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

In parallel with other situations discussed in this report, the Kalare boys have proven
easy prey for politicians who offer them small amounts of money, drugs, alcohol, and
weapons in exchange for engaging in acts of intimidation and assault or simply to
accompany their campaigns in a demonstration of muscle. An activist who works to
rehabilitate ex-Kalare youth who have turned away from violence and crime told
Human Rights Watch that “they take drugs, they are out of their minds, but that is
what government wants. [Politicians], g[o] to their temples [meeting places] and giv[e]
them money, motorbikes, alcohol.” 324
Since 2003 Gombe’s Kalare gangs have committed not only politically related crimes
but also other forms of violent abuses with complete impunity. Law enforcement
agencies have made no meaningful attempt to rein them in. As one senior civil
servant put it: “they are an authority unto themselves, they do what they want in
Gombe.” 325 From politically motivated attacks in 2003, their activities have
degenerated into assault, rape, harassment, and extortion of ordinary civilians
alongside their continuing political role, most notably during the election period of
2007. Many Kalare youth are armed, most commonly with machetes, clubs and
similar weaponry.
The Gombe Elders Forum, an association of respected former state and federal
government ministers, doctors, religious figures, and civil servants, commissioned
research by local doctors into the scale of the human rights impact of the Kalare on
their state and published their findings in the national press. 326 They allege that
between December 2003 and April 2007, at least 115 people were killed and scores
more injured as a result of Kalare violence in Gombe state. It is not clear how many of
the dead were innocent bystanders as opposed to participants in fighting between
rival gangs or political factions. 327
324 Activist [name withheld], Interview with Human Rights Watch, April 20, 2007.
325 Senior Civil Servant in Gombe State Government, [name withheld], interview with Human Rights Watch, Gombe town, April
20, 2007.
326 See Leadership, February 7, 2007, data also on file with Human Rights Watch.
327 The report also claimed that between December 2003 and December 2006, the bodies of 60 people killed by Kalare
violence were brought to Gombe Specialist Hospital. In an interview with Human Rights Watch, the Director of the Specialist
Hospital disputed that figure but declined to provide an alternative estimate. Human Rights Watch interview with Dr. James
Maadi, Medical Director, Gombe Specialist Hospital, April 24, 2007.
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