Conflict Incident Monthly Tracker

Imo State: July -August 2018 B a ck gro und congress, some youths burned down houses separate incident, some parishioners of a and injured some persons in LGA. church in Oguta LGA reportedly protested This monthly tracker is designed to update Separately, there was chaos in the State over the alleged removal of a priest in the Peace Agents on patterns and trends in House of Assembly following the alleged church. In a separate incident, there was a conflict risk and violence, as identified by the removal and replacement of the Majority protest by women over the destruction of Integrated Peace and Development Unit Leader of the House in Municipal their farms by herders in -Ubi (IPDU) early warning system, and to seek LGA. In July, political tension was further community, Owerri Municipality. feedback and input for response to mitigate elevated in the state over the suspension of areas of conflict. some members of the House of Recent Incidents or Patterns and Trends Assembly and the impeachment of the Issues, August 2018 deputy governor of the state by 19 out of the M ay-J ul y 20 1 8 Incidents during the month related mainly to 37 members of the state Assembly. human trafficking and protests. According to Peace Map data (see Figure 1), Protests: In June, scores of women Child Trafficking: A 28-year old man and his incidents reported in the state during this protested at the Imo State government 30-year old wife reportedly sold three babies period included criminality, communal house in Owerri the state capital, over for six hundred thousand naira in Umuokai tensions, cult violence, political tensions, and frequent attacks by herdsmen in the area. In Owerri-Nta community, Isiala Ngwa South protests. July, there was a protest at the State House LGA. The suspects lured a woman to a Violent Criminality: In June, a 17-year old of Assembly complex in Owerri, the state location and disposed her of her two boy was reportedly beaten to death by his capital, over political issues in the state. In a children, a 3-year old girl and a 6-months old relatives during a disagreement in Oru LGA. The deceased was beaten to death by one of Figure 1: Incidents and Fatalities, Imo State his brothers and some cultists in the area. 12Dec-17 3 4 Cult Violence: In May, four students of the Imo State University (IMSU) were reportedly 10 killed in a clash between members of Aiye Incidents Fatalities and Bagger confraternities in Owerri 8 Jan-18 3 12 Municipal LGA. Feb-18 3 3 6 Communal Tensions: In June, a traditional Mar-18 3 3 ruler was reportedly assassinated in Orlu 4Apr-18 1 2 LGA. The killing was alleged to be related to May-18 5 10 political issues and a dispute over land in the 2Jun-18 7 8 community. 0 Jul-18 5 7 Political Tensions: In May, tension was Apr-18 May-18 Jun-18 Jul-18 reportedly heightened in some parts of the Incidents Fatalities state following disagreements over the outcome of the ward congress of the All Reported incidents and fatalities from April – July 2018 in Imo state. Sources: ACLED and Nigeria Watch for- Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. matted on the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org. Following the disputed outcome of the ward NIGER DELTA MONTHLY CONFLICT TRACKER: IMO STATE, JULY — AUGUST 2018

Figure 2: Conflict Fatalities by LGA Figure 3: Conflict Fatalities by LGA baby boy, and sold them. The suspects also sold their 4-months old baby boy to raise (May - July 2018) money for the family. 8 6 Protests: There was a protest by some July7 (April - June 2018) Owerri MunicipalOru West Owerri MunicipalIsiala Mbano female supporters of the Indigenous People Violent Criminality Other Fatalities 3 Mar-18 1 1 0 6 4 of Biafra (IPOB) in Owerri, the state capital, Gang/Cult Violence Communal/Ethnic Violence4 Apr-18 0 0 0 5 over the detention and disappearance of Communal/Ethnic ViolenceGang/Cult Violence May-18 0 4 1 4 Violent Criminality 2 IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kalu. The women were Other Fatalities Jun-18 1 0 1 later teargassed and arrested by the police 3 0 for alleged unlawful assembly. 2 August (May - July 2018) Apr-18Isiala May-18MbanoOkigweJun-18 OwerriJul-18 North Others: The headless corpse of a young Violent1 Criminality 4 1 Apr-18 0 0 0 Okigwe woman was reportedly dumped by the 0 May-18 1 3 1 Gang/Cult Violence 4 Owerri Municipal roadside in Mgbirichi community, Ohaji/ Communal/Ethnic Violence Jun-18Mbaitoli 1 Orlu 0 0 Egbema LGA. The victim is believed to have Other Fatalities 3 Jul-18Owerri West 0 Nkwerre4 0 been killed for ritualistic purposes as one of Isu Oguta Ohaji Egbema her breasts was cut off.

Pr o gno s is Reported incidents by Local Government Area (LGA) in Imo State shows that Okigwe, followed by Owerri Municipal had the highest level of violent fatalities and conflict risk in the state during the period. Sources Incidents during the period related mainly to (Figure 2): ACLED and Nigeria Watch data formatted for the P4P Peace Map. Source (Figure 3): Nigeria criminality, communal tensions, cult Watch data formatted for the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org violence, political tension, child trafficking, Figure 4: Heat Map of Incidents and Peace Agents in Imo State 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 of hotspots, trends, or incidents?

2. Which conflict issue suggested by, or missing from, this tracker is a priority for you?

3. What are some likely trigger events Heat Map shows concentration of incidents reported from May – July 2018 in Imo State, with green stars representing the registered Peace Agents. Source: All data sources formatted for the P4P Peace Map in the next 6 months that could wwwww.p4p-nigerdelta.org escalate this conflict? Report Incidents: IPDU Early Warning System 4. Who are the key stakeholders that Please report any verified incident of conflict to the IPDU SMS early warning system: have influence on the conflict? Text: 080 9936 2222 Incident Details: Kindly include the State, LGA, Town, Date, and Brief Incident Description 5. What will you do to help mitigate Inquiries: Afeno Super Odomovo, IPDU Research Coordinator the conflict in the short, medium, Contact Us and long term? Telephone: 08172401595 Email: [email protected]

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