Conflict Incident Monthly Tracker : April -M ay 20 1 8

B a ck gro und and girls (VAWG). For example, in April, five a local airline reportedly skidded off the persons including a pregnant woman were runway while landing at the This monthly tracker is designed to update reportedly killed during a clash between International Airport. The incident is Peace Agents on patterns and trends in people from and Bonny LGAs. Youths believed to have been caused by strong wind conflict risk and violence, as identified by the from one of the LGAs stormed a fishing and storm as a result of heavy rainfall. Integrated Peace and Development Unit settlement occupied by indigenes of the (IPDU) early warning system, and to seek other LGA and shot sporadically. Fifteen feedback and input for response to mitigate Recent Incidents or people were injured while 17 others were areas of conflict. declared missing. Some residents believed Issues, May 2018 Patterns and Trends that the killings is cult-related. Incidents during the month mainly related to criminality, sexual violence, and ethno- Febr u ar y - Apr il 2 0 1 8 Protest: In February, there was a protest at nationalism. the reception center of the Port Harcourt According to Peace Map data (see Figure 1), Criminality: One person was reportedly incidents reported during this period International Airport by a group of Nigerians who have just been airlifted from Libya by killed in Port Harcourt LGA during an included communal tensions, gang/cult the Nigerian government. The returnees assassination attempt on the paramount violence, and other criminal activities. protested over poor welfare at the center ruler of a kingdom in LGA. The king Violent Criminality: In April, four residents where they were camped, and delay by their was in Port Harcourt for a traditional including two teenagers and two men were various state government to evacuate them. function when he was attacked by armed reportedly killed by hoodlums in Ogbakiri, In March, youths protested against a noodle youths who shot sporadically at his LGA. The gunmen ripped open the manufacturing company over issues relating entourage. The deceased was in the womb of one of the teenagers who was to employment in Choba community, Obio/ entourage of the king. pregnant and took away the fetus. One of Akpor LGA. The protesting youths accused Police vs Soldiers: A soldier was reportedly the male victims was tied to a tree and cut to the company of casualization of workers, killed by a policeman at a security pieces. The killings created tension in the and threatened to shut down a factory checkpoint in Obio/Akpor LGA. Soldier area. belonging to the company in the area. attacked a police station in reprisal, and Cult Violence: In April, two persons were brutalized policemen and civilians. The Others: In February, an aircraft belonging to reportedly killed during a clash between two incident created tensions among residents. rival cult groups in Rundele community, Figure 1: Incidents and Fatalities, Rivers State Emohua LGA. The clash occurred during a cultural hunting expedition. Following the 60May-17 10 23 clash, a group of cultist invaded the Jun-17 9 33 community and kidnapped a chief. The chief 50 Jul-17 8 29 was released after a 1 million Naira ransom 40Aug-17 23 3 was paid to the kidnappers. Sep-17 7 11 Communal Tensions: In March, there was a 30Oct-17 6 25 peaceful protest by residents of about six Nov-17 5 38 communities over the destruction of their 20 Dec-17 6 14 land and poor amenities in their 10 communities in Tai LGA. The protesters Jan-18 10 49 marched to the Rivers State Government 0Feb-18 2 4 House, calling on the Federal government to Mar-18 Jan-18 1 0Feb-18 Mar-18 Apr-18 rebuild their land that was destroyed over 24 Apr-18 4 13 Incidents Fatalities years ago. Criminality and communal conflict during the Reported incidents and fatalities from January – April 2018 in Rivers State. period involved violence affecting women Sources: ACLED and Watch formatted on the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org. NIGER DELTA MONTHLY CONFLICT TRACKER: RIVERS STATE, APRIL — MAY 2018

Ethno-nationalism: Many members of the Figure 2: Conflict Fatalities by LGA Figure 3: Conflict Fatalities by LGA Movement for the Actualization of the (February - April 2018) Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were reportedly arrested by the police in Port April7 (January-MarchOgba/Egbema/Ndoni Andoni2018) Emohua 20 Harcourt. The Biafra supporters were Violent6 Criminality19 7 Port HarcourtObio/AkporEmohua Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni celebrating the ‘National Day’ and 18th year 15 Gang/Cult5 Violence 8 Dec-17 6 5 3 0 anniversary of the agitation for the sovereign Communal/Ethnic4 Violence Jan-18 4 0 1 19 state of Biafra. 10 Other Fatalities Feb-18 1 0 0 0 Sexual Violence: A 41-year old man was 3 reportedly remanded in prison for defiling 2 5Mar-18 0 0 0 0 his four daughters in Port Harcourt. The May1 (FebruaryEmohua - AprilBonny 2018) Akuku Toru 0 victims who are aged between two and 17 Violent Criminality 4 3 Ogba/Egbema/NdoniEmohua Port HarcourtOkrika 0 Jan-18 Feb-18 Mar-18 Apr-18 years, reported that the incest has been Communal/EthnicEmohua Bonny ViolenceAkuku Ikwerre4 Port Jan-18 19 1 4 5 going on for over two years. Gang/Cult Violence2Toru Harcourt Feb-18Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni0 0 Emohua 1 0 Others: A jetty, boats and other marine Mar-18Port Harcourt 0 0 Okrika 0 0 equipment worth billions of naira were Gang/Cult Violence Ikwerre Andoni Apr-18Ahoada West 0 6 khana 0 0 destroyed by fire reportedly caused by illegal Communal/Ethnic Violence Bonny oil bunkering in Obio/Akpor LGA. Separately, Violent Criminality Akuku Toru rainstorm destroyed several property, including buildings, cars, and electricity poles Reported incidents by Local Government Area (LGA) in Rivers State this quarter shows that Emohua had the highest number of reported fatalities. Sources (Figure 2): ACLED and Nigeria Watch data formatted for in Obio/Akpor LGA. In Port Harcourt LGA, the the P4P Peace Map. Source (Figure 3): Nigeria Watch data formatted for the P4P Peace Map www.p4p- rainstorm injured 15 persons including nigerdelta.org pupils, and rendered some families homeless. Figure 4: Heat Map of Incidents and Peace Agents in Rivers State Pr o gno s is Reported incidents in the state during the period related mainly to criminality, cult violence, communal tensions, and protests. Peace Agents should monitor the situation closely and respond appropriately.

Questions for Peace A ge nt s

1. Is anything missing from the tracker in terms of hotspots, trends, or incidents?

2. Which conflict issues are a priority for you (as P4P Chapter, Prevent Heat Map shows concentration of incidents reported from February–April 2018 in Rivers; with green stars representing the registered Peace Agents. Source: All data sources formatted for the P4P Peace Map Committee, or other stakeholder)? www.p4p-nigerdelta.org

3. What are some likely trigger events in the next 6 months that could escalate Report Incidents: IPDU Early Warning System this conflict? 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

Inquiries: Afeno Super Odomovo, IPDU Research Coordinator 5. What will you do to help mitigate the Contact Us conflict in the short, medium, and long Telephone: 08172401595 term? Email: [email protected]

FOUNDATION FOR PARTN ERSHIP INITIATIVES IN THE NIGER DELTA 2 PARTNERS FOR PEACE THE FUND FOR PEACE