Niger Delta Holocaust: Govt risks war crime

Niger Delta Holocaust: Govt risks war crime

By Emmanuel Ajibulu
The complexity of issues and number of stakeholders involved in the Niger Delta crises which really exacerbates South-South problems have today become an albatross to Nigerian government, at the local, state and federal level. The Delta, in part because of its riverine/swamp topography, has historically been politically extremely fragmented, and subject to frequent and at times violent disputes over land and fishing rights, as well as over traditional leaders' political jurisdictions. All these lead to cycles of “revenge violence.” And this facilitated the arsenal of powerful weapons in the Delta during the mid- and late-1990s.

Disputes however, became more violent in the region. Youth gangs became more powerful who were willing and able to protect their villages and elders. As democratic competition returned in 1998–1999, some of these same youths took up a new line of activity, paid disruption of campaign events, and/or provided candidates protection from such unwanted attentions. Finally, some traditional leaders have lost much credibility and respect as they have been enmeshed by payments from some politicians and the oil companies.

Fighting continues between two ethnic groups – the Itsekiris and Ijaw residents of the Niger Delta. Tensions between the Itsekiris and the Ijaw communities remained high in 2003, with intermittent reports of violence. Tribal clashes in March 2003 forced the withdrawal of major oil companies from the area. Ethnic clashes in the region led to dozens of deaths, and forced multi-national oil giants to curtail operations in the area. Oil companies were forced to shut down 40 percent of the country's output as the Ijaws and Itsekiris traded gunfire. Ethnic fighting resurfaced in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta in mid-August 2003. This was the most serious fighting in the area since March. But in October 2003 James Ibori, the Governor of Delta State that time, brought the warring Ijaw and Itsekiri communities together for truce. Fighting between the two groups killed more than 200 people during 2003 and forced the government to send in troop reinforcements to restore order.

Consequently as ethnic violence became history the youths in the region and out of their endemic violence profile refocused their attentions to the neglect they have been suffering since oil became Nigeria's major source of income, and they become aggrieved with the mindset of being marginalised by the government at the centre. The youths were perturbed about the decline in human capital development, resource control, and lack of good schools for their communities, portable water, good health facilities, roads etc. Apart from these setbacks, they also frown at the incessant oil spillage which has rendered their (economic life) land and water ways devastating for farming and fishing. Although when the agitations became big issue Nigerian government intervened but the Niger Deltans don't seem to be satisfied with the recommendations and positions of the government at every given point.

These breakdown in communication and mutual agreement between federal government and the militants from this region later degenerated to heavy violence and restiveness in terms of kidnapping, rape, attacks on military personnel, destruction of oil facilities which purportedly led to decline in production and distribution of petroleum products and sharp drop in the supply of nation's power generation, to mention a few. It is however worrisome to know that there are different factions of freedom fighters who hide under the guise of emancipation for the Niger Delta communities. Unfortunately these criminal elements who have hijacked the process truncated the genuine struggle, and the federal government was left with no option but for a military offensive in order to restore sanity and calm in the region. Looking inward however, one will also appreciate the contributions of Niger Delta citizens towards national development who even do great exploits in the diaspora. The revolution they brought to the entertainment industry especially in the comedy session cannot be overlooked. But one thing you cannot take away from them is their right, they guide it jealously and they are very resolute and dogged about it, no matter the intimidation or victimisation.

As a concerned Nigeria I believe the military incursion in the region over land, air and the creek will only bring temporary solutions. Federal government of Nigeria should walk up to its responsibilities. These crises can only be resolved through dialogue with key and most relevant stakeholders. Houses have been razed, and innocents have lost their lives and properties; honestly this incidence has taken us back to the experience of the civil war we fought, which lasted for 30 months.

Without covering facts, the recent holocaust cannot be distanced from civil war as innocents who are mainly children and women are the major victims of the faceoff between Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND and other freedom fighters as well as the Joint Task Force, JTF. Again the Perception of the international community and our teeming investors may be that Nigeria is no longer safe, diplomatically this does not speak well of our image. The issue at stake is very sensitive if we fail to remedy the ugly situation now (in a most violent free manner) the restiveness from that region may never be over, even generations unborn would still come back for the fight, if the government fails to appreciate their demands once and for all.

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