The Fund for Peace Conflict Bulletin:

July 2014

initially declared the election inconclusive line shows the number of incidents and due to reports of irregularities but later fatalities over time. The bar chart shows the confirmed Okorocha’s win. After being relative trend of incidents of insecurity by elected, in a controversial move, Governor LGA per capita. The summaries draw on Okorocha fired all 27 local government data collected by ACLED, FFP’s UNLocK, the chairmen and replaced them with a Council on Foreign Relations’ NST, WANEP transition committee. Nigeria, CSS/ETH Zurich, and Nigeria Watch integrated on the P4P platform. Violence per capita in Imo is among the lowest in the region, as is the number of fatalities per capita. Incidences of violence LGA Level Summary largely occurred in the LGAs surrounding the capital city of . Between January /North/West 2012 and December 2013, incidents reported included criminality, abductions Between January 2012 and June 2014, the mo state has a population of and vigilante/mob justice. There were also a LGAs around Owerri had the highest approximately 3.9 million people, number of fatalities associated with public number of reported incidents of insecurity according to the 2006 census. The unrest and reports of ritual killings in the per capita in the state. There were lynchings population is predominantly Igbo state. (98%). The capital city of Owerri is the largest in the state. Imo is made up of 27 In the first half of 2014, fatalities increased. Reported Violence Local Government Areas (LGAs). Owerri Municipal/North/West was the most Incidents per million people, 2012 - 2013 worsened while has improved Imo’s economy mainly consists of exporting slightly. Incidents of sexual violence, natural resources such as palm oil, protests, and shootings and killings due to mahogany, crude oil, and natural gas. Due domestic and criminal violence comprise to the high population density and over- most of the cases being reported. farming, the quality of the soil is reportedly worsening, according to local government This Conflict Bulletin provides a brief reports. snapshot of the trends and patterns of conflict risk factors at the State and LGA

Owelle Rochas Okorocha has been the levels, drawing on the data available on the Better Worse s governor of Imo since May 2011. In 2011, he P4P Digital Platform for Multi-Stakeholder ta sa o r er o o ia m Edo d d l l Imo E e v n m Abia b o Delta e e v i Ondo I A b left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to Engagement (www.p4p-nigerdelta.org). The D y Rivers i R O I Bayelsa a R s a run for governor with the All Progressives screenshot of the heat map above shows B os w Cross River Cross r k C AkwaIbom A Grand Alliance (APGA). The Independent the relative distribution of incidents in the National Electoral Commission (INEC) LGAs from 2012 to June 2014. The trend Nigeria Watch Tally of Incidents Resulting in Fatalities

The graphic above is a Heat Map (screenshot) of Conflict Risk in Imo State 2012-2014 — www.p4p-nigerdelta.org. Conflict Bulletin: Imo State

Conflict Risk Factors in Imo State* Reported Insecurity Per Capita in Imo State (by LGA) 100 90 Incidents 80 Fatalities 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Better Worse

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 and attempted lynchings of suspected intimidation and harassment of state Ngor-Okpala robbers reported along with several government officials by federal anti- kidnappings, including the abduction of a corruption agencies. Specifically, according Conflict risk factors during this time period popular actress. Other murders reported to local newspapers, the women alleged in Ngor-Okpala were mainly related to during this time period including ritual that the Economic and Financial Crimes criminality, including kidnapping, murder, killings and killings related to cult violence. Commission (EFCC) and the Independent and ritual killing. From 2012-2013, there Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) had were three reported cases of murder There were also several peaceful protests as been unfairly targeting the administration related to domestic disputes and a robbery. well as violent riots reported during this of Governor Rochas Okorocha for political In June 2013, a security guard for a time period. In April 2012, it was reported reasons. lawmaker living in a residence owned by an that indigenes protested a government land international financial institution was seizure intended for development. A clash Various protests have taken place in the first allegedly shot and killed. In March 2014, a of rival cult groups reportedly left several half of 2014. In January, people from Atta- man was killed when violence escalated people dead in December 2012. In 2013, LGA protested in front of the during an election for the Community there was political tension as the local Government House in Owerri after the chief Government Council. government chairmen who had been fired of their village was reportedly murdered. In by the governor in 2011 and their February 2014, a women’s group protested supporters protested peacefully in the during a PDP meeting. Other protests that streets, claiming that the democratic have taken place in the first half of 2014 Oguta is a town on the east bank of Oguta process had been undermined. Also include pensioners demanding pensions be Lake. The city, and the LGA named after it, throughout 2013, there were reported paid, transport workers demanding their thrives on tourism as well as commercial clashes between police, individuals and salaries, and teachers and women’s groups fishing. The town is not usually prone to gangs suspected to be kidnappers. protesting the abduction of the schoolgirls violence although there was an increase in in Chibok, Borno State. the first half of 2013. During the year, the number of student protests also increased, particularly in the Other reported issues included an incident October 2012 was marked by floods that initial six months. In early 2013 youth in May 2014, when the former governor of displaced more than 8,000 people, staged several protests including one in Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, and his destroyed crops and livelihoods and January where a reported 2,000 youths took family escaped after their home was petrol reportedly caused an increase in food prices to the streets to protest violence in Owerri. bombed by unknown assailants. In June a in the months that followed. In early 2013, Also, in October, thousands of women clash between rival cult gangs reportedly there were reports of abductions and reportedly took part in a peaceful left about a dozen people dead. killings of hotel managers and businessmen. demonstration protesting the alleged In a sign of increased political tension in

www. fund for peace .org 2 The Fund for Peace Conflict Bulletin: Imo State

Imo, thugs reportedly attacked the Ehime-Mbano governor’s convoy in June 2013. There were also several reported deaths towards the In May 2012, it was reported that two men Criminality and violent interpersonal conflict end of the year related to foiled robbery on motorcycles stormed a ceremonial comprised the most reported issues in attempts and clashes between police and residence and abducted and killed a local Ehime-Mbano during this period, including a suspected robbers and kidnappers. A monarch. Also in 2012, there were reports bank robbery and the murder of a woman woman was reportedly raped and that a police station was attacked by after a domestic altercation with her son. In murdered in January, 2014. gunmen, killing one police officer. In January late 2013, there was a reported incident of 2013, the deputy governor’s director of intra-communal conflict that led to the protocol was reportedly murdered and the death of at least one person. In November body mutilated by gunmen who later of the same year, it was reported that youth In May 2012, a local church leader was claimed the attack was not politically took to the street to protest unfulfilled reportedly abducted for a ransom of Naira motivated. In August 2013, the leader of an political promises in a rally that turned 500,000 and later killed by his captors, armed robbery gang was reportedly killed violent, with the death of a police officer as despite the family reporting that the by police during an exchange of gunfire well as property damage reported. Issues ransom had been paid. In February 2013, while others were arrested in connection such as the high rate of youth the murder of a local doctor triggered a with a variety of robberies and other unemployment and political marginalization protest rally by women and youth that criminal activities that had occurred were cited in an interview with one self- lasted for several hours, blocking the main throughout the year. In June 2014, a described “youth leader” who participated in highway. Sexual violence, child abuse, suspect was reportedly killed by police after the protest. abductions, and killings were reported in an attempted robbery. the first half of 2014.

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 3 The Fund for Peace