Niger Delta Weekly Update for March 26 - April 01, 2023

This special edition of the weekly update spotlights inter-communal conﬂicts in the Niger Delta with a focus on the herder-farmer conﬂict in the region. According to data (see map above), the herder-farmer conﬂict caused more than 400 fatalities in the Niger Delta between January 2020 and February 2023. Recent incidents indicate a resurgence of clashes between herders and farmers over access to land for farming and grazing as well as criminality including kidnap for ransom. In February 2023, for instance, six residents including farmers and traders were reportedly killed and over 30 hectares of farmland destroyed during clashes between herders and farmers in Arimogija, Molege, and Ute communities in Ose LGA, Ondo State. In March, two residents including a community leader were reportedly killed during clashes between herders and ﬁshers in Okumoni and Zarama communities in Yenagoa LGA, Bayelsa State. Recently, on March 27, 2023, a man was reportedly killed, some residents abducted and properties destroyed during clashes between farmers and armed herdsmen in Sobe community in Owan West LGA, Edo State.