Militant Groups in Nigeria
Posted March 10th, 2009
Nigeria is a West African country that is the size of Texas with a population of about 150 million. Beyond the political lines that divide the country into states, there are many different ethnic and religious lines as well. Some of the groups formed out of these divisions compete with one another over territory and wealth in the form of ransoms from kidnapping and stolen oil, especially around the delta. Oil is stolen primarily by way of illegally installed valves in oil pipe lines, which takes the skills of someone who might have originally worked in an oil company. The oil is then taken from the valves and transported onto tankers whose drivers use fake documents to altar the size of their original load. Many of the segregated militias participate in this type of oil theft.
According to a recent presentation by American sociologist Dr. Judy Asuni at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC, the militant groups in oil rich Nigeria are much like gangs here in the United States. They have territories and alliances. Towns that ally themselves with a certain militia are protected by that militia, so there is already an incentive to keep a militia running. Individuals join for a number of reasons – children without family, children who want to see their families and themselves protected, and children who simply want to be wealthy. It is not false to say that many of these boys join militias out of need.Unfortunately, the problem is much bigger than just warring gangs. Many of the heads of the militia groups are also key political figures who have an incredible amount of political influence.
While conducting research in Nigeria, Dr. Asuni also served as a third party representative in negotiating ransoms. When asked what she thought was the best way to create peace in the Niger Delta, her answer was third party mediators – get them to stop shooting and start talking. While this is a vital step in creating peace, it is imperative that the U.S. adopt a more responsible policy in the region to quell initial outbursts of violence. The role of American-based oil companies in destabilizing the Delta cannot be ignored, nor can the transfer of small arms and light weapons to irresponsible or unaccountable African armies.
AFJN continues to track events in the oil-rich Delta, and is keeping a close eye on U.S. military operations in the region. Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua has voiced support for AFRICOM’s programs on the continent, though he received a strong backlash from civil society. To promote peace among Nigeria’s warring factions, the U.S. would be well-advised to end its military operations and instead work diplomatically with the Nigerian government to set controls on the oil industry.
Written by Jason Bongiovanni
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
