Criminal Politics: Violence, “Godfathers” and Corruption in Nigeria

quickly restored after a street battle that reportedly saw dozens of gang members
killed, including many killed by attack helicopter. The toll in lives exacted by the
fighting was heavy: local civil society groups reported that dozens of innocent
bystanders were killed or wounded along with unknown numbers of gang members.
One MSF-run trauma center in Port Harcourt reported treating 72 gunshot wounds in
July 2007—then its worst month on record—followed by 71 further gunshot victims
during the first two weeks of August alone. 300
Most of the wounded treated at the MSF trauma center were suffering from highvelocity
gunshot wounds and most reported having been fired on at random by
marauding gang members or caught in the crossfire between rival gangs. 301 Days
after the MSF’s numbers above were compiled, the military intervened in fighting
that yielded still further casualties. 302 Local newspapers reported roughly 40 dead
during a day of heavy fighting between gangs and military forces in the densely
populated confines of Port Harcourt. 303 Local civil society activists estimated that the
true number was significantly higher. 304 A military spokesperson told Human Rights
Watch that he could not offer any estimate of casualties on any side. 305
Box 6: A Gang Leader Discusses his Role in Politics
The following is drawn from the testimony of a gang leader in Port Harcourt who was
interviewed by Human Rights Watch on the eve of the 2007 elections. He, along with
other youth who told HRW that they had worked to rig the 2003 elections, blamed
broken promises on the part of the state government for much of the violence in
which they had been involved:
300 Doctors Without Borders, “Field News: MSF Trauma Center Admits 71 Over Two Weeks in Port Harcourt, Nigeria,” August 13,
2007, http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/2007/08-14-2007.cfm (accessed August 21, 2007).
301 Ibid.
302 Ibid.
303 Voice of America, “Tenuous Calm Returns to Nigerian Oil City After Deadly Battles,” August 19, 2007,
http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-08-19-voa16.cfm (accessed August 21, 2007).
304 Human Rights Watch telephone interviews, Port Harcourt, August 21, 2007.
305 Human Rights Watch telephone interview with military spokesperson, Port Harcourt, August 21, 2007.
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Human Rights Watch October 2007