was also a lecturer in the state polytechnic at Bori, was 80 reportedly shot dead in Gokana. 60

Cult Violence: In March, April and May, 40 dozens were reported killed in rival cult clashes and cult attacks on communities, 20 especially in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and 0 Emohua where there were clashes between Feb-16 Mar-16 Apr-16 May-16 Greenlanders and Icelanders, but also in Incidents Fatalities , , Ikwerre, Port

Harcourt and Gokana LGAs. In May, cultists Reported incidents and fatalities from February - May 2016 in Rivers State. reportedly attacked two communities in Sources: ACLED and Watch formatted on the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org. CONFLICT INCIDENT TRACKER—RIVERS—MAY/JUNE 2016

kidnappers were reported killed by soldiers Figure 2: Conflict Fatalities by LGA (Mar - May 2016) who raided their hideout in Emohua. Also in 45 Emohua, 28 pessengers were reported 40 abducted from two buses. 35 30 Inter-communal Conflict: Youths from a 25 neighboring village reportedly attacked 20 15 Wakama village in Tai and killed seven 10 people. Property including schools were 5 0 reported destroyed during the attack. Separately, four fatalities were reported in a clash between Deken and Deyor communities in Gokana. Election/Political Violence Gang/Cult Violence Other Fatalities P ro g n o s i s Reported incidents by Local Government Area (LGA), in Rivers State this quarter shows that Tai had the Peace actors should monitor conflict highest number of fatalities, due to election-related issues, followed by Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni with cult violence. Source: ACLED and Nigeria Watch data formatted for the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org dynamics closely in the context of tensions being generated by the inconclusive March Figure 3: Heatmap of Incidents and Peace Agents in Rivers State 19 legislative re-run elections, and the rise in general criminality including cult violence. Questions for Peace A ge nt s

1. Is there anything significant missing from the tracker in terms of hotspots, trends, or incidents? 2. Which conflict issue suggested by, or missing from, this tracker is a priority for you (as P4P Chapter, Prevent Committee, or other Heatmap shows concentration of incidents reported from Mar–May 2016 in Rivers; with green stars repre- stakeholder)? senting the registered Peace Agents. Source: All data sources formatted for the P4P Peace Map www.p4p- 3. What are some likely trigger events nigerdelta.org in the next 6 months that could escalate this conflict? Report Incidents: IPDU Early Warning System Please report any verified incident of conflict to the IPDU SMS early warning system: 4. Who are the key stakeholders that Text: 080 9936 2222 have influence on the conflict? Incident Details: Kindly include the State, LGA, Town, Date, and Brief Incident Description 5. What will you do to help mitigate Contact Us Inquiries: Afeno Super Odomovo, IPDU Research Coordinator the conflict in the short, medium, Telephone: 08172401595 and long term? Email: [email protected]

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