ConflictBarometer_2016

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
in years before, violence between pastoralists and farmers
concentrated in the Nigerian middle-belt, in particular in Benue,
Taraba, Kaduna, Adamawa and Plateau, but also affected
several southern states such as as Ektiti, Enugu, Ondo, Rivers,
Anambra and Abia. Desertification in the Sahel reduced fertile
ground, and farmers appealed to their right to use their
ancestor's farmland, while Fulani nomads claimed the areas
as grazing land for their cattle.
Due to increasing violence between farmers and pastoralists
in Nigeria's Middle Belt since 2009, government established
a Special Task Force (STF) in Plateau State to observe the
situation and interfere if necessary. Furthermore, in previous
years, many communities had formed vigilante groups to
defend their farmland or livestock, but also conducted retaliatory
attacks, which exacerbated hostilities.
Throughout January, approx. 39 farmers and other villagers
were killed by herdsmen in attacks on villages in the states
Nasarawa, Enugu, Adamawa, and Benue, while three Fulani
herdsmen were killed by cattle rustlers in Taraba state. On
February 6, more than 30 Fulani gunmen attacked communities
in Buruku Local Government Area (LGA), Benue, thereby
killing ten farmers. Approx. 300 fled the area as the villages
were seized and houses, food, and farmland were burnt down.
In the following weeks, Fulani herdsmen attacked communities
in the states Benue, Enugu, Anambra, and Taraba with
guns and machetes, killing approx. 15 farmers and destroying
several houses.
In the most fatal attacks, Fulani herdsmen raided several communities
in Agatu LGA, Benue, from February 22 to 27. Approx.
300 inhabitants were killed in the coordinated attacks
and 7,000 fled the area as the villages were destroyed.
Between March 8 and 17, Fulani herdsmen launched three
attacks on communities in Benue and killed 29 farmers with
guns and machetes. Moreover, on March 23, Tiv farmers killed
a Hausa and a Fulani man in Ibi LGA, Taraba. In the following
week, Fulani herdsmen attacked Tiv farmers in Butu village,
Taraba, injuring one. Three days later, herdsmen killed twelve
in a reprisal attack for the theft of their cattle in Ohali-Elu,
Rivers State.
On April 2, Fulani herdsmen attacked a farm in the town of
Akure, Ondo State, killing one security guard. On April 13,
the farmers retaliated by killing a Fulani man in Irala-Mokin,
Ondo. In a series of attacks throughout April, Fulani herdsmen
raided villages in Benue, Delta, and Taraba, killing up to 56
farmers. For instance, on April 12, approx. 20 Fulani herdsmen
attacked Gashaka and Bali LGAs in Taraba, killing up to
45 and destroying several houses. Furthermore, 24 farmers
and herdsmen died in clashes between several communities
in Obubra LGA, Cross River State, on April 24, after Fulani
herdsmen had uprooted seedlings planted by Ukpe farmers.
More than 500 Fulani herdsmen killed approx. 40 farmers in
seven attacks in Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani LGA, Enugu, on April 25.
Inhabitants fled the area and ten houses as well as a church
were destroyed.
On May 1, Agatu farmers killed 20 Fulani herdsmen and 83
cows in Adayi and Loko areas in Nasarawa State. Throughout
May, Fulani gunmen attacked communities in Taraba, Benue,
Ekiti, and Kaduna. 28 farmers were killed and hundreds fled.
On May 30, more than 100 herdsmen attacked Logo LGA, Benue,
killing at least ten farmers and burning down several
houses.
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Throughout June, in a series of four attacks, Fulani herdsmen
killed over 44 Tiv farmers in Benue, using guns and AK-47 rifles.
On June 26, herdsmen attacked Hwak-Kwata, Jos South
LGA and Hoss, Riyom LGA, Plateau, killing 22 and injuring six.
In the first two weeks of July, herdsmen attacked approx. ten
LGAs in Benue, killing a total of 81 people. On July 8, a clash
between Fulani pastoralists and Gbagyi farmers in Bara-Kuta,
Bosso LGA, Niger State, led to the death of four people and the
displacement of 250. In the following weeks, Fulani herdsmen
attacked two communities in Logo LGA, Benue, killing
19 farmers and burning down houses and farmland. A traditional
ruler and three others were killed by Fulani herdsmen
in Mangu, Bokkos LGA, Plateau State, on July 18.
In August, the community Godogodo in Jema LGA, Kaduna,
was attacked by Fulani herdsmen three times. They killed
20 farmers and burned down farms. On August 1, Fulani
clashed with farmers in Kodomun, Adamawa, killing 30 people.
Approx. 50 Fulani herdsmen raided a community in
Nikanu-West LGA, Enugu, killing one and injuring four others
with machetes on August 25. Moreover, they raped women,
pillaged property, and took over farms. Two days later, the
community of Dinya in Gassol LGA, Taraba, was attacked by
Fulani pastoralists and seven people were injured.
Fulani herders attacked Godogodo another two times in
September, killing six farmers, injuring six others, and burning
down several houses. In reprisal for the theft of 300 cows
by Aku farmers, herdsmen killed one villager and kidnapped
two others on September 8, in Aku, Igbo-Etiti LGA, Enugu.
On October 15 and 16, Fulani pastoralists launched another
attack on Godogodo, killing 40 farmers. In response, several
farmers attacked a bus in Jema, killing 14 Fulani herdsmen,
the next day.
In November, pastoralists raided several communities in
Adamawa, Abia, and Katsina, killing nine farmers, injuring
eleven others, and destroying their farms. Hundreds of herdsmen
attacked Kauru LGA, Kaduna, on November 13, killing 43
farmers and setting four villages ablaze.
In early December, Fulani herders attacked communities in
Abia and in the capital Abuja, killing one farmer, injuring
scores of others, and destroying crops. After Fulani herders
had found two of their own dead on December 17, they attacked
Tiv farmers in Dan-Anacha, Gassol LGA, Taraba, killing
42 and displacing 10,000.
sas
NIGERIA (IJAW GROUPS / NIGER DELTA)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 1997
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
Niger Delta Avengers, various Ijaw
groups, MEND, IPOB vs. government,
International Oil Companies in the
Niger Delta
autonomy, resources
The violent conflict over resources and the autonomy of the
Niger Delta between numerous militias including the newly
emerged Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) as well as several ethnic
Ijaw groups, on the one hand, and the government, on
the other, continued. Throughout the year, several mili-