European Asylum Support Office EASO Country of Origin Information Report Nigeria Targeting of individuals November 2018 SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION European Asylum Support Office EASO Country of Origin Information Report Nigeria Targeting of Individuals November 2018 More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). ISBN: 978-92-9476-045-6 doi: 10.2847/119608 © European Asylum Support Office (EASO) 2018 Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged, unless otherwise stated. For third-party materials reproduced in this publication, reference is made to the copyrights statements of the respective third parties. Cover photo: © Utenriksdepartementet UD, Banki IDP camp, Borno state, northeast Nigeria On 9 November 2016, women and children collect water from a borehole in Mafa IDP Camp, Borno State, northeast Nigeria. EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN REPORT: NIGERIA - TARGETING OF INDIVIDUALS — 3 Acknowledgements This report was drafted by EASO. The following national asylum and migration departments reviewed this report: The Netherlands, Immigration and Naturalisation Service, Office for Country Information and Language Analysis (OCILA); Sweden, Migrationsverket (Swedish Migration Agency), Lifos - Centre for Country of Origin Information and Analysis. The following external expert reviewed this report: Dr Megan Turnbull, Assistant Professor of Comparative Politics at the University of Georgia in the Department of International Affairs. It must be noted that the review carried out by the mentioned departments, experts or organisations contributes to the overall quality of the report, but does not necessarily imply their formal endorsement of the final report, which is the full responsibility of EASO. 4 — EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN REPORT: NIGERIA - TARGETING OF INDIVIDUALS EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN REPORT: NIGERIA - TARGETING OF INDIVIDUALS — 5 Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................3 Contents ...................................................................................................................................................5 Disclaimer ................................................................................................................................................9 Glossary and abbreviations .................................................................................................................. 10 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 16 Methodology .................................................................................................................................... 16 Defining the Terms of Reference (ToR) ....................................................................................... 16 Collecting information ................................................................................................................. 16 Quality control (peer and external review) ................................................................................. 16 Structure and use of the report ....................................................................................................... 17 Map ....................................................................................................................................................... 18 1. General introduction on Nigeria ....................................................................................................... 19 2. Actors targeting individuals .............................................................................................................. 21 2.1 Boko Haram ................................................................................................................................ 21 2.1.1 Objectives ............................................................................................................................ 22 2.1.2 Structure ............................................................................................................................. 24 2.1.3 Modus operandi .................................................................................................................. 28 2.1.4 Recruitment by Boko Haram ............................................................................................... 30 2.1.5 Forced recruitment ............................................................................................................. 33 2.1.6 Child soldiers ....................................................................................................................... 34 2.1.7 Women and girls ................................................................................................................. 34 2.2 Militant groups in the Niger Delta .............................................................................................. 35 2.2.1 General ................................................................................................................................ 36 2.2.2 Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) ............................................ 38 2.2.3 Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) ................................................................................................ 40 2.3 Student/university cults ............................................................................................................. 43 2.3.1 Structure ............................................................................................................................. 44 2.3.2 Objective ............................................................................................................................. 45 2.3.3 Modus operandi .................................................................................................................. 45 2.3.4 Recruitment and initiation .................................................................................................. 47 2.4 Traffickers ................................................................................................................................... 48 2.4.1 Structure ............................................................................................................................. 49 6 — EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN REPORT: NIGERIA - TARGETING OF INDIVIDUALS 2.4.2 Objectives ............................................................................................................................ 50 2.4.3 Modus operandi – including recruitment ........................................................................... 51 2.5 State or state-affiliated actors.................................................................................................... 52 2.5.1 Nigerian armed forces......................................................................................................... 53 2.5.2 Nigeria Police Force............................................................................................................. 55 2.5.3 Islamic Police (hisbah) ......................................................................................................... 57 2.5.4 Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) ............................................................................................ 62 2.6 Death penalty ............................................................................................................................. 65 2.6.1 Sharia penal code and the death penalty ........................................................................... 66 2.6.2 Offences subjected to death penalty in the Sharia law ...................................................... 67 3. Targeted individuals.......................................................................................................................... 69 3.1 Persons targeted by Boko Haram ............................................................................................... 69 3.1.1 General ................................................................................................................................ 69 3.1.2 People perceived as government supporters ..................................................................... 70 3.1.3 Persons rejecting Sharia law / ‘Infidels’ .............................................................................. 70 3.1.4 Christians ............................................................................................................................. 70 3.1.5 Teachers / education .......................................................................................................... 72 3.1.6 Health workers .................................................................................................................... 74 3.1.7 Women and children........................................................................................................... 75 3.1.8 IDPs...................................................................................................................................... 76 3.1.9 Journalists ........................................................................................................................... 78 3.2 Persons involved in militant groups in the Niger Delta.............................................................. 79 3.2.1 Definition of profile ............................................................................................................