Contending Issues in the Niger Delta Crisis of Nigeria - Journal of ...

Dr. Esekumemu V. Clark
that would lead to a reduction of tensions in these places. Indeed, it
will lead to confidence building measures, mutual trust, conflict
transformation and for a lasting peace between the Ijaw and Itsekiri,
Ilaje, etc. who have had serious clashes in the past years over local
government issues, land and resources, among others. In addition,
the Nigerian state must and should now begin to promote the
principle of peaceful coexistence between the different ethnic and
religious groups in order to put an end to the ongoing ethnic and
religious conflicts which could seriously lead to the fragmentation of
the country.
The Declaration spells out that the security forces had been
responsible for all kinds of brutalities, including crimes as well as
aiding and abetting the oil companies in their destruction of Ijawland
through oil and gas exploration and production activities. Actually, to
protect these oil companies the security forces have and still are using
extrajuridicial methods leading to the killing of innocent civilians in
the Niger Delta. The Nigerian authorities had applied the law of rule
instead of the rule of law in dealing with local communities’ issues
concerning poverty, human rights and sustainable development. The
oil companies have accused local communities of sabotages of oil
installations, including damages to oil pipelines. It has been argued
that the multinational oil corporations, especially Shell had abused
the ineffective Nigerian environmental legislation regarding oil and gas
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