Violence in Nigeria
ASC-075287668-3743-01
ASC-075287668-3743-01
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Patterns and trend analysis of<br />
violence <strong>in</strong> oil production and<br />
oil distribution <strong>in</strong> <strong>Nigeria</strong><br />
(2006-2014)<br />
2<br />
Adeola Adams<br />
Abstract<br />
Most studies on oil-related violence <strong>in</strong> <strong>Nigeria</strong> have unwitt<strong>in</strong>gly concentrated<br />
research efforts on oil production <strong>in</strong> the Niger Delta region. An attempt is made<br />
<strong>in</strong> this paper to demonstrate that oil distribution contributes more to fatality <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>Nigeria</strong> than oil production. Us<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>Nigeria</strong> Watch database as the primary<br />
source of data, the paper asserts that although the aggregate death figures attributed<br />
to the oil sector are lower than cases like road accidents, crime, and<br />
politically-cum-religiously motivated kill<strong>in</strong>gs, the number of violent deaths<br />
recorded between June 2006 and May 2014 <strong>in</strong> relation to oil distribution is triple<br />
the number related to oil production. While oil distribution accounted for<br />
4,575 deaths, oil production events led to 1,550 deaths; therefore, oil distribution<br />
has a far more lethal impact on the country than oil distribution. Apart<br />
from Kebbi and Zamfara, all the states of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n Federation have witnessed<br />
at least one fatal <strong>in</strong>cidence from oil distribution, whereas oil production<br />
cases occur ma<strong>in</strong>ly <strong>in</strong> Anambra, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Imo.<br />
The reasons are not difficult to understand: oil production is restricted to a few<br />
states <strong>in</strong> the Niger Delta area, while oil distribution activities cover the whole<br />
nation. Moreover, oil production deals essentially with crude oil, which is less<br />
flammable than the highly <strong>in</strong>flammable ref<strong>in</strong>ed products <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> oil distribution.<br />
In addition, oil distribution has a strong l<strong>in</strong>k with road accidents, which<br />
are rated as one of the ma<strong>in</strong> contributors to fatalities <strong>in</strong> <strong>Nigeria</strong>. In the f<strong>in</strong>al<br />
analysis, to understand the pattern and dynamics of fatalities <strong>in</strong> the oil sector,<br />
more research efforts need to be devoted to oil distribution.<br />
Introduction<br />
On 26 December 2006, a pipel<strong>in</strong>e explosion at Abule-Egba <strong>in</strong> Agege LGA <strong>in</strong><br />
Lagos claimed the lives of more than 600 persons. In a related development, a<br />
series of deadly clashes between the Jo<strong>in</strong>t Task Force (JTF) and militants <strong>in</strong> War-