Conflict Management in the Niger Delta (A Case Study of the Amnesty Programme)
Chapter One
AIMS/OBJECTIVES
The aims and objectives of this study include:
- To examine as a baseline study the Niger Delta people and the extent to which it relates with others.
- To examine the Genesis of the crisis of agitation in the region and how it affects the Nigerian state.
- To examine the military option which hitherto escalates the Niger Delta crisis to insurgence in the country.
- To examine the nature of the conflict as it portents to undermine the economy of Nigeria.
- To identify and evaluate the amnesty programs as relevant approaches in addressing the Niger Delta struggle.
CHAPTER TWO
THE NIGER DELTA: ITS PEOPLE, CULTURE AND VALUE
The Niger Delta area was a foremost part of the later region to be called Nigeria and incorporated into the Atlantic world economy from the 66th century. However, there existed a long history of the peoples of Niger Delta of the Cross River valley and the Eastern Niger Delta.
The Cross River valley of the Benue Cross may have been a cultural watershed in the history of Nigeria. The languages spoken by the people of the valley have been classified in the Benue-Congo, a sub-family of the large Niger-Congo, family of African language.1 This languages of the Benin-Cross valley lie clearly between the great size of Sudanic languages on the West African coast and the extensive Bantu language spoken from the Cameroons through Central, Eastern and Southern Africa. Therefore, the languages form a bridge between the language of the Guinea Coast and the Bantu to the east and this confirms with the grouping of the Guinea coast and the Congo basin as forming a single culture area. The largest linguistic group in the area, the Ibibio, also seems to have been the longest established in the geographical area. However, there is yet no archaeological work to show any clear dates, the Ibibio occupation of the area could well date to the era of Proto-Bantu migration postulated by Greenberg and to the first of four stages of Bantu expansion according to Olivr.3 However, the Efik, Ibibio and Cross River peoples are closest linguistically to groups to the north of them in the Central Benue valley. Such groups are those of the Jos Plateau, the Jukun, Tiv belong in the same Benue-Congo sub-valley with the Efik, Ibibio and the majority of Cross River languages. The linguistic affinities suggest that the peoples inhabiting the region watered by the Cross and Qua-Iboe Rivers formed a cultural continuum with the peoples of the Central Benue valley.4
The origin of Ibibio people, the largest group in the Cross River basin have remain in cloud probably due to the absence of a unitary political authority over them in the past. Some early scholars work on the Ibibio believed that the absence of traditions of origin meant that the Ibibio were a people of hear antiquity who could no longer remember an earlier home.5 Among the smaller Ekoi groups to the north and north-east of the Ibibio, Talbot express a general view that they had come from homes further north, for the site of each new torn is to the south of the former one.6 This view agrees clearly with the linguistic relation to groups in the Benue value and the suggestion that south-eastward movements from that area many have led to the spread of the Bantu languages into central and southern Africa. A scholar of local extraction has supported the view that most of the peoples of the Cross River valley relate how they migrated from somewhere north of the Cross River as a result of force from the Ankpa and that the Efik-Ibibio, Aro’s Ejagham, Jakur much have come from an area somewhere in the valley of the Benue.7 However, in recent times local historians have tended to trace the origins of peoples of the Cross River basin to the orient.8 This form is manifested in an official publication of the government of the former South-Eastern State of Nigeria, which derived all the people of the state from “Central and East Africa”.9
CHAPTER THREE
THE MILITARY OPTION IN THE NIGER DELTA CONFLICT RESOLUTION
The situation in Niger Delta has attracted the attention of both the Nigeria State and international community due to increase in militancy, killing, kidnapping and importantly the threat to the mainstay of Nigeria economy which is oil and gas industry. This level of insecurity in the region has left the Federal Government with military option from many other methods in addressing the state of violence in the region.
The first military action by the Nigeria government is the Umuechem massacre. Umuechem is one of the communities in Niger Delta that has witnessed brutal and murderous force of the Nigeria state over her own citizens. Unuechem is a host of one of the prominent companies prospecting for oil in the zone that is the Shell Petroleum Company. On one occasion the people of the town felt tiresome over Shell’s continued exploitation, use and abuse of their environment and had sought to negotiate with Shell Company on the way forward. They were unhappy that the Company was only after the oil while not bothering about them and the environment.
CHAPTER FOUR
THE AMNESTY PROGRAMME
The armed groups, many affiliated to the Niger Delta political organization, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, proliferated through out the oil producing states, particularly from early 2006 onwards. In January 2006, MEND declared war on the oil industry pending the resolution of long term political grievances relating to poverty and underdevelopment, the poor regulation of an environmentally polluting oil industry, and the alienation of local people from rights to land and resources in the Niger Delta region. Attacks on oil industry, infrastructure, the kidnapping of expatriate oil, oil company personnel and the illicit tapping and sale of crude oil became stocks in trade of armed militia, many with political as well as pecuniary objectives.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION
In the course of this research work, the researcher took a critical look at the Amnesty package as a panacea to the incessant Niger Delta crisis.
Oil in large quantity was first discovered in Oloibiri in 1958 and since then the region has continuously produce oil for the entire nation. One would have expected that such region so blessed with oil wealth that its streets would have been made with “Gold”, ironically this is not true because “the goose that lays the golden egg” is being denied of the eggs they lay.1
A critical examination of the data at the researchers disposal revealed that the Niger Delta people are being abandoned and subjected to lots of ecological and health problems as a result of the exploration taking place in the region. More saddening is the spate of under-development of infrastructural amenities that stares the region at the face now.2
Finally, the researcher advices that apart from wild attention and recognition the region has gained, rapid development of the region should be effected by the newly established Niger Delta Ministry.3
Also, strengthening the region while reducing the power of the federal and central government, that way, the regimes will give out their best towards fostering a more united and stronger Nigeria. Now so, much apathy, disunity, nepotism, corruption and greed. People do not give their best because there is no basis for such in a country where only the people in the corridors of power are comfortable.4
The amnesty package is a right step in the right direction but it should not end with mere unconditional pardon for militants but should extend to how to resolve the root causes of the Niger Delta problem. The government should be bold enough to take inventory of the background of militants to know what programme(s) suit them instead of publicizing the amnesty package.5
Finally, the issue of unity is the greatest challenge that is facing the people of the region. Because of the natural geographical settling of the area, compiled with the difficult terrain and the balkanization of the people, its been very difficult for them to recognize themselves as one people. This is not unconnected to the vastness of the area and the multiplicity of the ethnic nationalities therein.6
Clearly, good rehabilitation centre should be built for repentant militants to encourage a good integration processes into the society.
Consequently, the Niger Delta post-amnesty package should go beyond more monetary compensation because most of these militants have been exposed to large money as proceeds from bunkering and hostage takings.7
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books:
- Akinyele, R.T. Patriarch of Minority Activities in the Niger Delta. Lagos: University of Lagos, 2006.
- Alagoa, E.J. Alagoa, The small Brave City State: A History of Brass-Nembe in the Niger Delta. Ibadan, 1964.
- Boro, A.: The Twelve Day Revolution. Idodo Umeh: Benin City, 1982.
- Dokubo, A.M., “Niger Delta People in the Nigerian State”. The Argus, Vol. 3, No. 61. Nov. 9-11, 2004.
- Ikime, O. The Merchant Prince of the Niger Delta. Heinemann Educational Book. Ibadan, 1968.
- Imobigh, T.A. Conflict and instability in the Niger Delta. Spectrum Book, Ibadan, 2002.
- Morel, E.D., Nigeria: Its Peoples and Problems, 2nd edn. London, 1912.
- Okonta, I. and Douglas O. Ambush in the Nigeria. New York: Sterra Club Books, Random House, 2002.
- Osuntokun, A., The impact of Environmental Degradation on the rural economy of the Niger-Delta. Lagos: Frederick Foundation, 2000.
- Shedrack, G.B. Peace and Conflict studies in West Arica. Ibadan: Spectrum Book, 2006.
- Suberu, R., The Ethnic Minority Conflicts and Governance in Nigeria. Ibadan: Spectrum Book, 1996.
