THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA 2005 - UNDP Nigeria ...

acking different groups according to where their interest lies. The federal government responded byinstructing the police to restore sanity to the embattled commercial city.The genesis of the crisis dates back to the era of Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju who was Governor ofAnambra State between 1999 and 2003. Prior to Mbadinuju’s administration, the motor parks in thestate were administered by the NURTW, which also controls most of the motor parks in Nigeria. Early inthe administration of Mbadinuju, Chief Nweke Ogbodu, who was a leader of NURTW was assassinatedby unknown gunmen. It was suspected that his killing was connected with the struggle to control thelucrative motor parks in the state. The assassination of Chief Nweke created an opportunity for the rivalNARTO to move in. They found an ally in some politicians in the state notably Chief Chris Uba whoconvinced the governor to cede the parks to NARTO. It was alleged that huge sums of money runninginto millions of naira, changed hands between some powerful individuals in the state and top officials ofthe Mbadinuju administration.Having secured the right to manage the parks and mindful of dangers posed by rival groups likeNURTW, and desirous of increasing its fund drive, NARTO set about consolidating its hold on the motorparks by recruiting and arming thugs and unemployed youths in the state. This was the situation beforeChris Ngige succeeded Mbadinuju as Governor of Anambra State in May 2003.During the tenure of Chief Chris Ngige, NARTO became increasingly drawn into the political crises inAnambra state.(Insert Foot note, explaining power struggle and Chris Uba) With it’s Chief Patron ChrisUba, being a major actor in the Anambra crises, it was only natural that NARTO would take sides withhim.Thus during the November 2004 invasion of Anambra State Government House, many blamed NARTOfor carrying out the burning and looting on behalf of some disgruntled politicians in Anambra state. Wellaware of NARTO's growing threat to his administration, Chief Chris Ngige, whose security details hadbeen withdrawn by the Federal Government (insert footnote on ruling of Justice Egbo Egbo), resortedto building alternative alliances and power base. Aware of the growing popularity of MASSOB,Governor Ngige wooed the Organisation and it now assumed the role of providing the Governorprotection and security. Meanwhile MASSOB, a supposedly non­violent self­determination groupgradually became infiltrated by armed gangs leading to the formation of an armed wing known as theBiafra Commandos (BCOM).Well aware of the treat posed by NARTO, whose allegiance lay with Chief Uba, his political adversary,Chief Ngige made many attempts to dislodge NARTO from the motor parks with the help of MASSOB.NARTO successfully resisted those moves with the active support of the police. It is alleged that in theevening of January 5, 2006, Anambra State officials reportedly sent a 30 man armed vigilanteoperatives to join forces with BCOM militants to fight NARTO. Several witnesses said that the policewere drafted in the parks to provide security to NARTO operatives. One journalist described thescenario thus” It was an ugly sight. Several policemen were seen loitering atthe premises of NARTO and major motor parks in the state.67