The Fund for Peace Conflict Bulletin: Abia July 2014 criminality in Abia, with a corresponding increase in vigilante/mob justice. A notable LGA Level Summary incident was in September 2010 when 18 school children on a bus were kidnapped. January 2012 - June 2014 There was a significant decline in such incidences in 2011, although several cases Aba North/South LGA of alleged public security abuses were reported. During 2012 and 2013, issues Issues in Aba North/South LGAs mainly reported included kidnapping, political related to criminal activity and allegations of intimidation, student protests and cult corruption. In July 2012, there was a protest violence. In the first half of 2014, Aba North/ by women’s groups about layoffs in various South LGA worsened while Umuahia North/ sectors by the state government. In South LGA improved by a significant September and October, there were margin. Additionally in the first half of 2014, allegations in local newspapers about the shootings, killings, and abductions connections between criminal gangs and bia State has an estimated continued to be reported. political parties. Also during this time population of 2.4 million, period, there were protests and complaints predominantly of Igbo origin. This Conflict Bulletin provides a brief about excessive taxation yet none Comparatively, it has not snapshot of the trends and patterns of experienced the levels of violence conflict risk factors at the State and LGA Reported Violence and insecurity that other states in the Niger levels, drawing on the data available on the Incidents per million people, 2012 - 2013 Delta have over the time period analyzed P4P Digital Platform for Multi-Stakeholder (although there was a sharp uptick in Engagement (www.p4p-nigerdelta.org). The violence in 2010 associated with a surge in screenshot of the heat map above shows kidnappings). Abia produces about 27% of the relative distribution of incidents from Nigeria’s crude oil and a significant amount one LGA to the next from 2012 to June 2014. of its natural gas. It is also rich in yam, The trendline below shows the number of maize, rice, potatoes, and cashews. incidents and fatalities over time. The bar chart shows the relative trend of incidents Theodore Oriji (People’s Democratic Party) of insecurity by LGA per capita. The was re-elected as governor of Abia state in summaries draw on data collected by Better Worse 2011. Since the dissolution of the local ACLED, FFP’s UNLocK, the Council on ta sa o rs er o o ia Edo d d m l l e Imo E v m Abia b o Delta e e i n government administrations in January v Ondo I A b Foreign Relations’ NST, WANEP Nigeria, CSS/ D y Riversi R O I Bayelsaa R B s a 2010, there have been no Local Government ETH Zurich, and Nigeria Watch integrated on o w Cross River Cross r k C AkwaIbom A Area (LGA) level elections, as of July 2014. In the P4P platform. 2010, there was a spike in abductions and Nigeria Watch Tally of Incidents Resulting in Fatalities The graphic above is a Heat Map (screenshot) of Conflict Risk in Abia State 2012-2014 — www.p4p-nigerdelta.org. Conflict Bulletin: Abia State Conflict Risk Factors in Abia State Reported Violence Per Capita in Abia (by LGA) 80 70 Incidents 60 Fatalities 50 40 30 20 10 0 Better Worse Aba North/South Umuahia North/South Jan -Jun 2012 Jul -Dec 2012 Jan -Jun 2013 * Using Nigeria Watch data (www.nigeriawatch.org) formatted to the P4P Web Map platform Jul -Dec 2013 Jan -Jun 2014 (www.p4p-nigerdelta.org) reportedly turned violent. In the first half of Umuahia North/South LGA February, it was reported that a student 2014, shootings and abductions continued died during a cult initiation ceremony at to be a concern. In May, a student from Abia Political thuggery, kidnapping, and cases of Abia State University. In the first half of State Polytechnic was shot to death by cult violence were reported in Umuahia 2014, the overall level of violence appeared unknown gunmen suspected of being North/South LGAs in the time period to be decreasing from 2013. Incidents of cultists. In June, a member of Abia State examined. In early 2012, the People’s abductions and killings, however, continued. Vigilante Services (AVS), popularly known as Progressive Alliance headquarters was In February 2014, an aide to one of the sons the Bakassi Boys, was shot and killed by reportedly attacked and property destroyed of the State Governor was killed by an armed robbers. Some papers alleged that by gangs believed to be connected to unknown gunman. In June 2014, a 72-year- the victim was killed because he would have opposing political parties. In January 2013, a old businessman was abducted by gunmen been able to identity the perpetrators. In lawmaker was reportedly kidnapped for who demanded a N1.7 million ransom. The January, a man who had been abducted was ransom while in March of the same year victim was reportedly found dead a day freed after four days. In February, two gunmen reportedly attacked the home of after the payment was made to the women and a baby were reported former governor Orji Uzor Kalu. Also, in kidnappers. kidnapped in separate incidents. 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. FFP has been working with local civil between The Fund for Peace and the Institute of Human Rights by Partners for Peace (P4P), an initiative society in Nigeria to develop the UNLocK network since 2010. and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL). supported by PIND. For a deeper understanding of the conflict risk factors, visit www.p4p-nigerdelta.org. www. fund for peace .org 2 The Fund for Peace .