ENCOUNTERS OF INSURGENT YOUTH ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE STATE IN THE OIL RICH NIGER DELTA REGION OF NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION

The Niger Delta has become an agitated, restive and conflict ridden region in Nigeria. What began as communal agitation for increased benefits from the several multinational oil companies operating in the region in the 1980s has blossomed into ethnic confrontations with the state as epitomized by the Ogoni and Ijaw crises. These crises have been hijacked by militant groups, which since 1997 have taken over control of a considerable number of oil installations and operations. That the frontiers of confrontation have been extended in the Niger Delta can be seen first by the generalization of violent seizures of oil installations in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states, and second by the engagement of other ethnic groups, such as Ikwere, Ijaw, Ogoni, Isoko and Urhobo, in the violence. The latter has had a significantly negative impact on economic growth and development in the region in particular and in Nigeria in general. In fact, the state of security in the region has deteriorated so much that in 1999 the Federal Government threatened to declare a state of emergency to allow for the employment of more radical and ad hoc methods for securing the peace and saving the country's embryonic democracy.1

That there are serious economic, social, political and environmental problems in the Niger Delta is not new. While the region provides the oil wealth used to develop the nation, it has been plagued by environmental degradation, pollution, destruction of local occupations and income sources, high levels of unemployment, poor economic infrastructures, and near total neglect by the Federal Government. Since Nigeria became an independent country in 1960, the Niger Delta has experienced nothing but exploitation and marginalization, as well as injustice, inequity and oppression. Citizens of this region are now demanding compensation from the Federal Government for the many years of neglect and from the multinational oil companies for the destruction of their ecosystem. The oil companies are being called upon to restore the environment to its natural state, and compensate the citizens for lost output, poor health, and other problems associated with the exploitation of oil and other environmental resources.

The level of frustration in the Delta Region is so high that even hitherto law-abiding citizens are gradually being seduced by militant groups violently seeking ways to change social, economic, and political conditions in the region. Although many citizens are aware that some of these groups are opportunistic and are pursuing purely private ends, there is still very little local opposition, especially since the activities of these militant groups are directed at the oil companies and the Federal Government, two entities now generally considered to be responsible for the dismal conditions in the Niger Delta. During the last two years conflicts have increased in both frequency and intensity. In addition, each subsequent incident has become more violent and the destruction of property more widespread. There have been brazen seizures of oil installations and equipment, kidnapping of staff of oil companies, and bold and direct challenges to institutionalized authority, including confrontation with security officers. The end result has been the militarization of the region. As Suleiman2 notes, the entire region is engulfed in a large-scale insurrection.

The militarization of the region is evidenced by the fact that oil installations and exploration activities have, for some time now, been guarded by soldiers and para-military police. Since October 1999, the increased threat to oil installations in the region has forced the Nigerian Navy to provide escorts to merchant ships and oil tankers, as well as provide patrols for oil installations.3 second, the Nigerian government, has since 1994, sent soldiers to secure the peace in several protesting communities. Since 1998, such military incursions into villages in the Delta Region have become increasingly violent, involving many civilian casualties. Unfortunately, military involvement, rather than stabilize the region and secure the peace, has actually exacerbated the problem as more citizens have joined the violent mobilization to improve participation levels of ethnic minorities and prevent their further marginalization. One of the most important consequences of the violent approach adopted by the Federal Government to secure the peace in the Delta has been the rise of militarized Youth Associations, most of which are staffed by restless school leavers determined to rid the region of exploitative and repressive foreigners, notably the multinational oil companies and a Federal Government that is apparently insensitive to the plight of the masses.

Granted, the militarization of the conflict was effected under the military dictatorship of Sani Abacha. However, since Nigeria's transition to democratic governance in 1999, the new civilian government of Obasanjo has not succeeded in securing the trust of the various ethnic groups in the Delta Region in order to resolve the conflict peacefully. Perhaps, more important is the fact that environmental degradation continues in the region and the people remain among the poorest and most deprived in the country, despite the continued extraction of millions of dollars worth of environmental resources from their lands. In addition, youth unemployment in the region is among the highest in the country, providing a fertile arena for the recruitment of young people into violent associations, all of which have become an important obstacle to the peace. In fact, it is these groups, which have been responsible for most of the violent seizures of property and persons in the region in recent times.4