Conflict Incident Monthly Tracker

Bayelsa State: February -M a rch 2 01 8

B a ck gro und women and girls. Recent Incidents or Communal/Political Tensions: In February, This monthly tracker is designed to update one was reportedly killed and several others Issues, March 2018 Peace Agents on patterns of conflict risk and injured during a clash among youths Incidents reported during the month mainly violence, as identified by the Integrated belonging to two different political parties in related to criminality and cult violence. Peace and Development Unit (IPDU) early Okpoama community, Brass LGA. Piracy: Pirates reportedly attacked a warning system, and to seek feedback for community, killed two and injured three response to mitigate areas of conflict. Militancy: In January, four soldiers and 14 militants were reportedly killed during a others in Ayama community, LGA. The

military operation against militants in pirates abducted a woman and made away Patterns and Trends LGA. The operation was initiated with over 10 speedboats. Separately, pirates D ec 2 01 7 -Fe b 20 1 8 in reaction to the killing of a soldier by reportedly attacked a passenger boat and militants in the area. A militant leader was shot a man and a pregnant woman in According to Peace Map data (see Figure 1), arrested during the military operation and Koluama community, LGA. there was a decrease in violent fatalities in later died during a gun battle between Militancy: A prominent militant who the state in February 2018. Reported soldiers and his gang members. doubles as a kidnapper was reportedly killed incidents during this period included Cult Violence: In December, a 30-year old by operatives of the Inspector General of criminality, cult violence, and communal/ man was reportedly shot dead by cultists in Police’s Intelligence Response Team in political tensions. . In February, two youths were Yenagoa, the state capital. The suspect was Violent Criminality: In January, pirates reportedly killed during a clash between rival enrolled in the Federal Government Amnesty reportedly attacked a police marine base, cult groups in Yenagoa LGA. program, but was secretly involved in killed two marine policemen and injured an militancy and extort money from vessels that Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Ogbia LGA. The pirates made away with two Figure 1: Incidents and Fatalities, rifles and a speedboat. Separately, an Apr-17 5 13 employee of the Nigerian Content 35 Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) 30May-17 4 4 Jun-17 3 3 was reportedly kidnapped by gunmen along 25 the waterways in Brass LGA. In February, two Jul-17 3 3 20 contractors of the Development Aug-17 5 8 Commission (NDDC) were reportedly 15Sep-17 5 9 abducted by gunmen in Ogbia LGA. 10Oct-17 2 5 Separately, a vigilante was reportedly killed 5Nov-17 2 2 by operatives of the Nigerian Security and Dec-17 9 33 Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Yenagoa LGA. 0 Jan-18 Nov-17 4 26Dec-17 Jan-18 Feb-18 Criminality was a key driver of Violence Feb-18 5 8 Affecting Women and Girls (VAWG) in the Incidents Fatalities state during the period. Crime, particularly Reported incidents and fatalities from November 2017- February 2018 in Bayelsa State. piracy, affects the safety and livelihoods of Sources: ACLED and Watch formatted on the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org. NIGER DELTA MONTHLY CONFLICT TRACKER: BAYELSA STATE, FEBRUARY — MARCH 2018 passes through the creek. Figure 2: Conflict Fatalities by LGA Figure 3: Conflict Fatalities by LGA Criminality: Hoodlums reportedly robbed (December 2017 - February 2018) some members of the National Youth Service Violent40 Criminality 2 10 2 30 Yenagoa Ogbia Southern IjawEkeremor Corps (NYSC) at their lodge in LGA. Communal/Ethnic Violence 25Oct-17 5 0 0 0 A male corps member had one of his hands Other30 Fatalities 21 1 Nov-17 0 1 0 0 severed during the attack. Separately, a 15- 20 20 Dec-17 11 20 2 0 year old senior secondary student was March (DecemberEkeremor 2017-FebruaryOgbia Yenagoa 2018) Southern Ijaw15 Jan-18 0 2 0 24 reportedly arrested with a locally made 10 Militancy 29 10 pistol in Yenagoa. The suspect was arrested by members of a community vigilante, and Violent0 Criminality 2 10 1 5 Ogbia Kolokuma-OpokumaYenagoa Southern Ijaw Ekeremor Ogbia Yenagoa Southern Brass handed over to the police. Communal/Ethnic Violence 2 Nov-17 1 1 0 0 Ijaw 0 Cult Violence: Suspected cultists attacked a Gang/Cult Violence 2 Dec-17Nov-17 20Dec-17 0Jan-18 11Feb-18 2 Other Fatalities 20 1 Jan-18 2 0 0 0 police station, set it on fire, and injured two Other Fatalities Gang/Cult Violence Ogbia Kolokuma-Opokuma police officers in Oporoma, Southern Ijaw Feb-18 0 0 2 0 Communal/Ethnic Violence Violent Criminality Yenagoa Southern Ijaw LGA. The cultists allegedly attacked the Militancy Ekeremor Brass police station in protests over the death of their leader in police custody. Reported fatalities by Local Government Area (LGA) in Bayelsa State in this quarter shows that Ekeremor and Ogbia had the most reported incidents of violence. Source (Figure 2): ACLED and Nigeria Watch data Pr o gno s is formatted for the P4P Peace Map. Source (Figure 3): Nigeria Watch data formatted for the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org Reported incidents during the period related mainly to communal and political tensions, Figure 4: Heat Map of Incidents and Peace Agents in Bayelsa State cult violence, and criminality including piracy and militancy. Peace Agents should monitor the situation closely and respond appropriately. 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 stakeholder)? Heat Map shows concentration of incidents reported from December 2017-February 2018 in Bayelsa; with green stars representing the registered Peace Agents. Source: All data sources formatted for the P4P 3. What are some likely trigger events in Peace Map wwwww.p4p-nigerdelta.org the next 6 months that could escalate this conflict? Report Incidents: IPDU Early Warning System 4. Who are the key stakeholders that Please report any verified incident of conflict to the IPDU SMS early warning system: 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 the Contact Us Inquiries: Afeno Super Odomovo, conflict in the short, medium, and long IPDU Research Coordinator Telephone: 08172401595 term? Email: [email protected]

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