The Fund for Peace Conflict Bulletin: Delta State July 2014 Now, after two years, LGA-level elections are expected to take place on October 25, LGA Level Summary 2014. During 2012 and 2013, reported incidents included gang violence, criminality, 2012-2014 and vigilante/mob justice. Aniocha North/South There were a number of abductions, some targeting political figures, their family As in other parts of Delta State, much of the members, or oil workers. There were violence in the reported time period in several reports of alleged abuses by public Aniocha North and South was associated security forces, which sometimes provoked with kidnappings and criminality. In August mob violence and protest. Conflict risk 2012, nearly 40 lawyers barricaded the factors continued into mid-2014 with magistrates’ courts to protest the abduction reports of abductions and communal of a newly appointed judge. In December violence. 2012, the mother of the Minister of Finance elta is the second most populous was reportedly kidnapped for ransom in state in the Niger Delta, with an This Conflict Bulletin provides a brief Aniocha South. Violence around estimated 4.1 million people. The snapshot of the trends and patterns of kidnappings and robberies increased in state produces about 35% of conflict risk factors at the State and LGA 2013, resulting in several reported deaths Nigeria’s crude oil and a considerable levels, drawing on the data available on the throughout the year. In 2013, there were amount of its natural gas. It is also rich in P4P Digital Platform for Multi-Stakeholder two reported incidents of bank robberies root and tuber crops, such as potatoes, Engagement (www.p4p-nigerdelta.org). The leading to the death of several suspected yams, cassava, and coco yams. Delta has a screenshot of the heat map above shows criminals. In the first half of 2014, dozens legacy of ethnic and political tensions which the relative distribution of incidents from were reportedly killed in clashes between flared in the late 1990s and again in 2003. one LGA to the next from 2012-2014. rival cult groups. Other incidents involved criminality and violence against women and The 2009 Amnesty Program was The trend-line on the next page shows the girls. In June 2014, about a dozen people instrumental in reducing violence and number of incidents and fatalities over time. were reportedly killed when armed robbers fatalities associate with militancy. In 2010, The bar chart shows the trend of incidents attacked a bullion van. however, there was a spike in insurgency/ of insecurity by LGA per capita. counter-insurgency activity with a notable Warri (North/South/South West) incident that reportedly occurred in the The summaries draw on data collected by Burutu Local Government Area (LGA) in FFP’s UNLocK, the Council on Foreign Around the population center of Warri, December. Relations’ NST, WANEP Nigeria, CSS/ETH there were a number of incidents of Zurich, Nigeria Watch, and ACLED integrated criminal violence and mob/vigilante In 2011, the governor dismissed all elected on the P4P platform. lynchings reported in 2012. In a local government chairmen and replaced controversial move, Delta state banned them with Caretaker Committee Chairmen. motorcycle taxis in Warri, which raised The graphic above is a Heat Map (screenshot) of Conflict Risk in Delta State 2012-2014 — www.p4p-nigerdelta.org. Conflict Bulletin: Delta State Conflict Risk Factors in Delta State* Reported Insecurity Per Capita in Delta State (by LGA) 300 Incidents Jan -Jun 2012 Jul -Dec 2012 250 Fatalities Jan -Jun 2013 Jul -Dec 2013 200 Jan -Jun 2014 150 100 50 0 Better Worse Jan -Jun Jul -Dec Jan -Jun Jul -Dec Jan -Jun Jul -Dec Jan -Jun Jul -Dec Jan -Jun 2010 2010 2011 2011 2012 2012 2013 2013 2014 * Using Nigeria Watch data (www.nigeriawatch.org) formatted to the P4P Web Map platform (www.p4p-nigerdelta.org) concerns over unemployment and limited Udu Ika North/South transportation options. In 2013, gunmen reportedly killed a lecturer at the Petroleum In early 2012, an alleged thief was While there very few incidents reported in Training Institute (PTI). In July, youths armed reportedly lynched by vigilantes. Cult 2012, violence spiked in 2013 around with rocket propelled grenades, violence was also reported. In 2013, there submachine guns, and explosives attempted kidnappings and robberies. In reportedly invaded several communities were multiple reports of violence related to March, an ACN Vice Chairman was abducted and killed 12 people. Some feared this armed robbery and police clashes with and reportedly killed despite the ransom incident would lead to increased ethnic criminals. There also continued to be having been paid. In February, protests tension, considering the legacy of ethnic reports of deaths and mutilations related to broke out in the town of Abavo surrounding violence during the Warri Crisis of the late cult activity. In February 2014, one person plans to relocate an oil flow station. In 1990s and early 2000s. But representatives was reportedly killed in a clash between the October, Road Transport Union strikes and of the Ijaw and Itsekiri communities Aye and Bagger cult groups. Two months protests left several dead. In 2014, two cult immediately acted to deescalate the later a vigilante leader (Udu Central clashes, including one reportedly involving situation. Incidents in 2014 included a Vigilance Group) was also shot dead. the Aiye confraternity led to the deaths of number of protests, clashes between police and armed robbers, piracy, and communal several people. conflict. Oshimili North/South Ethiope East/West In January, an incident of intra-communal In 2012, there was some reported tension conflict was reported to have led to the between settler and indigene communities. Most incidents reported in Ethiope East deaths of several people. In May, a clash In one reported case there was a clash involved security forces clashing with between two communities occurred, killing between Hausa traders and Igbo youth in suspected kidnappers or robbers. In early two. Also in May, the president of the Niger February. In another case, two Fulani 2012, there was increased inter-communal Delta Youth Movement was murdered. herdsmen were reportedly lynched. There tension between farmers and pastoralists Protests included two in March—one by a were also kidnappings, mob violence, and after the alleged murder of a woman on her women’s group over power outages, and cult attacks reported throughout the year. farm. In the second half of 2013, violence one by youth protesting alleged misconduct In 2013, protests were reported escalated between security forces and a by the ministers of Petroleum and Internal surrounding the allocation of traditional gang of suspected kidnappers in which Affairs. In April, thousands protested for the tribal land for use by an oil flow station. several were reportedly killed. Kidnappings release of former Delta State Governor Separately, a local chief was reportedly and killings continued into the first half of James Ibori by the courts in London, where abducted for ransom and later murdered by 2014. In May 2014, local vigilantes he is being held on corruption charges. A his kidnappers. Armed robberies and reportedly attacked a suspected kidnapper clash between suspected pirates and a general criminality continued throughout and were about to lynch him when police ship’s security guards reportedly killed the year. In the first half of 2014, incidents intervened. In June, the Joint Task Force (JTF) several people in May. included vigilante and mob violence. In one killed a kidnapper during a rescue reported incident, two cow thieves were operation. Separately, one person was lynched. In another, a native doctor was reportedly killed in a clash between Fulani lynched because of suspected impropriety. herdsmen and a local community. www. fund for peace .org 2 The Fund for Peace Conflict Bulletin: Delta State Ndokwa East/West Ughelli North/South Isoko North/South According to news reports, a high chief was Reports of violent clashes between Issues in Isoko North/South during this allegedly murdered in 2012 by attackers pastoralists and farmers increased in 2013. period related mostly to attempted from a neighboring community. Separately, Several incidents resulted in fatalities and kidnappings, along with police activity several were reportedly killed in a the destruction of property. In one case, responding to these crimes. In June 2012, it communal clash. In 2013, there were protests began after herdsmen reportedly was reported that the son of a high-ranking several reported communal clashes, killed a farmer. JTF increased patrols in the local official was abducted for ransom. In including one between pastoralists and area. Other killings occurred in conjunction 2013, there were several instances of farmers. There were also a number of with kidnappings, robberies or clashes attempted robberies and abductions that kidnappings reported in the first half of between suspects and police. In early 2014, resulted in the death of at least two 2013. Inter-communal clashes continue in a clash with pastoralists reportedly killed suspects. Also, in July of the same year, five 2014, including one in June which led to the one person. Separately, a vigilante leader people were reported killed in a communal death of an associate professor at Delta was reportedly killed by gunmen. clash and attack on a palace of the Uzere State University. Kingdom. In January 2014, cultists reportedly killed several people. A clash between farmers and pastoralists reportedly led to two deaths. In March 2014, two lawyers were reportedly killed on their way to defend a high profile kidnapping case. FFP is committed to promoting sustain- One of the data sources The data used in this analysis was pulled able human security around the world, utilized in the summary was from the integrated digital platform for and is the International Coordinating Partner on P4P, an initia- derived from the UNLocK network in NIgeria, a partnership multistakeholder engagement developed tive supported by PIND.