THE FUND FOR PEACE The Abuse of Trust in ’s

Examining Patterns and Trends in Gender Based Violence

Patricia Taft and Hannah Blyth

Rivers State has experienced higher Rivers State has experienced higher levels of violence levels of violence and conflict-related and conflict-related fatalities in the past six months fatalities in the past six months than at any time since the end of the militant than at any time since the end of the militant insurgency in 2009. This rise in violence – “ ” insurgency in 2009. Trends in overall violence and predominately due to the new wave of militancy, political violence, criminality and fatalities, point to a pervasive environment where cult violence – has been well documented in trust is compromised and abused. the media and international spheres. What is not getting reported are the impacts this is having on women and girls. Incidents of Trends in Incident Reporting of Violence Against Women & Girls in Rivers sexual assault, targeted criminality against Figure 1: January 2015 - July 2016 vulnerable groups (including girls and 60 pregnant women), and domestic abuse are Reported incidents of Violence Against Women & Girls all major contributors to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in the state. May 50 2016 had one of the highest numbers of VAWG-related incidents reported from the 40 Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) Rivers State Observatory 30 since its inception.

The main findings that have emerged from 20 the trends in overall violence and fatalities, point to a pervasive environment where 10 trust is compromised and abused. This includes both at the family and community 2015 2016 levels as well as at the Local Government 0 Area (LGA) and state levels. This report Jan March May July Sep Nov Jan March May July seeks to delve further into the impacts of Graph shows the number of reported incidents of Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG), using all sources—including NSRP, ACLED militancy and collective violence on women and Nigeria Watch— formatted for the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org. Each data source has different data collection meth- and girls in Rivers state, and how it has ods, and therefore should not be seen as an indication of overall patterns and trends across time and space of violence. As this brief shows, violence affecting women and girls often goes unreported. The graph does however show more incidents reported during contributed to an environment where trust months in Rivers state with heightened conflict risk ( for example March 2015 elections, cult violence/militancy in early 2016, etc.) is routinely abused and women and girls left vulnerable. It further seeks to provide Data used in this Brief is based on incidents reported using Partners for Peace (P4P) Map, recommendations for planning around which integrates grates and formats conflict data from different sources including NSRP, prevention and response. Nigeria Watch and ACLED. The platform is supported by Partnership Initiatives in the (PIND) www.pindfoundation.org THE ABUSE OF TRUST: VIOLENCE AFFECTING WOMEN AND GIRLS IN RIVERS STATE

Background of Insecurity in Rivers State: 2015-2016

Rivers remains one of the most violent Overall Levels of Violence in Rivers State states per capita in the Niger Delta region. Figure 2: Reported Incidents Q1 2015 - Q3 2016 The 2015 Presidential elections, and subsequent National Assembly, State 250 Assembly and Gubernatorial elections, took Incidents Fatalities place amidst the backdrop of political 200 violence, lethal criminality, and gang clashes. In April 2015, the state 150 headquarters of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) were burnt down, and large deployments of military 100 and police personnel were mobilized across the state. Allegations of manipulation of 50 votes, theft of ballot materials and intimidation of opponents led to 0 inconclusive results in the legislative 2015 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2016 Q1 2016 Q2 2016 Q3 elections, and stoked tensions between Graph shows the number of reported incidents of violence and conflict-related fatalities, in Rivers state over the past seven quarters, party candidates and their supporters. Jan. 2015— Sep. 2016. Source: ACLED and Nigeria Watch data. Formatted for the for the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org.

The resurgence of militancy in late 2015 with groups such as the Niger Delta Domestic Abuse, Sexual & Interpersonal Violence by LGA Avengers (NDA) sabotaging oil pipelines and Figure 3: Reported Incidents January 2015 - July 2016 infrastructure, and the rise in cult and gang- 160 related violence – with scores of fatalities reported during cult clashes – have 140 continued to heighten conflict risk in the 120 state. 100

With violence and conflict-related fatalities 80 higher in Rivers in the first half of 2016 than 60 at any time since 2009 (Figure 2), the risk and impacts on women and girls have also 40 risen (Figure 1). Continuing to monitor 20 trends in VAWG is integral to understanding more about how these broader patterns in 0 Port Obio- Ikwerre Degema collective violence impact female Harcourt Akpor community members, and inform wider prevention and response efforts within the Bar chart shows the number of reported incidents of Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG) related to domestic abuse, sexual assault and other interpersonal violence since the beginning of 2015. Trends in reporting show that and Obio-Akpar LGAs has state. the highest levels of reporting. As this report outlines, the abuse of trust by relatives and community leaders often means sexual assault and violence goes unreported. Source: ACLED and Nigeria Watch data. All data sources were used —including NSRP, ACLED and Nigeria Watch— formatted for the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org. Overall Trends in VAWG in Rivers:

January 2015-July 2016 girls and women by male family members – highlights the pervasive norms which still including fathers, husbands, brothers and exist towards VAWG within the state. In one Domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault of relatives, as well as neighbours and local particularly gruesome incident reported in women and girls accounted for the vast community members. Ikwerre in January 2016, the corpse of a majority of the VAWG incidents reported nine-year-old girl was found after she was between January 2015 and July 2016 in This abuse of trust by community figures, abducted by a gang of boys likely known to Rivers state (Figure 3). This included scores including reports of pastors and police her and raped until she died of her injuries. of incidents documenting the rape of young officers sexually assaulting minors, She had been sent to run an errand for her

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mother within the local area. In another Rivers State, Nigeria in the state over the past eighteen months incident in July 2016 in Obio-Akpor, a 10- related to domestic abuse, sexual assault year-old girl was raped by a local store and other interpersonal violence (Figure 3). owner when she went to get supplies, later The trends in reporting of VAWG data were dying in hospital. Other incidents detail the highest in Port Harcourt LGA, followed by sexual assault of girls as young as two-years Obio-Akpor LGA. These incidents however, old by men and boys predominately from represent only the small fraction that have within their community or family networks. been reported. The abuse of trust by Domestic violence and rape perpetrated by relatives and community leaders often husbands was also commonly reported, as means that sexual assault and violence goes well as issues related to economic unreported. Strengthened reporting of disempowerment of women left by their VAWG is needed to continue to break this husbands without means to support their pervasive culture of silence. families. Other salient trends from this time period In most reported instances of sexual assault how — and if — perpetrators are held that have impacted the well-being and and murder, the perpetrators were known accountable. livelihoods of women and girls, relate to or, worse, trusted by the survivor or the rising collective and criminal violence in the survivor’s family or community. This also These are just a few examples of the state, as well as abuse by public security impacts the willingness of survivors to hundreds of reported incidents from the forces. report their cases and may further impact NSRP Rivers Observatory and other sources

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How Collective and Criminal Violence Impacts Women and Girls

While reported incidents of VAWG insecurity in the region. The impact of the Cult/Gang Violence: predominantly related to domestic and flood of small arms and light weapons into interpersonal sexual and physical abuse in the Niger Delta region, and Rivers State in VAWG Key Incidents Rivers, data also points to the increasing particular, is likely a trend that is only impacts of collective violence and criminality beginning to manifest and will likely worsen  January 2015 - man and woman at- on women and girls (Figure 4). in coming months. Looking at the impacts of tacked and robbed by cult members gun violence and lethal criminality on  February 2015 – During a party held It has been well documented in research by women and girls in Rivers since 2015, by a female cult member, an ex- 1 multinational organizations such as the UN several incidents have resulted in fatalities militant was shot and killed that women and girls are often from women and girls being caught in the  March 2015 – 14-year-old raped by disproportionally impacted by conflict and crossfire of armed attacks. In March 2015, a cult member collective violence. As Rivers State continues woman died during a bank robbery in Port to be marred by insecurity, particularly in Harcourt. In another incident in the same  June 2015 - A woman reported that the context of ongoing local election LGA, a girl was killed by a stray bullet during she was attacked by a cult member uncertainty, and a rise in cult tensions, gunfire. because she didn’t respond to his women and children remain vulnerable to advances the impacts of this violence. Since the Incidents where women were directly  August 2015 – Intimidation of a wom- beginning of 2015, reports have included targeted included the attack and kidnapping en to maintain a relationship with a incidents involving women and girls as part of a female Registrar from a Polytechnic in cult member, with parents scared to of broader criminality and communal Khana in November 2015, who was intervene violence, as well as being actively targeted in subsequently rescued during a police shoot-  September 2015 – Cult members connection with political and cult tensions. out which killed the four kidnappers. In threaten to kill a female food seller Several high profile women — including the other incidents, a female doctor was wives and female family members of abducted on her way to church in January  October 2015 – A known cultist beats politicians — were reported to have been 2016 in Port Harcourt, while a radio host up his wife at the slightest of provoca- abducted or killed. Also female was killed by armed robbers in Eleme in tion, but remains unchecked due his professionals, including at least two doctors, May 2015. status were targeted by kidnappers. Unlike  February 2016 – Member of a cult instances where high profile males are Robbery also featured in reported incidents, group attacked a community, and kidnapped or abducted, females are where in Obio-Akpor in October 2015 a killed seven people including an elder- normally subjected to a range of physical group of boys staged nightly attacks ly woman threats and abuse related to their gender, in harassing, abducting and raping women  February 2016 - A 30-year-old cult addition to traditional requests for ransom and girls. In December 2015 in Port member sexually abused a 9-year-old and other forms of intimidation. Harcourt, it was reported that a group of girl, threatening that he will kill her if boys had carried out attacks stealing she tells anyone Criminal Violence: Women and women’s belongings.  May 2016 – During ongoing violence Girls in the Crossfire Cult and Gang Violence: between rival cult groups the Iceland- ers and Greenlanders, eight people The proliferation of small arms and light Intimidation and Reprisal Attacks were killed including a woman was weapons has impacted levels of insecurity in on Women and Girls beheaded and burnt beyond recogni- Niger Delta states such as Rivers, where tion incidents related to lethal violence have  June 2016 – In a reprisal attack as part Cult and gang-related violence has been a risen significantly in recent years (see Figure of Icelanders and Greenlanders vio- significant driver of conflict risk in Rivers 1). Research published in 2016 from Enugu lence, up to 28 people were reported- State during the time period examined, and State University of Science and Technology ly killed, including a nursing mother one of the major contributors to the by I. Ugwuja Daniel2 suggests that arms  June 2016 – An elderly woman was fatalities reported in the state over the past proliferation may have exacerbated killed along with 14 others during Icelanders and Greenlanders violence 1. URL located at: http://www.un.org/press/en/2003/sc7908.doc.htm 2. URL located at: http://idosi.org/ajbas/ajbas8(2)16/5.pdf

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Criminality: VAWG Key Incidents groups, where women were amongst her two-year-old son were killed during the community members singled out to be abduction of a committee member for raped or killed. In May 2016, a woman was Degema LGA in December 2015.  March 2015 - Four people, including beheaded along wither her husband in a a woman, died after they were hit by clash between the Icelanders and In March 2016, a spate of violent incidents stray bullets during an armed robbery Greenlanders in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni. was reported during the legislative election inside a commercial bank re-run. In Tai, two pregnant women were  March 2015 - A girl was shot dead by Though cult groups have their origins in reported to be among at least 40 people a stray bullet in front of her house. traditionally male University Confraternities, killed during a clash with men wearing  May 2015 - A female radio host was there have been reports of several female military uniforms over electoral materials cult groups emerging since the 1990s in the designated for the federal and state rerun shot and killed when armed robbers attacked a bus Niger Delta, as highlighted by the elections. Also that month, an APC ward Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Monitor.3 chairman was murdered along with his wife  October 2015 - Female Registrar of a While recent incident data has not identified and son in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, while in Polytechnic was kidnapped female cult groups as part of the ongoing Ikwerre the mother of an Asari-Toru LGA  December 2015 - A female doctor cult clashes in Rivers, it is important to caretaker chairman was abducted at was kidnapped on her way to work highlight that women can also play an active gunpoint.  January 2016 – A female doctor was role in perpetrating communal violence. In dragged from her car and abducted February 2015 for example, a female cult As an environment of pervasive uncertainty by armed men, as she was driving to member was referenced in an incident continues following the March 2016 re-run church with her children during which an ex-militant was killed. elections, with some election results unannounced and further ballots still year. As part of ongoing clashes between Political Violence: How Political required, conflict risk remains high within groups such as the Icelanders and Rivers – as do the potential impacts on Greenlanders, women and girls have been Uncertainty Impacts Women women and children. impacted by the widespread violence. The power and fear of cult group and gang Amidst the backdrop of jockeying between The Role of Public Security Forces association has also led to several incidents gubernatorial and legislative candidates, being reported of women being abused or their parties and supporters, political The role of public security forces is an intimidated, but feeling powerless to report violence has been a major source of conflict important part of the government’s crimes. In August 2015 in Port Harcourt, it risk in Rivers since 2015. Impacts on women response to the security pressures within was reported that a woman was intimidated and girls from political violence have Rivers. As a result of the insecurity created with threats of violence to remain in a included incidents related to protests, as by election violence, militancy and cult relationship with a cult member against her well as targeted abductions and killings. clashes, officers – including joint task forces will, with her family scared to intervene due of military personnel and police – have to his gang affiliations. Similarly, in a case of In the lead-up to the Nigeria general been deployed throughout the state. ongoing domestic violence in October 2015 election in March 2015, followed by the in Port Harcourt, a wife was severely beaten Gubernatorial and House Assembly While maintaining law and order is a crucial by her husband, but no one had intervened Elections in April 2015, Rivers state saw a part of ensuring stability, this has also due to his cult member status. In another significant rise in overall violence (see Figure caused friction within some communities, incident in February 2016 in Okrika, it was 1). Several incidents involved women and and led to multiple reports of misconduct reported that a 30-year-old cult member girls being injured as part of violence during by officers. There have been several sexually abused a nine-year-old girl, political rallies and protests. With the reported allegations of VAWG perpetrated threatening that he would kill her if she told uncertainty that followed the gubernatorial by members of the public security forces. In anyone. election results, and local elections held in May 2015, a woman was reportedly beaten May 2015, incidents of lethal violence were by police officers while trying to intervene in Other trends in cult and gang-related reported. In June 2015, the wife of a former the beating of a bus driver in Obio-Akpor. In tensions include multiple incidents of rape; Eleme LGA chairman was abducted and another incident, a woman reported being including during reprisal attacks between killed in Port Harcourt, while a woman and

3. https://jamestown.org/program/nigerias-cults-and-their-role-in-the-niger-delta-insurgency/#.V9tK9JgrLIU

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Reported VAWG Incidents by Violence Type Political Violence: Figure 4: January 2015 - July 2016 VAWG Key Incidents

 January 2015 - During a political rally, violence erupted and five female party supporters were severely injured

Domestic abuse, sexual  February 2015 – Girl was injured dur- assault & other Cult/gang violence; 4.0% ing violent political rally interpersonal violence; 84%  March 2015 – Women were injured by Militancy/Piracy; 0.3% tear gas during political protest  April 2015 – Women were injured Political violence; 2.9% during election violence  June 2015 - The wife of the former Criminal violence chairman of Eleme Local Government (shootings, kidnapping, robbery); 8.9% and PDP State Chairman was abduct- ed and killed by gunmen  December 2015 – A woman and her 2

-year-old son were shot dead by gun- Chart shows the types of violence reported during January 2015 to July 2016, with more than three quarters of the incidents relating to inter-personal violence, sexual assault and domestic abuse. The next most salient category within the data was criminal violence, men during an abduction of a mem- including incidents such as abduction, murder and robbery. All data sources were used —including NSRP, ACLED and Nigeria ber of the caretaker committee for Watch— formatted for the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org. Degema LGA  March 2016 - An APC Ward Chairman dragged from her car and beaten by police are often not called to account for their was attacked and beheaded in officers in September 2015 in Port Harcourt. actions. Moreover, as in the case of family , with his wife and son also and community members, as well as cult shot dead Sexual assaults by law enforcement officials and gang members, the factor of  March 2016 - Gunmen kidnapped the were also reported, with a 16-year-old girl intimidation looms large over whether a mother of Asari-Toru LGA caretaker allegedly raped by a police officer in Port survivor reports the abuse and whether it is chairman on her way to church Harcourt in August 2015. In a March 2016 actually followed-up on by authorities. The  March 2016 - A group of boys beat up incident in Khana, it was reported that a resurgence of armed militancy in the Niger a woman on election day because she military officer molested a woman, allegedly Delta, and the deployment of an increased prevented them from taking her son pushing and dragging her. presence of public security in communities, away presents a heightened risk of cases of As in the cases of women and girls who are VAWG in the coming months. Particularly  March 2016 – Two pregnant women sexually and otherwise physically attacked with the commencement of military were among at least 40 people killed by perpetrators known to them, their exercises in the region and the deployment during a clash over electoral materials families, or their communities, abuses by of additional security forces to protect public security forces also constitute vulnerable national and international violations of trust. Police and military business and infrastructure assets, it is to encourage greater collaboration between officers who abuse their positions of imperative that incidences of VAWG by communities and security forces, and authority to sexually assault women, or who public (and private) security forces be promote respectful and appropriate use the monopoly on force entrusted to closely monitored and documented. It is conduct, especially toward women and girls. them to physically harm women and girls, vital that preventative measures are taken

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Conclusion

The impacts of collective, criminal and This pernicious undercurrent effects both punishment for perpetrators up to life political violence on vulnerable groups — reporting and response. To address this, imprisonment. While the VAPP has attracted particularly women and children — is a strengthening the capacity for incident some publicity at the national level, it only critical part of the conflict cycle. The stakes reporting over time and space remains a applies to the Federal Capital Territory remain high in Rivers state amidst political powerful tool for breaking the culture of where the legislation was passed. Rivers uncertainty and factionalized party politics, silence around the violence. This is state must work to domesticate the VAPP, a rise in cult and gang violence, and an especially important in the context of along with implementing a State Action Plan ongoing wave of militancy met with public bringing to account the perpetrators that based on the United Nations Security security deployments. are known and potentially trusted by the Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace survivor, including community leaders, and Security. Data has shown that the heightened conflict family members, guardians, neighbours and risk in the state is having pervasive impacts public security forces. At the local level, awareness raising on women and girls. While communal campaigns could be aimed both widely at violence has been a factor in incidents of Coupled with the reporting and tracking of communities as well as specifically at those VAWG, the majority of the data reported incident data, prevention efforts can be who are in a position to aid in the centres on sexual abuse and domestic reinforced with the deterrent of criminal prevention and response of VAWG. These violence. As noted in this report, a prosecution. Since the Violence Against policy areas need to be addressed, along persistent theme in the cases of VAWG Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) was signed with other suggested proactive measures reported is the abuse and violation of trust into Nigerian Federal Law in 2015, it has outlined in our Recommendations. by perpetrators. provided a strengthened platform for victims to seek redress, and carries

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Recommendations

Incident reports overwhelmingly point Strengthen the capacity of local NGOs, Convene a dialogue among to sexual assault and violence Peace Clubs, and other community community leaders, policy makers and 1 perpetrated by male figures known to 2 organizations through regular training 4 peace actors, which also seeks input victims. This includes trusted family on the reporting of incidents to help to and engagement from the law enforcement members, guardians, and community break the culture of silence. Whether it is and military representatives. The dialogue leaders or local acquaintances, such as shop domestic abuse, cult tensions, or criminal could help develop messaging to reinforce owners. Education campaigns that target violence, the impacts on women are often appropriate and respectful conduct towards potential perpetrators, as well as instilling not known or are recorded in a way that women and girls, and support efforts to better awareness about risks and reporting does not facilitate easy follow-up or strengthen reporting of crimes. This forum within communities, will strengthen planning for prevention. This is where the should also seek to identify a path forward prevention efforts. Local awareness NSRP Observatories and Observatory with state policy makers to implement the campaigns to different targeted audiences Steering Committees (OBSTECs) can and do VAPP and State Action Plan for Women, could seek to: play a key role. In training and encouraging Peace, and Security.  Highlight the criminal ramifications for proper reporting, by survivors as well as perpetrators (e.g. applicable under VAPP wider community members who may Work with national and international 2015 in the Federal Capital Territory, witness these incidents of violence, data can organizations to help implement state- crimes can attract sentences of life be effectively used to support research and 5 wide strategic messaging and imprisonment). planning for prevention. communications campaigns about how the environment of rising insecurity in Rivers  Encourage more collective vigilance and Work closely with OBSTEC members to state is impacting women and girls. This can accountability within communities, plan targeted awareness raising and should include engagement and especially looking out for young girls and among their constituencies in Rivers outreach with local media outlets and boys unaccompanied, and for reporting 3 state about how the current environment of courtesy calls by OBSTEC members and abuse. increased violence and insecurity is others who are familiar with the issue to  Encourage parents, traditional leaders, specifically impacting women and girls, and community leaders. These courtesy visits and teachers to educate children about how this can be addressed. OBSTEC should include traditional rulers, hospitals, the risks and understand concepts of members are in key positions to not only schools, courts, and local public security personal and physical boundaries. This is impact awareness, but also help catalyze forces. particularly important when it comes to response. inappropriate conduct by people in positions of trust.

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