Niger Delta Weekly Conflict Update: July 21-27, 2024

This weekly update spotlights organized criminality in the Niger Delta with a focus on rising political tensions and criminal violence in Edo State. Historically, elections in Edo State are high stake affairs, highly competitive and often characterized by lethal violence. According to data (see map above), political and criminal violence, including clashes between cult gangs, caused over 300 fatalities in Edo State between January 2020 and May 2024. In the lead-up to the forthcoming September 2024 governorship election, political tension has intensified with several reported incidents of violence in the State. In April 2024, for instance, the governorship candidate of a political party was allegedly attacked by hoodlums during a meeting at a University in Benin City, the state capital. In May, a student was reportedly injured during a clash between supporters of two political parties at a voter registration center in Benin City. More recently, on July 18, 2024, a police inspector attached to the governorship candidate of a political party was reportedly killed during a clash between supporters of rival political parties in Benin City, the state capital.