The Niger Delta peace and conflict landscape remained largely unchanged during the first quarter of 2020. There were no significant changes in the trends and patterns of conflict risk and violence during the period, compared to the fourth quarter of 2019. There was an increase in incidents of conflict risk and a decrease in lethal…
Recent trends indicate a resurgence of kidnapping for ransom in Bayelsa state. Kidnapping is increasingly becoming frequent and geographical-ly dispersed in the state. According to data (see map below), over 70 incidents of kidnapping were reported in Bayelsa state between January 2016 and March 2020. Since January 2020, there has been an upsurge in the…
Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is increasingly becoming prevalent in Imo state. Recent trends indicate an increase in incidents of violence affecting women and girls in the state, especially domestic violence, rape, girl child abuse, child trafficking, abduction and targeted killing of women and girls for ritualistic purposes. According to data (see map below),…
Kidnapping for ransom is a prevailing human security threat in Cross River state. Recent trends indicate an increase in the frequency of kidnap- pings for ransom in the state, particularly in Calabar, the state capital. According to data (see map below), over 30 incidents of kidnappings for ransom were reported in Cross River state between…
Lockdowns, physical distancing and other forms of social restrictions have been accepted globally as key measures to contain the spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). These measure are crucial in containing the spread of the deadly virus, but they are also exposing residents to increased risk of violence and human rights abuses. In Abia state,…
Attacks by pirates are increasingly becoming frequent and intense in the waterways of Bayelsa state and thus exacerbating maritime insecurity in the Niger Delta and the Gulf of Guinea. Recent trends indicate an upsurge in maritime piracy in the state, mainly involving attacks on oil tank-ers, fishing trawlers, commercial boats, and hijacking of cargo ships…
Perennial clashes between herders and farmers over access to land for farming and grazing is a prevailing security issue in Ondo State. Recent trends indicate an increase in frequency and intensity of clashes in agrarian communities, particularly in Akure North, Akure South, Odigbo, Akoko North-West and Ifedore LGAs. In January 2020, local hunters and farmers…
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 11, 2020 after the virus has spread to more than 100 countries. COVID-19 reportedly originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. As of April 1, 2020, the virus has reportedly infected more than 800,000 persons and caused over…
Trafficking of babies is increasingly becoming prevalent in the Niger Delta, especially in Rivers, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Imo, and Akwa Ibom states. It has taken various criminal and economic dimensions, involving kidnapping of babies, proliferation of ‘Baby Factories’ and a growing black market for the sale of babies. Over the years, there has been…
Kidnapping for ransom has emerged as one of the greatest threat to human security in the Niger Delta, especially in Rivers, Delta, Edo, Abia and Bayelsa states. From abduction of expatriate oil workers by ethno-regional agitators to draw international attention to environmental and developmental issues in the Niger Delta, the phenomenon has evolved into a…