Conflict Incident Monthly Tracker

Imo State: February - M arch 2 01 8 B a ck gro und reportedly accepted amnesty offered to instance, a 13-year old girl was kidnapped in them by the state government and West LGA. Separately, hundred of This monthly tracker is designed to update surrendered their arms in Owerri, the state women protested at the Police Peace Agents on patterns and trends in capital. Some of the criminals included those Headquarters in Owerri, the state capital, conflict risk and violence, as identified by the that escaped from neighboring over insecurity in their community. The Integrated Peace and Development Unit after they were declared wanted by the protesters complained of incessant (IPDU) early warning system, and to seek government for crimes committed in the kidnappings in their community in feedback and input for response to mitigate state. LGA. areas of conflict. Communal Tensions: In January, two Others: In December, four members of the people, including a female octogenarian, Movement for the Actualization of the Patterns and Trends were reportedly killed in a clash between Sovereign State of (MASSOB) were two masquerade groups during a festival in reportedly killed during a clash between two D ec 2 01 7 -Fe b 20 1 8 LGA. Members of a masquerade cult factions of the group in Unuimo LGA. According to Peace Map data (see Figure 1), attacked masquerades from another village Separately, there was tension in the state there was a decrease in violent fatalities in to avenge their colleague’s death during a following the reported suspension of the Imo State in February 2018. Incidents masquerade festival. Majority Leader of the Imo State House of reported in the state during this period Communal violence and criminality during Assembly in Owerri, the state capital. In included criminality, communal and political this period also involved violence affecting January, the official residence of the Imo tensions. women and girls (VAWG). In February, for state deputy governor in Owerri, the state Violent Criminality: In January, three kidnappers were reportedly killed in a gun Figure 1: Incidents and Fatalities, Imo State battle with operatives of the police Special 14 Apr-17 8 14 Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in LGA. 12 Separately, six hoodlums were reportedly May-17 2 2 killed during a shootout with the police in 10Jun-17 5 8 Ohaji/Egbema LGA. In February, a 95-year Jul-17 5 12 8 old man and his 13-year old granddaughter Aug-17 2 3 were reportedly kidnapped in 6Sep-17 1 1 LGA. It is believed that the victims are 4Oct-17 7 9 kidnapped for a ransom because five of the Nov-17 3 5 old man’s children reside outside . 2Dec-17 3 4 Separately, operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) 0Jan-18 3 12 reportedly arrested five suspects for illegal Feb-18 Nov-17 3 3Dec-17 Jan-18 Feb-18 oil bunkering and vandalism in Incidents Fatalities LGA. A truck load with products was recovered from the suspects. Also, in Reported incidents and fatalities from November 2017– February 2018 in Imo state. Sources: ACLED and February, many criminals in the state Nigeria Watch formatted on the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org. MONTHLY CONFLICT TRACKER: IMO STATE, FEBRUARY — MARCH 2018

Figure 2: Conflict Fatalities by LGA Figure 3: Conflict Fatalities by LGA capital, was reportedly razed by fire. (December 2017 - February 2018)

Other7 Fatalities 2 1 7 Ohaji/EgbemaAboh Recent Incidents or 6 6 Oct-17 5 1 1 5 Issues, March 2018 February (November 2017-JanuaryOhaji/Egbema 2018)Unuimo 5 Nov-17 0 0 3 Communal/Ethnic4 Violence Dec-17 0 0 0 Incidents during the month related mainly to 3 4 human trafficking and protests. Violent Criminality Jan-18 6 0 0 2 3 Other1 Fatalities 6 4 Child Trafficking: Two women reportedly 2 0 Mbaitoli Orlu Unuimo stole a 5-year old girl and sold her to a 45- 1 year old woman for three hundred and fifty March (December 2017-FebruaryOhaji/Egbema 2018)Unuimo Nov-17 3 2 0 0 Communal/Ethnic Violence Dec-17 0 0 4 thousand Naira in LGA. Nov-17 Dec-17 Jan-18 Feb-18 Protests: There was a protest by residents of Violent Criminality 1 Jan-18 0 0 0 Other Fatalities 6 4 Feb-18Mbaitoli 0 Orlu0 1 several communities in Okigwe LGA over Other Fatalities incessant attacks by herdsmen in the area. Unuimo Ohaji/Egbema Violent Criminality The protesters called on the state governor Njaba Owerri West Communal/Ethnic Violence to direct the Bureau for Peace and Conflict Oguta

Resolution to investigate the activities of Reported incidents by Local Government Area (LGA) in Imo State shows that Ohaji/Egbema, followed by herdsmen in the LGA and their relationship Unuimo had the highest level of violent fatalities and conflict risk in the state. Source (Figure 2): ACLED and with host communities. Nigeria Watch data formatted for the P4P Peace Map. Source (Figure 3): Nigeria Watch data formatted for the P4P Peace Map www.p4p-nigerdelta.org

Figure 4: Heat Map of Incidents and Peace Agents in Imo State Pr o gno s is

Incidents during the period related mainly to criminality, communal tensions, protests, and child trafficking. 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 Heat Map shows concentration of incidents reported from December 2017–February 2018 in Imo State, priority for you? with green stars representing the registered Peace Agents. Source: All data sources formatted for the P4P 3. What are some likely trigger events Peace Map wwwww.p4p-nigerdelta.org in the next 6 months that could 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 5. What will you do to help mitigate Incident Details: Kindly include the State, LGA, Town, Date, and Brief Incident Description the conflict in the short, medium, Contact Us Inquiries: Afeno Super Odomovo, IPDU Research Coordinator and long term? Telephone: 08172401595 Email: [email protected]

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