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

Chapter X: The Politics of Interventionist Policies and the Niger Delta Crisis
in Nigeria: Impacts and Challenges
development of the region. There is the persistent conflict between
local communities and security, counterinsurgency and surveillance
forces, which has led to many deaths, as in the widely publicized
military invasion of Odi in 1999. Indeed, many communities in the
Niger Delta still live under heavy military surveillance such as
‘Operation Hakuri II’ and ‘Operation Restore Hope’.( Ibeanu, 2006 ).
This situation has created a highly volatile creeks of the western Delta
particularly in Delta State.
The trajectory of inter and intra-communal conflicts in the Niger
Delta is also perceived as a threat to peace and sustainable
development in the region. Example of such conflicts are the Ijaw-
Ilaje conflict, the Ogoni-Andoni conflict, the Ogoni-Okrika conflict, the
internecine conflict between the two Ijaw villages of Bassambiri and
Ogbolomabiri in Nembe and the recurrent conflicts between the
Ijaws, Urhobos and Itsekiris over the ownership of Warri. This
trajectory of conflict is often linked with political conflicts. Contest for
political power, which is expected to be free and fair, has become a
major source of violent conflict in the Niger Delta. A good illustration
is the spate of violent conflicts that engulfed the Niger Delta following
the 2003 elections, which are believed to be linked to young gangs
recruited and armed by politicians to fight their political opponents
during the polls. This political conflict resulted in a spate of
assassinations of important political figures of Niger Delta origin. They
include Dr. Marshall Harry and Chief A.K. Dikibo.
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