Conflict Incident Monthly Tracker : August -September 2018

B a ck gro und northern part of the country. The victims company over community development and were shot dead in front of their residence. employment issues in West LGA. This monthly tracker is designed to update Cult Violence: In June, cultists reportedly Separately, there was a protest by youths Peace Agents on patterns and trends in attacked the hometown of a minister and over alleged human rights abuses by security conflict risk and violence, as identified by the former and operatives in LGA. In August, Integrated Peace and Development Unit disrupted a community market and a there was a protest by youths from Onne (IPDU) early warning system, and to seek political rally in Ubima, Ikwerre LGA. In community, Eleme LGA, over an alleged feedback and input for response to mitigate August, the chairman of a community planned relocation of the logistics supply areas of conflict. vigilante group was reportedly ambushed base of an international oil company from Patterns and Trends and killed by cultists in Rumuolumeni Onne port to Lagos state. J une -August 2018 community, Obio/Akpor LGA. Separately, a 90-year old man was reportedly burned to According to Peace Map data (see Figure 1), Recent Incidents, death by cultists in Egbeda community, incidents reported during this period LGA. The incident was linked to rival September 2018 included criminality, gang/cult violence, cult clashes between Icelander and Degbam Reported incidents during the month mainly political violence, and protests. groups in the area. related to criminality, cult clashes, and Violent Criminality: In June, kidnappers Criminality was key driver of Violence protests. reportedly abducted, killed and buried a Affecting Women and Girls (VAWG) in the Criminality: Gunmen reportedly ambushed senior staff member of the Nigerian National state during the period. and attacked the deputy national chairman Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Political Violence: In August, a State House of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and LGA. In July, gunmen reportedly killed three of Assembly by-election conducted in Port killed his driver along the East-West Road in policemen and made away with their Harcourt LGA was reportedly marred by Ikwerre LGA. The gunmen shot sporadically weapons in Rumuigbo community, Obio/ violence characterized by sporadic shootings at the victims’ vehicle. Separately, two Akpor LGA. Separately, gunmen attacked a and hijacking of voting materials. members of a vigilante group were security checkpoint and killed a policeman Protest: In July, protesting women and reportedly killed by gunmen suspected to be and a civilian in Ozuoba community, Obio/ youths reportedly barricaded the entrance cultists along Ikwerre road in Port Harcourt Akpor LGA. In another incident, a Vice to the premises of an international oil LGA. Chancellor of a university of education in the Figure 1: Incidents and Fatalities, Rivers State state reportedly raised the alarm about incessant harassment of students of the 25Dec-17 6 14 institution in their hostels by hoodlums in Ndele community, Emohua LGA. 20 Incidents Fatalities In August, gunmen reportedly hijacked a Jan-18 10 49 commercial bus with 18 passengers and 15Feb-18 2 4 diverted it into a forest along Owerri-Port Mar-18 1 0 Harcourt road in Ikwerre LGA. Separately, 10Apr-18 4 13 kidnappers reportedly killed three people, May-18 12 21 comprising two policemen, and abducted an 5 expatriate in Woji community, Obio/Akpor Jun-18 3 6 LGA. In another incident, a policeman and a 0 Jul-18 8 18 driver were reportedly killed by kidnappers Aug-18 May-18 9 18Jun-18 Jul-18 Aug-18 during an attempted abduction of an Incidents Fatalities expatriate in Abua Odual LGA. In Oroazi community, Obio/Akpor LGA, gunmen Reported incidents and fatalities from May – August 2018 in Rivers State. reportedly killed four traders from the Sources: ACLED and Watch formatted on the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org. NIGER DELTA MONTHLY CONFLICT TRACKER: RIVERS STATE, JULY — AUGUST 2018

Cult Violence: Two people were reportedly Figure 2: Conflict Fatalities by LGA Figure 3: Conflict Fatalities by LGA killed during a rival cult clash in Khana LGA. (June - August 2018) Several properties were destroyed during the incident. Residents deserted the Gang/Cult16 Violence 8 20 community for fear of reprisal attacks. Political Violence 3 14 Bonny Emohua Akuku Toru Other Fatalities Protest: There was a protest by some ex- Other Fatalities 6 3 15 Apr-18 4 6 3 12 militants along the East-West Road in Gang/Cult Violence May-18 0 3 0 LGA over payment of stipends 10 Violent Criminality SeptemberObio/Akpor (June-AugustEmohua 2018) Ikwerre 10 Jun-18 0 0 0 and exclusion from the Federal Government Violent8 Criminality10 1 3 Amnesty Program for militants. The Jul-18 0 6 0 protesters barricaded a section of the East- Gang/Cult6 Violence1 7 3 5 West Road. The protesters were later Other4 Fatalities 4 Ahoada EastAsari Toru Emohua dispersed by a operatives of the Joint Task 0May-18 1 1 3 2 Force (JTF). Jun-18May-18 Jun-180 Jul-18 0 Aug-18 0 Flooding: Two people were reportedly killed 0 Jul-18Ahoada East 0 Asari0 Toru 6 by flood in Ahoada West LGA. Over 30 Aug-18Emohua 0 Port0 Harcourt 1 communities were reportedly submerged by Eleme Ikwerre water in the area as a result of an increase in Obio/Akpor Abua Odual the water level at the bank of the River Niger. Reported incidents by Local Government Area (LGA) in Rivers State this quarter shows that Obio/Akpor had the highest number of reported fatalities. Sources (Figure 2): ACLED and Nigeria Watch data formatted for

the P4P Peace Map. Source (Figure 3): Nigeria Watch data formatted for the P4P Peace Map www.p4p- Pr o gno s is nigerdelta.org Reported incidents in the state during the Figure 4: Heat Map of Incidents and Peace Agents in Rivers State period related mainly to criminality, cult violence, political violence, protests, flooding, and Violence Affecting Women and Girls (VAWG). Peace Agents should monitor the situation closely and respond appropriately.

Questions for Peace A ge nt s

1. Is anything missing from the tracker in terms of hotspots, trends, or incidents?

2. Which conflict issues are a priority for you (as P4P Chapter, Prevent Committee, or other stakeholder)? Heat Map shows concentration of incidents reported from June – August 2018 in Rivers; with green stars representing the registered Peace Agents. Source: All data sources formatted for the P4P Peace Map

www.p4p-nigerdelta.org 3. What are some likely trigger events in the next 6 months that could escalate this conflict? Report Incidents: IPDU Early Warning System

Please report any verified incident of conflict to the IPDU SMS early warning system: 4. Who are the key stakeholders that 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 the Inquiries: Afeno Super Odomovo, IPDU Research Coordinator conflict in the short, medium, and long Contact Us term? Telephone: 08172401595 Email: [email protected]

FOUNDATION FOR PARTN ERSHIP INITIATIVES IN THE NIGER DELTA 2 PARTNERS FOR PEACE THE FUND FOR PEACE