Niger Delta Quarterly Conflict Trends July to September 2016 Sustainable peace and security remains a Heatmap of Conflict Incidents in the Niger Delta key challenge in the Niger Delta region. Data shows a significantly higher number of conflict incidents and fatalities in 2016 than in 2015. However, shorter term trends do show a slight improvement from Q2 2016 to Q3 (see page 2). This quarterly tracker looks at the trends and patterns of conflict risk factors and incidents of violence, and their pressures on peace and stability in the Niger Delta. It is not designed as a conflict analysis, but rather it is intended to update stakeholders on patterns and trends in violence. Understanding the deeper conflict drivers, implications, and mitigating options requires a robust participatory, qualitative analysis of these trends by local stakeholders in affected communities, Heatmap shows concentration of incidents reported from July-September 2016 in the Niger Delta. Source: All data sources formatted for including women, traditional authorities, the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org political leaders, youths, private sector actors, and others. Conflict issues in the Niger Delta include The Niger Delta comprises 185 out of the Fishing and farming are historically the communal tensions, political competition, 774 local government areas and covers 9 main occupations in the region. The region organized criminality, and resource-based out of the 36 states of Nigeria: Abia, Akwa contains vast reserves of oil and gas, which conflicts. Incidents include militancy, piracy, Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, play an important role in the Nigerian cultism, election violence, communal Ondo and Rivers. With over 30 million economy. In spite of these abundant natural violence, armed robbery, kidnapping, and people, according to a 2006 population resources, the Niger Delta is marked by land disputes varying at state and Local census, and an estimated population poverty, economic underdevelopment, Government Area (LGA) levels. Data sources density of 265 people per square kilometer, inequality, and environmental degradation. include ACLED (www.acleddata.com), the region accounts for more than 23 Historical tensions and a proliferation of Nigeria Watch (www.nigeriawatch.org), percent of Nigeria’s population. The region armed groups (militant, criminal, and ethno- NSRP Sources (focused on Violence Against is highly heterogeneous with over 40 ethnic sectarian) contribute to many of the conflict Women and Girls), the IPDU SMS early groups who speak more than 100 languages dynamics described in the following pages. warning system, and others. and dialects. NIGER DELTA QUARTERLY CONFLICT TRENDS: JULY — SEPTEMBER 2016 Regional Patterns and Trends in Conflict Risk — July to September 2016 Conflict risk in the Niger Delta decreased remained prevalent. There was a prolifera- Notwithstanding the slight improvement, slightly in Q3 after hitting its highest levels tion of militant groups across the region, however, violence in Cross River remains in Q2 since late 2009. Insecurity in the with a series of attacks on energy infrastruc- unusually high. Violence in Imo increased region has been driven by political violence, ture in Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, and Akwa during the quarter. protests, land disputes, inter-communal Ibom. Cult-related violence across the nine conflict, criminality and gang violence. There states continued, partly due to rival cult The most violent LGAs were Ohaji-Egbema has also been a rise in attacks on oil and gas clashes and supremacy battles among the (Imo), Ikwerre (Rivers), and Ogba-Egbema- infrastructure by new militant groups such numerous cult groups in the region, as well Ndoni (Rivers), followed by Warri South as the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and the as general criminality. (Delta) and Obubra (Cross River). Niger Delta Greenland Justice Movement (NDGJM), particularly in Bayelsa and Delta At the state level, in Q3 lethal violence The following pages provide a breakdown states. declined slightly in Delta, Rivers, and Cross by state as to the main issues reported River, (the three most violent states in the during the Quarter. and the trends in those During Q3, militancy, gang violence, political region) as well as Bayelsa state. issues over time. tensions, and inter-communal conflict Incidents and Fatalities, Niger Delta Conflict Fatalities, State Level Conflict Fatalities, LGA Level Quarterly, 2016 (July-September 2016) (July-September 2016) 90 500 25 80 400 70 20 60 300 50 15 40 200 10 30 20 100 5 10 0 0 0 Cross River Cross Rivers Delta Imo Bayelsa Ondo Akwa Ibom Edo Ohaji Ikwerre Ogba South Warri Obubra Municipal Owerri Municipal Calabar South Isoko Harcourt Port Aba North Uvwie 2015 Q32015 Q42016 Q12016 Q22016 Q3 Abia - - Egbema Egbema Incidents Fatalities Data for map and bar charts from ACLED and Nigeria Watch formatted and integrated on P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org About this Conflict Tracker We hope that this tracker provides such To ensure that the tracker is 080 9936 2222. Kindly include the relevant stakeholders with information to inform comprehensive, please contribute your state, LGA, town, date, and brief description that process of analysis and joint planning knowledge by reporting any verified of the incident. To read the latest monthly to promote sustainable peace in the Niger incident of conflict to the IPDU Early tracker, please visit: www.p4p-nigerdelta.org Delta. Warning System by texting a message to PARTNERS FOR PEACE | FOUNDATIO N FOR PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVES IN THE NIGER DELTA | THE FUND FOR PEACE 2 NIGER DELTA QUARTERLY CONFLICT TRENDS: JULY — SEPTEMBER 2016 Regional Patterns and Trends in Conflict Risk — Abia State Reported fatalities continued to decrease in Criminality and Vigilantism Human Trafficking the third quarter of 2016 since lethal communal violence peaked in Q1. During During the quarter, security officers In August, a 54-year old man and his wife Q3 reports of conflict risk and violence were reportedly shot several suspected criminals, were reportedly arrested by the police for most prevalent in Aba North LGA and including robbers, murderers, and child trafficking. Several pregnant girls were included violent criminality, vigilantism, kidnappers in Obi-Ngwa, Aba North, Ukwa rescued from the ‘baby factory’ operated by human trafficking and protests. West, and Ugwunagbo. In July, a medical the couple at the Ogbor-Hill in Aba North. director at the state polytechnic was Communal Tensions reportedly abducted in Aba. In August, Protests policemen reportedly clashed with residents In August, there were reported tensions of Unity Garden Estate in a disagreement In September, there were reported protests among community leaders regarding the over who has the right to occupy the estate. in Umuahia, the state capital, over a court potential establishment of a town union Members of the Abia Vigilante Service (AVS) judgement that nullified the election of the and youth association in Owaza community reportedly shot a woman who was incumbent governor. In September, there in Ukwa West, because of implications for celebrating her birthday at a restaurant in were also reports of protests over the the employment of indigenes by companies Aba North. Separately, a lawyer was nullified election results. In a separate in the region. In September, Ohafia youths reportedly murdered by unknown assailants incident, it was reported that truck drivers protested the reported police killing of an in Obi-Ngwa. protested taxes and levies. elderly hunter in Amaekpu community after he allegedly killed a fellow hunter. Incidents and Fatalities, Abia State LGA Level Fatalities, Abia State Quarterly Trends (July-September 2016) 35 4.5 4 Violent Criminality 30 3.5 Other Violence 25 3 20 2.5 15 2 1.5 10 1 5 0.5 0 0 Aba Aba North Ugwunagbo Obi Ngwa Ohafia 2015 Q 3 2015 Q4 2016 Q1 2016 Q2 2016 Q3 Incidents Fatalities Data for map and bar charts from ACLED and Nigeria Watch formatted and integrated on P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org PARTNERS FOR PEACE | FOUNDATIO N FOR PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVES IN THE NIGER DELTA | THE FUND FOR PEACE 3 NIGER DELTA QUARTERLY CONFLICT TRENDS: JULY — SEPTEMBER 2016 Regional Patterns and Trends in Conflict Risk — Akwa Ibom State Akwa Ibom was one of the least violent Violent Criminality Communal Tensions states in the Niger Delta during Q3 2016, based on reported incidents of conflict. In July, three members of a gang of In August, five fatalities were reported in a Uruan LGA had the highest levels of kidnappers were reported arrested by the dispute between two communities in Uruan violence in the state during the quarter due police in Eket. Also in July, a two-year old girl LGA, over the ownership of a land where an to inter-communal conflict which led to the was reported killed by her father during a oil well is located. Youths from one of the deaths of several people. Overall incidents scuffle with her mother in Ikot Abasi. communities attacked the other community in Akwa Ibom also included militancy, Separately, a 30-year old man reportedly and killed five people. In September, women cultism, and criminality. There was also a killed his daughter in Ibiono Ibom. Also, a in Essien Udim protested over conflict protest reported over government salaries man reportedly killed his 60-year old uncle between herdsmen and farmers in in Uyo during the period. during an argument in Offong-Oruko. In Umoessiem community. August, eight fishermen were reported Militancy and Vandalism kidnapped by pirates in Ibeno. Separately, a woman was killed by her son in Eket. In In July, an oil pipeline was reportedly September, a man reportedly murdered a attacked by Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) in commercial motorcyclist with a machete in Nsit Ibom. In a separate incident, the NDA Onna. Separately, a police corporal was reportedly bombed an oil terminal in Ibeno, reportedly killed by robbers in Etinan. One causing it to close.