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HOME | ABOUT US | CONTACT US | LINKS | DONATE The Niger Delta TodayConflict |
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| The Niger Delta Today "Annual casualties
from fighting already place the Niger Delta in the 'high intensity
conflict' category (over 1000 fatalities a year), alongside more
known cases such as Chechnya and Colombia. The criminalisation and
political economy of conflicts in the region mean that the basis
for escalated, protracted and entrenched violence is rapidly being
established. This not only threatens [Shell's] (and the oil industry's)
future ability to operate, but also Nigerian national security." Conflict in the Niger Delta is increasing. Over 1000 people a year are being killed. The causes are complex, the situation increasingly entrenched, intractable and uncontrollable. While there are ethnic clashes, it is clear that what is being fought over is access to oil revenues. Whether that is in the form of government hand-outs, company hand-outs or access to the underground trade in oil - known as 'oil bunkering' - which is estimated to involve the theft of between 100million - 250million barrels of oil a year. Access to 'oil bunkering' revenues is fueling an escalation in the number and sophistication of arms carried by gangs and political groups. The Nigerian military has set up a task force to deal with the growth in criminal activity and rebel action. However, the military are often indiscriminate in their action and many innocent bystanders are being killed in their pursuit of 'gang leaders'. Recent Violence in the Niger Delta On February 19 2005, a massacre took place in Odioma - Bayelsa State - at the hands of the Nigerian military according to the following reports: Again Genocide in the Niger Delta - Ijaw National Congress Group Condemns Odioma Killings (This Day Lagos, Feb 24) Over the weekend of March 5-6, 2005, 5000 people,
living in a shanty town on the edges of Port Harcourt in Rivers
State, have been made homeless by state government eviction. More Detailed Reports Reports by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International document the escalating human rights crisis unfolding in the Niger Delta. Human Rights Watch (Feb 05) Amnesty International (Nov 04) Human Rights Watch's (1999) Price of Oil Report provides a comprehensive background to the situation in the Niger Delta. |
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