Conflict Incident Monthly Tracker

Imo State: April - M ay 2 0 18 B a ck gro und was kidnapped in West LGA. activities of herdsmen in the LGA and their Separately, over a hundred women relationship with host communities. In April, This monthly tracker is designed to update protested at the Police a group of persons with disabilities (PWDs) Peace Agents on patterns and trends in Headquarters in Owerri, the state capital, barricaded the entrance to the state conflict risk and violence, as identified by the over insecurity in their community. The government house in protest over vehicle Integrated Peace and Development Unit protesters complained of incessant branding charges in Owerri, the state capital. (IPDU) early warning system, and to seek kidnappings in their community in Others: In April, three brothers, aged 2, 3 feedback and input for response to mitigate LGA. and 5 years were found dead in an areas of conflict. Child Trafficking: In March, two women abandoned car in a village in Unuimo LGA. reportedly stole a 5-year old girl and sold her The children were trapped and suffocated Patterns and Trends to a 45-year old woman for three hundred inside the vehicle while their parents were and fifty thousand Naira in away. Febr u ar y - Apr il 2 0 1 8 LGA. According to Peace Map data (see Figure 1), Recent Incidents or Protests: In March, there was a protest by incidents reported in the state during this residents of several communities in Okigwe Issues, May 2018 period included criminality, human LGA over incessant attacks by herdsmen in Incidents during the month related mainly to trafficking, and protests. the area. The protesters called on the state political tensions, cult violence, and protests. Violent Criminality: In February, a 95-year governor to direct the Bureau for Peace and Political Tensions: Tension was heightened old man and his 13-year old grand-daughter Conflict Resolution to investigate the in the state following disagreements over were reportedly kidnapped in LGA. Separately, operatives of the Nigeria Figure 1: Incidents and Fatalities, Imo State Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) reportedly arrested five suspects for illegal 14May-17 2 2 Jun-17 5 8 oil bunkering and vandalism in 12 LGA. A truck load with petroleum products Jul-17 5 12 was recovered from the suspects. Also, in 10Aug-17 2 3 February, many criminals in the state 8Sep-17 1 1 reportedly accepted amnesty offered to Oct-17 7 9 6 them by the state government and Nov-17 3 5 surrendered their arms in Owerri, the state 4Dec-17 3 4 capital. In April, a former commissioner for 2 Jan-18 3 12 Culture and Tourism in the current administration in the state was reportedly 0Feb-18 3 3 kidnapped by hoodlums in Owerri, the state Mar-18 Jan-18 3 3Feb-18 Mar-18 Apr-18 capital. Apr-18 1 2 Incidents Fatalities Criminality during this period also involved violence affecting women and girls (VAWG). Reported incidents and fatalities from January – April 2018 in Imo state. Sources: ACLED and Nigeria Watch In February, for instance, a 13-year old girl formatted on the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org. NIGER DELTA MONTHLY CONFLICT TRACKER: IMO STATE, APRIL — MAY 2018

Figure 2: Conflict Fatalities by LGA Figure 3: Conflict Fatalities by LGA the outcome of the ward congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. (February - April 2018) Some youths loyal to a faction of the state 2.5 8 Unuimo Ohaji/Egbema executive of the party besieged and April (January-March 2018)Ohaji/Egbema Dec-17 4 0 0 2 threatened to burn down the party’s Communal/Ethnic Violence 6 Jan-18 0 6 3 secretariat in Owerri, the state capital. Violent1.5 Criminality Feb-18 1 0 0 Following the disputed outcome of the ward 4 Other1 Fatalities 6 Mar-18 0 0 0 congress, some youths burned down houses 2 and injured some persons in LGA. 0.5 May (February - April 2018) Oguta Ohaji/Egbema Njaba Separately, there was chaos in the State 0 0 Violent Criminality Jan-18 3 6 3 House of Assembly following the alleged Jan-18 Feb-18 Mar-18 Apr-18 removal and replacement of the Majority Mob Violence Feb-18 0 0 0 Leader of the house in Owerri Municipal Other Fatalities 2 Mar-18Oguta 0 Ohaji/Egbema0 0 LGA. Apr-18Njaba 0 Owerri0 North 0 Owerri West Unuimo Protests: There was a protest by villagers Other Fatalities Mob Violence over alleged plan by the state government to Violent Criminality Owerri Municipal Isu demolish a community’s market in Mbaise LGA. Separately, there was a protest by Reported incidents by Local Government Area (LGA) in Imo State shows that Owerri North and Isu had the residents of a community in Okigwe LGA, highest level of violent fatalities and conflict risk in the state. Sources (Figure 2): ACLED and Nigeria Watch over the release of a prominent kidnapper data formatted for the P4P Peace Map. Source (Figure 3): Nigeria Watch data formatted for the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org by the police. The news of the release of the kidnapper created anxiety among residents. Figure 4: Heat Map of Incidents and Peace Agents in Imo State Cult Violence: Four students of the Imo State University (IMSU) were reportedly killed in a clash between members of Aiye and Bagger confraternities in Owerri Municipal LGA.

Pr o gno s is Incidents during the period related mainly to criminality, communal tensions, child trafficking, and protests. Peace Agents must continue to monitor the situation closely and respond appropriately. Questions for Peace A g en t s

1. Is there anything significant missing from the tracker in terms Heat Map shows concentration of incidents reported from February–April 2018 in Imo State, with green stars representing the registered Peace Agents. Source: All data sources formatted for the P4P Peace Map of hotspots, trends, or incidents? wwwww.p4p-nigerdelta.org 2. Which conflict issue suggested by, or missing from, this tracker is a Report Incidents: IPDU Early Warning System priority for you? Please report any verified incident of conflict to the IPDU SMS early warning system: 3. What are some likely trigger events Text: 080 9936 2222 in the next 6 months that could Incident Details: Kindly include the State, LGA, Town, Date, and Brief Incident Description escalate this conflict? Inquiries: Afeno Super Odomovo, IPDU Research Coordinator 4. Who are the key stakeholders that Contact Us have influence on the conflict? Telephone: 08172401595 5. What will you do to help mitigate Email: [email protected] the conflict in the short, medium, FOUNDATION FOR PARTN ERSHIP INITIATIVES IN THE NIGER DELTA 2 PARTNERS FOR PEACE THE FUND FOR PEACE