UCDP

General information

Part of Conflict: Nigeria: Niger Delta

Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 2004-07-31
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: In July 2004 Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, the leader of NDPVF, declared an “armed struggle” against the Federal Government and Rivers State Governor Peter Odili.

Asari built up NDPVF in 2004. When Asari became president of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) in 2001 he demanded “Resource Control and Self Determination By Every Means Necessary”, signalling his readiness to do battle with the Nigerian State.

27 September, 2004 Asari threated to launch a war against the federal government. He stated that the NDPVF was fighting for the “self-determination” of the Ijaw people in the Niger Delta and their right to control – or at least benefit from – the vast oil resourses near their homes.

Date of first use of armed force: 2004-06-05
Comment on date of first use of armed force: In battle between the government and Ijaw militants (NDPVF) in "Operation Ogbarki" at least 50 people died. A Nigerian military spokesman, however, denied that there were any casualities. Nigerian troops reportedly raided the town of Obakiri near Port Harcourt in southeastern Nigeria using gunboats, helicopters and ground troops. The soldiers rescued kidnapped colleagues in the Rivers State and clashed with militamen.
First Battle Related Death: 2004-06-04
Comment on First Battle Related Death: In battle between the government and Ijaw militants (NDPVF) in "Operation Ogbarki" at least 50 people died. A Nigerian military spokesman, however, denied that there were any casualities. Nigerian troops reportedly raided the town of Obakiri near Port Harcourt in southeastern Nigeria using gunboats, helicopters and ground troops. The soldiers rescued kidnapped colleagues in the Rivers State and clashed with militamen.

Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 2004-06-04
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: In battle between the government and Ijaw militants (NDPVF) in "Operation Ogbarki" at least 50 people died. A Nigerian military spokesman, however, denied that there were any casualities. Nigerian troops reportedly raided the town of Obakiri near Port Harcourt in southeastern Nigeria using gunboats, helicopters and ground troops. The soldiers rescued kidnapped colleagues in the Rivers State and clashed with militamen.

Conflict issues

Conflict Goal Issues: The Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF) was an Ijaw separatist rebel group fighting against the government of Nigeria. The group was created by its leader Mujahid Dokubo-Asari in 2004 and aimed to establish independence and self-determination for people of the Ijaw ethnic group and remove Nigerian “occupational forces” from its territory. During the year of its establishment, the NDPVF stated several conflict goal issues. The group called for the ousting of the local government of the Rivers state of Nigeria and to hold a referendum for the Niger delta people to determine their future. The group also called for the establishment of a federal Nigerian state to allow for increased regional autonomy for ethnic communities and for the establishment of an independent state for the Ijaw ethnic group. The NDPVF also stated its intentions to protect the civil-, cultural-, and language rights of the Ijaw people, and enable them to fulfill their basic needs through economic reform. The group also accused the government of electoral fraud. Finally, the NDPVF heavily emphasized the issue of revenues from natural resources, stating that they should belong to the Ijaw people, and calling for constitutional reform to allow for Ijaw language and cultural traditions to be practiced.

As the conflict progressed, issues of autonomy and natural resource revenue were reemphasized, maintaining that the Ijaw people should be granted autonomous control over their region and of their natural resources. The NDPVF also called for the “dissolution of the Nigerian state”.

The main conflict goal issues of the NDPVF were for the Ijaw people to be granted autonomous control over their region and for revenues from natural resources to benefit the local people. These issues were stated in both coded years of conflict and were heavily emphasized to the point that they influenced many of the group’s other issues.

Conflict Dynamics Issues: In 2004, the NDPVF stated several conflict dynamics issues. The group accused the government of collective targeting against Ijaw people and of planning to commit a genocide against the Ijaw, also stating that the Nigerian army had massacred 17 civilians in a village and of military misconduct in destruction, looting, and sexual crimes. The group also called for the removal of foreign presence and military intervention, which all referenced the presence of Nigerian occupants and armed forces in Ijaw territory. The group also called upon international oil companies and countries to stop purchasing oil produced in Ijaw territories, stating that they would “be seen as a collaborator and an enemy and will be targeted”. Finally, the NDPVF called for the return of Ijaw civilians who had been forced to flee following their villages being destroyed from fighting.

In the following year, the group reemphasized its calls for foreign settlers to be removed and also called for the release of the group’s leader from prison. No main issues were interpreted for the NDPVF as no particular issues were particularly heavily emphasized.

Conflict Resolution Issues: During the first year of its existence, the NDPVF expressed several conflict resolution issues, calling for ceasefires and negotiations to be held and implemented, for compensation to civilians who became victims of the fighting, for national dialogue to be promoted, and for negotiations to include the issue of Ijaw independence. The group also called for the Nigerian government to recognize its fault in initiating the conflict and raised issues regarding planned demilitarization of its forces.

In the second year of conflict, the issue of promoting national dialogue was reemphasized by the group, although it was not emphasized heavily enough to be considered central to the group, which is why no main issue was interpreted.

Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: Autonomy, Basic needs, Civil rights, Constitutional issues, CPS: Other/undefined system, Cultural rights, Economic reforms, Electoral fraud, Federalism, Independence, Language rights, Oust local executive, Protection of natural resources/the environment, Referendum, Revenues from natural resources

Conflict Dynamics Issues: Atrocities and abuses, Collective targeting: ethnic, DFI: Removal of foreigners, DFI: Withdrawal of financial support, DFI: Withdrawal of military intervention/foreign forces, Military conduct, Release of prisoners, Return of refugees/IDPs

Conflict Resolution Issues: Call for ceasefire, Call for implementation/abiding to ceasefire, Call for negotiations, Compensation/restoration, DDR issues, National dialogue, Peace agreement implementation, Recognition of wrongdoing, Structure of negotiations

Annual information

This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.

2004

Estimated Fatalities
High	137
Best	67
Low	67

Secondary Warring Support:

Side A (Government of Nigeria): n/a

Side B (NDPVF): n/a

2009

Estimated Fatalities
High	6
Best	0
Low	0

Secondary Warring Support:

Side A (Government of Nigeria): n/a

Side B (NDPVF): n/a

Dyad Archive

This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.

2004 Dyad Archive

Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiations: Truce was reached on 29 September between the Niger Delta milita and the federal government of Nigeria after talks between the milita leader Asari and President Olusegun Obasanjo

Victory: NO

Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Ceasefire
Date of termination: 2004-09-29
Comment on Termination: Truce was reached in Abuja on 29 September between the Niger Delta milita and the federal government of Nigeria after talks between the milita leader Asari and President Olusegun Obasanjo.

2009 Dyad Archive

Negotiations: NO