As I said in the introductory
part of this essay, this project is aimed at mapping or collating salient risks,
threats, safety concerns, crime, terrorism or violence extremism hotspots representative
of Nigeria’s cities and 36 states of the country. This is the third tranche of
this research. If you missed
part one, read it here.
Part two of the essay can also be found here.
The current essay maps, collates threats, risks, crime and security hotspots or
security, safety challenges inherent in South-South, popularly known as the Niger-Delta –
comprising - Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta,
Edo and Rivers states; the North-East – comprising - Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states
and North-Central - Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa,
Niger and Plateau states geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
1.
South-South
Nigeria is
popularly known as Niger Delta and consists
of six states: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states. Crime
and Security threats representative
of South-South Nigeria include: Militancy and vandalization of crude oil or
pipeline facilities especially by MEND/Niger-Delta militants, kidnap for
ransoms and extortion (KRE), Ukrainian and Lithuanian ship were kidnapped a
while ago off Nigerian coast. There’s also proliferation of weapons/arms, illegal crude oil
bunkering, sea piracy, and ‘rape capital of Nigeria’ (CLEEN Foundation 2013,
report). The South-South also ranks second with respect to high incident of car
thefts in Nigeria. Environmental hazards or degradation (Oil spill), contamination
and gas flaring are common in the Niger-Delta axis. A popular writer and environmental
activist, Mr. Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogonis were executed on November 10th
1995 by the General Sani Abacha regime for advocating against oil pollution,
contamination.
a.
Edo
state – Cultism
is pretty much entrenched in Edo state. Membership of the various cult groups
are said to include senior government officials, students artisans amongst
others. It is not surprising that Benin, the Edo state capital and other parts
of the state are always in the news for intermittent and vicious inter,
intra-cult clashes. Kidnapping, armed robbery attacks and ritual killings are
ongoing security challenges in Edo state. Recent studies and presentations from
NAPTIP (National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons) confirm that
external human trafficking (usually for sexual exploitation) is endemic in Edo
state where many families seem to bask on how many of their own are residing
abroad and remitting hard currency back home. NAPTIP reckons that 98% of
victims rescued from external trafficking for sexual exploitation are from Edo
state. One of the famed black spots for criminal activities to watch out for in
Edo state is along the Lagos-Benin by-pass.
b. Bayelsa – kidnap for ransom and extortion (KRE), illegal crude oil
bunkering, sea piracy and maritime insecurity, militancy, proliferation of arms,
environmental degradation and contamination. Gunmen kidnapped the mother
of Nigerian Football Coach - Samson Siasia in Bayelsa. A popular Ijaw musician and
100-Year old mother of the APC deputy governorship candidate in Bayelsa were
kidnapped in Bayelsa the same period.
c.
Rivers
State – High rate of kidnap for ransom and
extortion (KRE), sea pirates, militancy and illegal crude oil bunkering (the Nigerian Army uncovered a massive illegal crude oil bunkering site
in Port Harcourt), armed
robbery, cult-related killings or assassinations, high rate of political
violence. (Ishaka creeks is said to be a notorious
haven for kidnappers and criminals in Rivers State). To give us an idea of the
scourge of kidnapping in Rivers state, gunmen kidnap son of Vice Chancellor of
University of Port Harcourt, a popular newspaper columnist was kidnapped in Port
Harcourt. The wife of a political party chieftain kidnapped in Rivers State was later found dead and
rampaging gunmen killed 8 people in Port Harcourt a while
ago. These are just random incidents. The Rivers State Commissioner for Social Welfare and
Rehabilitation, Joe Poroma, has said that “not less than 10” girls are raped daily in Rivers state while the Centre for Environment, Human Rights
and Development opines that more than 1,200 girls were allegedly raped in
Rivers State, in 2012. A report published by the National Agency for the
Control of Aids (NACA) sequel to the 2013 National Aids Reproductive Health
Survey showed that Rivers State tops the latest aids prevalence chart in
Nigeria, followed by Taraba state.
d. Cross River State – Is a coastal state that borders Cameroon to the east with Calabar
as Capital. Security Threats
Representative of Cross River state include: sea piracy, armed robbery,
kidnapping amongst others. The brother of Nigeria's former head of Department of State Security or SSS as
it is popularly called was kidnapped a while ago in Cross River state.
e.
Delta
State – This
states has its own fair share of security challenges. In addition to illegal
crude oil bunkering said to be rife in this area, kidnapping is also a problem.
A kidnapping den at Obetim forest in Kwale was reportedly discovered a while
ago. Another factor that casts a haze of insecurity and uncertainty is parts of
Delta state is the delicate relationship and mutual mistrust between the
Itsekiri’s and the Ijaw’s which has resulted in intra and inter-communal
conflicts in the past. The recent location of an Export Processing Zone in this
area is a hot potato that re-ignited the age-long rivalry, agitation and
restiveness in this area. Also, given the accusations of arms stockpiling and proliferation,
the security situation in this axis is definitely fluid. Don’t forget that a
good number of ex Niger Delta militants are from Delta state. The imminent
stoppage of amnesty largesse may see some of the ex-militants resort to
criminal activities. A Daily Post newspaper investigation ‘’revealed that over
the last six months (2015), kidnappings and rival secret cult violence in
Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha Local government Area, have claimed no fewer than twenty
lives’’
f.
Akwa
Ibom – Environmental
hazards, oil bunkering; CLEEN
Foundation report says Akwa Ibom witnessed the second highest reported incident
of armed robbery in Nigeria, 42 per cent
2.
North-East
Nigeria consists
of six states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states. Granted
Boko Haram terrorism and insurgency is waning, but it will take a while for the
entire North-East to be free from the miasma of terrorism, suicide bombings on
soft and hard targets. Terrorism rating is high. Crime and Security threats representative of this part of Nigeria include:
violent extremism, terrorism and insurgency, suicide bombings, ethno-religious
riots (on February 18, 2006, Maiduguri literarily went up in flames and 51
people were killed aftermath of Muslim protest against a supposed caricature of
prophet Muhammed), high rate of rape incidents, 6 percent (CLEEN Foundation,
2013 report). Their modus operandi include: drive-by shootings on motor-bikes, suicide
and VBIEDs attacks on soft and hard
targets. Boko Haram is also said to be responsible for some bank robberies in
north east Nigeria.
a.
Adamawa
State:
Formally known as Gongola state, Adamawa state borders Gombe state to the
North, Borno state to the North East, borders Taraba State to the West and
Republic of Cameroon to the East. The state is said to be interspersed with
about 80 ethnic groups and has 21 Local government Areas. Even as Boko Haram
tried to make inroads into Yola, the capital of Adamawa state, the Sect
reportedly held sway in the following local councils: Magadali, Mubi North,
Mubi South, Michika, Maiha during its hey days. Recall that prior to the
existence of Boko Haram, an Islamic sect known as Maitatsine formed by one, Mohammed Marwa and later succeeded by
Musa Makaniki, held sway in Yola (Adamawa state) in the 1980s. Granted Boko
haram’s attacks seem to have whittled down but it continues to launch sporadic
suicide bombings in parts of the state. On October 1, 2012, more
than 50 students were killed in terror attacks in Adamawa state. There is also
environmental security challenge of flooding in Adamawa state ( in September
2015, seven communities in Numan Local Government Area were submerged by
flooding due to heavy water flow from Kiri Dam). A
German citizen was kidnapped in Adamawa state in July 2014 but was rescued by
Cameroonian forces in January 2015 after a military rescue operation on the
Cameroonian border.
b. Bauchi: Religious unrest, political violence (the Kala-Kato Sect mayhem)
and kidnapping. Ansaru also claimed responsibility for kidnapping seven
European and Middle Eastern nationals from a compound owned a Lebanese
construction company- Setraco in Bauch state. It appears that while Ansaru
lasted, it specialized in kidnapping, especially foreigners. About nine Youth
Corps members were hacked to death in Bauchi state in cold blood aftermath of
the 2011 presidential election during which erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan
defeated incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
c.
Borno
State: With
Maiduguri as capital, Borno state comprises of 27 Local Government Areas. Borno
state goes by the moniker ‘’Home of Peace’’ but is ironically characterized and
happens to be the epicenter of the Boko Haram bloodletting campaign. It is
widely known that Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf formed Boko Haram in 2002 in Maiduguri
as an Islamic movement. Recall that while it held sway, Boko Haram reportedly
controlled about 20,000 square miles of territory – an area the size of
Belgium. 20 out of the 27 Local Government Areas in Born fell to Boko Haram.
Contrary to the impression that Boko Haram no longer controls any swathe of
land or territory in Nigeria, the Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima
asserted that as at October 2015, the dreaded Islamic Sect is still in control
of two local government areas, namely: Abbadam and Mobar and partially in control
of a third council – Marte. Territories or not, Boko Haram is very much a threat
in Borno and it’s environ as the Sect continues to unleash series of suicide
bombers on soft targets, public places. Boko Haram militants routinely ambush
travellers plying major highways such as the Gamboru-Ngala-Dikwa-Mafu-Maiduguri,
Damboa-Biu-Maiduguri, Damaturu-Maiduguri, Kano-Maiduguri highways. Arguably,
the aforementioned roads pass for some of the most dangerous in Borno state and
Nigeria. On April 14, Boko Haram attacked Girls’ Secondary
school Chibok, Borno state and abducted about 276 girls. Boko Haram leader
Abubakar Shekau boasted in a video that the Chibok girls were “spoils of war”
and would become brides of Boko Haram members.
d. Gombe State: Boko Haram has launched attacks on Gombe state
on several occasions. Boko Haram insurgents disrupted
elections in Dukku Nafada town in Gombe State killing seven people. At
least 29 people were killed when two bombs ripped through two bus stations in
Gombe on July 22 2015. The Sect also killed unspecified number of persons and
burned down scores of houses at Kasheri town. A
resident of Gombe, Alhaji Yusuf Jinjiri said ‘’a lot of Boko Haram suspects who
fled Borno state because of the heat the military has turned on them have
relocated to Gombe and Bauchi axis where they are now terrorizing innocent
citizens’’.
e.
Taraba: Ethno-religious conflict
or violence (lingering crises involving the Jukun, Kuteb, Wukari, Tiv tribes
often fueled by revenge attacks), Ethnic violence reared its ugly head in
November after election tribunal declared APC Gubernatorial candidate in the
April 2015 election as winner of the gubernatorial election. Taraba state ranks
second in terms of Aids prevalence statistics in Nigeria (NACA 2013 Survey).
f.
Yobe: A self-styled group known
as the Taliban sprang up in Kannama, Yobe State and Gwoza (Borno state)
sometime in 2002. Boko Haram controlled two local councils in Yobe state, Boko
Haram Insurgency, Terrorism, Suicide Bombing, Keep an eye on Damaturu-Biu Road,
3.
North-Central
Nigeria otherwise
known as Middle Belt consists of six states: Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa,
Niger and Plateau states. Crime and Security
threats representative of North Central Nigeria include: endemic and intermittent
communal and ethno-religious crises, cattle rustling, kidnapping (Kogi), Boko
Haram attacks/suicide bombings, drive-by shootings, attacks on soft and hard
targets, Recurrent flooding
of River Niger and Benue. In a report by SBM
Intelligence titled, ‘’Terror In The Food Basket: A look into the violence in North-Central Nigeria’’, the firm identifies some of
the factors contributing to the frequent skirmishes in North-Central Nigeria to
include: ‘’Seasonal southward migration due to dry Seasonal which brings herdsmen into contact with locals
in Middle Belt and increases competition
for farmland, desertification’’ amongst others. SBM Intelligence says a
solution to this perennial crises in the middle belt ‘’will require vision and
investment in infrastructure and to liaise with traditional rulers in the North
to designate land for communal ranches. The United
States Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) estimates that about 785
sectarian-related deaths occurred in Plateau state between 2011 and 2013. The
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom reckons that about 14,000
Nigerians have died from sectarian violence since 1999, signifying that more
Nigerians were killed by sectarian violence than by terrorism.
a. Benue state: Constant clashes between locals and Fulani
herdsmen. Perennial flooding is common in Benue state, flood submerged more
than 150 houses in Makurdi in August 2015. The flooding is attributed to
overflowing of River Benue or release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
Suspected Fulani herdsmen allegedly killed 45 people at
Egba village in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue state sometime in March
2015.
b. Kogi State: Kogi
state occupies an important place in the history Northern Nigeria. The
Protectorate of Northern Nigeria was proclaimed in Lokoja on January 1, 1900,
marking the entry of colonial rule in the region. Kogi state was created in
1991 with Lokoja as capital. The state has many ethnic groups but the Igala
whose homeland is in the eastern part of the state constitute the majority.
Kogi State is home to the Ajaokuta Steel Industry,
Itakpe Iron Ore Mining Company and Aliko Dangote's Obajana Cement factory. Typical security and safety issues within Kogi
state are: Flooding,
the Lokoja-Okene or the Okene-Auchi-Benin highway is notorious for accidents,
armed robbery and kidnapping. It was along this road that Human Right Lawyer,
Barrister Mike Ozekhome was kidnapped a couple of years ago. Even a catholic
priest was not spared by kidnappers in Kogi State In November 2014; Gunmen
supposed to be Boko Haram militants staged a prison break at the Koto-Karifi
Federal Medium Prison during which about 145 inmates were freed. A national daily once classified Kogi state
as one of the ‘’unsafe states’’ in Nigeria together with Borno, Kano, Yobe, Nasarawa, Bayelsa amongst others. Recall the
dastardly killing of 20 worshippers at a Deeper Life Bible Church in Okene on
Monday, August 6, 2012 and the next day, a military patrol van patrolling Okene
town was attacked and two military officers were killed. Bomb-making factories
were discovered at Kabba, Kogi West with loads of Improvised Explosive Devices
(IEDs).
c.
Kwara
State: Is
a gateway between the Northern and Southern Nigeria. Its slogan is
“State of Harmony”. The Nigerian anti-narcotics agency – the NDLEA in the recent past
designate some spots around Film House,
Gambari, Ojagboro, Idi-Ape and Okelele, all in Ilorin the Kwara state capital
as flash points where suspected hard drug dealers turned to their hideouts. One
of the security threats ravaging Kwara state is cultism; it was reported a
while ago that a Kwara State Polytechnic students’ cult
clash claimed 16 people. Recall that Kwara state
borders another country, Benin republic and the border is said to be porous
enhancing smuggling (weapons, contraband etc.). Just recently it was reported
that Benin republic ‘’annexed’’ or rather invaded Okuta (about 16 communities)
in Baruten Local Government Council of Kwara state leading to skirmishes
d. Nasarawa: Nasarawa state border Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital. Keffi is
just about 10 kilometres to the federal capital territory (FCT). Said to be made
up of about 29 ethnic groups, ethnic rivalry and conflict is rife in Nasarawa
state. The most prominent conflict involves the Eggon, Alago and raiding Fulani
herdsmen. The Eggon are predominantly Christians and are said to constitute the
dominant ethnic group in the state. The Ombatse phenomenon in
Nasarawa State is a source of security concern. Recall the dreaded Ombatse
cult group headed by one Chief Lega Ahgu (late?) popularly called Baba Alakyo, reportedly
slaughtered about 100 combined team of policemen and operatives of the
Department of State Security Service (DSS) sometime in 2013 during an ill-fated
raid by the security operatives. Youth restiveness and armed robberies is
reported to be common in the Keffi axis of Nasarawa state.
e. Niger State: Perennial flooding (in 2012, seven people were
killed while 149 communities across 10 local government areas – Mokwa, Lavun,
Edati, Chanchanga, Shiroro, Borgu, Bida, Bosso, Munya and Wushishi were sacked
by flooding in Niger state. Illegal mining and lead poisoning (22 children died
from lead poisoning in 2015). An ongoing security
concern in parts of Niger State is the menace of so-called Fulani Herdsmen;
they allegedly slaughtered 50 people including a Police Inspector in community in Niger
State a while ago. Random kidnapping occurs in Niger state as well, a popular
Minna-based hotelier was kidnapped by gunmen in the recent past.
f.
Plateau
State:
Sporadic
communal and ethno-religious conflicts or riot pervade Plateau state. These
crises or violence is more often than not, spurred by the ‘’indigene-settler’’ syndrome
or Christian-Muslim dichotomy, dichotomy and supremacy and attacks by Fulani
herdsmen. For instance, the 2001 Jos riot claimed at least 1,000 lives (HRW,
2001). Boko Haram has also made incursions to Jos, Plateau state with IED
attacks. Chelsea and Nigeria footballer John Mikel
Obi’s father was kidnapped in Jos some time ago.
g. FCT (Abuja): Boko Haram has launched
attacks on the outskirts and heart of Nigeria’s capital Abuja. In 2012, the dreaded sect carried out suicide attacks on the
headquarters of the Nigeria police and United Nations killing several people. In
July 2012, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded in the parking lot of
an Abuja shopping center; in June, an IED exploded outside a nightclub in
Abuja. Nigeria’s capital, the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT) also witnessed bombings in April, May, and June 2014. As
recently as 2 October, 2015, bombs supposedly by Boko Haram, were exploded in
the Nyanya and Kuje suburbs of Abuja.
Written by: Don Okereke
Follow Don on Twitter: @DonOkereke
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