THE FUND FOR PEACE Conflict Bulletin:

Patterns and Trends, January 2012 - J u n e 2 0 1 5

Overall, between 2012-2015, Akwa This Conflict Bulletin provides a brief incidents and fatalities over time. The bar Ibom was the second most peaceful state in snapshot of the trends and patterns of chart shows the relative trend of incidents the region as measured by conflict risk factors at the State and LGA of insecurity by LGA per capita. reported fatalities per capita. Udom levels, drawing on the data available on the Emmanuel of the People’s Democratic Party P4P Digital Platform for Multi-Stakeholder The summaries draw on data collected by (PDP) won the gubernatorial election in April Engagement (www.p4p-nigerdelta.org). It ACLED, FFP’s UNLocK, the Council on 2015, to replace outgoing Governor represents a compilation of the data from Foreign Relations’ NST, WANEP Nigeria, CSS/ (also PDP) who was the sources listed below, not necessarily the ETH Zurich, NEEWS2015, and Nigeria Watch elected in 2007. Election violence was opinions of FFP or any other organization integrated on the P4P platform. They also reported in both 2011 and 2015. After the that collaborated on the production of this draw on data and information from most recent election, supporters of the bulletin. “Violence in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends,” opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) by Patricia Taft and Nate Haken (Springer protested the results, alleging irregularities. The screenshot of the heat map on this Press, April 2015). page shows the relative distribution of Other issues reported in the last three and a incidents from one LGA to the next from half years include land conflict and January 2012 to June 2015. The trendline on abductions. the next page shows the number of

Reported Violence* Overview of Akwa Ibom State

Fatalities per Capita (Jan 2012-June 2015)

Worse

Akwa Ibom has a population of about 3.9

million people and is predominantly

inhabited by the , the state is

Better also home to Annang, Oron, Obolo and

Delta Edo Bayelsa Rivers Imo Ondo IbomAkwa Abia communities. Endowed with large deposits of

crude oil, condensate and gas, Akwa Ibom is

among the largest petroleum producers in

Nigeria. Agriculture also constitutes an important income-generating activity in the * Using Nigeria Watch data (www.nigeriawatch.org) formatted The graphic above is a Heat Map (screenshot) of Conflict Risk state, particularly the farming of palm to the P4P Web Map platform (www.p4p-nigerdelta.org) in Akwa Ibom State 2012-2015 — www.p4p-nigerdelta.org. produce, rubber, cocoa, rice, cassava, yam, plantain, banana, maize, and timber. NIGERIA CONFLICT BULLETIN: AKWA IBOM STATE

Conflict Risk Factors in Akwa Ibom State* (Akwa Ibom Northwest Sen. District) 70

60 Incidents Key LGA Risk Factors 50 Fatalities > Political Violence 40 Two people were reportedly killed during 30 the LGA PDP primaries in April 2012. 20 According to news reports, several other 10 LGAs also experienced political violence during this period. During 2014, the only 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 incident reported was an assassination of a prominent PDP politician, who was shot in March.

* Using Nigeria Watch data (www.nigeriawatch.org) formatted to the P4P Web Map platform (www.p4p-nigerdelta.org)

Reported Insecurity Per Capita in Akwa Ibom State (by LGA)*

Jan-Jun 2015 Jul-Dec 2014

Worse Jan-Jun 2014 Jul-Dec 2013 Jan-Jun 2013 Jul-Dec 2012

Jan-Jun 2012

Better

Mbo Oron

FFP is committed to promoting One of the data sources utilized in The data used in this analysis was sustainable human security around the summary was derived from the pulled from the integrated digital the world, and is the International UNLocK network in Nigeria, a platform for multistakeholder Coordinating Partner on Partners partnership between The Fund for engagement developed by P4P, an for Peace (P4P), an initiative Peace and the Institute of Human initiative supported by Partnership supported by PIND. FFP has been Rights and Humanitarian Law Initiatives for the Niger Delta working with local civil society in (IHRHL). (PIND). For a deeper understanding Nigeria to develop the UNLocK of the conflict risk factors, visit network since 2010. www.p4p-nigerdelta.org.

Disclaimer The content of this report represents a summary of the incidents reported in the data, not the opinions of the organizations that collaborated on the compilation of this information.

www.f u n d f o r p e a c e . o r g 2 THE FUND FOR PEACE NIGERIA CONFLICT BULLETIN: AKWA IBOM STATE

Eket Esit-Eket Ibesikpo Asutan (Akwa Ibom South Sen. District) (Akwa Ibom South Sen. District) (Akwa Ibom Northeast Sen. District)

Key LGA Risk Factors Key LGA Risk Factors Key LGA Risk Factors > Criminality > Inter-Communal/Land Conflict > Domestic and Interpersonal Violence > Cult Clashes > Protests > Protests Issues in Ibesikpo Asuntan mainly related to Protests over oil spills affecting the Nkpana domestic violence, sexual violence, and child The second largest city in the state, Eket’s community occurred in June 2014. abuse. In April 2014, a man reportedly main conflict issues related to localized Separately, in March 2013, a group, called beheaded two of his cousins with a criminal activity, protest of extractive the "Niger Delta Subterranean Force," machete. No violence was reported in the operations in the area, and cult violence. allegedly threatened to attack an oil and gas first half of 2015. company unless the company agreed to In June 2014, a cult clash led to the deaths give them contracts to protect the pipeline. of two people, who were found in a gutter A traditional ruler in Esit-Eket was abducted with machete wounds. In July 2014, youths in late October 2013. blocked access to an oil facility in protest of a spill. In October, a retired army officer In January 2012, there was reportedly a land reportedly killed his son with a machete. dispute between two communities, which led to the death of one person. In October 2013, there was a protest against a company operating in the area over the alleged non-payment of expected compensation.

www.f u n d f o r p e a c e . o r g 3 THE FUND FOR PEACE NIGERIA CONFLICT BULLETIN: AKWA IBOM STATE

Ikot Ekpene Ini (Akwa Ibom Northwest Sen. District) (Akwa Ibom Northwest Sen. District) (Akwa Ibom South Sen. District)

Key LGA Risk Factors Key LGA Risk Factors Key LGA Risk Factors > Kidnapping > Political Violence > Inter-Communal/Land Conflict > Land Conflict > Protest > Protests > Cult Clash > Inter-Communal Violence > Protests In April of 2015, youth in Ibeno protested Three brothers were reportedly killed by after an oil spill. In March 2014, road There was also a cult clash at Akwa Poly, gunmen in March 2012 after a clash over workers staged a protest against the de- leaving two people dead in March 2014. the construction of a dam in their village. unionization of their company. Consistent with the unrest on student Three people were also reportedly killed campuses in Uyo, violent protests over during the local government elections in In April 2013, a violent land dispute between student unions were also reported in the June 2012. In 2014 there was a report of an Ibeno community and another in Ikot Ekpene campus of the Akwa Ibom State intercommunal clash between the Nkari neighboring Eket LGA led to the deaths of Polytechnic in September 2014. people in Akwa Ibom and the Arochukuni five people and the destruction of dozens of people in Avia, resulting in displacement of homes, displacing several families. In the second half of 2013, there was people and an unknown number of reported to be a failed rescue operation of fatalities. In April of 2015, five people were an abducted politician in October and a reportedly killed during violence clash over land claiming one life in surrounding the elections. December.

Apart from some alleged irregularities reported during the April 2012 PDP primaries, Ikot Epkene LGA had few reported deadly incidents.

www.f u n d f o r p e a c e . o r g 4 THE FUND FOR PEACE NIGERIA CONFLICT BULLETIN: AKWA IBOM STATE

Mbo Oron Uyo (Akwa Ibom South Sen. District) (Akwa Ibom South Sen. District) (Akwa Ibom Northeast Sen. District)

Key LGA Risk Factors Key LGA Risk Factors Key LGA Risk Factors > Inter-Communal/Land Violence > Cult Clashes > Cult Clashes > Intra-Communal Violence > Piracy > Protests > Piracy > Protests > Political Violence > Protests > Political Tensions > Kidnapping Between January and April of 2015, election Among LGAs in Akwa Ibom, Oron reportedly violence continued, resulting in the In April of 2015, five Exxon Mobile has a relatively high concentration of cult reported deaths of up to five people. employees were kidnapped by unidentified groups and cultist activities. In January of Additionally, in March the wives of airport gunmen in an event reportedly related to 2015, tensions between political parties employees carried out a protest in favor of the elections. continued as two cars belonging to APC higher wages, and in June a man killed his members were lit on fire by hoodlums aunt over a private matter. Mbo LGA has also been affected by piracy suspected to be supporters of the PDP. including reported incidents in February Student protests at the University of Uyo 2012 and August 2013, leading the In the second half of 2014 reports included (UNIUYO) over management decisions to government to increase its naval presence youth protests over the state government, not allow student unions on campus also in the coastal waters. In July and September piracy, and motorcycle bans. In September, led to violent clashes in 2014 . The school 2013, it was reported that there were piracy attacks reportedly accounted for the was forced to briefly shut down in June after violent protests over the lack of amenities deaths of at least two naval officers. In a protest turned violent, destroying school and compensation by companies operating December 2014, youths staged a peaceful property and killing several students. Also in the area. protest march in opposition to the selection affecting UNIUYO, in May 2014, the process for the PDP gubernatorial residence of the University’s Vice-Chancellor Mbo LGA was affected by intra- and inter- candidate. was reportedly attacked by gunmen. Similar communal tensions in 2012-2013. In January clashes also broke out during a student 2013, seven reportedly died in a separate In August 2013, there was a gun battle protest on the Uyo campus of the Akwa clash over farming land. In March 2013, between the Nigerian Navy and a group of Ibom State Polytechnic in September 2014, there was a reported clash in Unyenge pirates, killing six suspected pirates. In with several people injured. In October, it community. In November 2013, two women October 2012, four people died in a rivalry was reported that a clash between PDP were killed in a renewed clash among Effiat between the Black Axe and Vikings cult supporters over a list of delegates for the communities. In May 2012, Ebughu and groups. Separately, at least one former party primaries left one dead while in Effiat communities clashed, reportedly official was reportedly killed for political December there were reports of protests killing one. reasons in 2012. following the announcement of results of the primary elections.

A violent clash among three rival cult groups was also reported in October 2013, killing seven. Additionally, in 2013 there were multiple violent protests, including one in April against a company’s employment policies.

Within and around the capital city of Uyo, there was a series of killings reported in 2012-2013, including that of a former government official in October 2012.

www.f u n d f o r p e a c e . o r g 5 THE FUND FOR PEACE