Niger Delta Weekly Update for August 15-21, 2021

This weekly update highlights communal conflict in the Niger Delta with a focus on communal conflict over indigenous land ownership in Edo State. Conflict over indigenous land ownership between the Bini, Itsekiri and Ijaw ethnic groups has been a major cause of lethal violence and communal instability in Edo State. According to data (see map below), land related communal conflicts caused over 140 fatalities in Edo State between January 2017 and June 2021. Recent incidents indicate growing tensions between ethnic groups over indigenous land ownership dis-putes in the State. In March 2020, for example, two persons were reportedly killed and several others injured during clashes between Itsekiri and Bini youths over a land dispute in Ologbo community, Ikpoba-Okha LGA. More recently, on August 6, 2021, a resident was reportedly killed, another injured, and several houses and livestock destroyed during a clash over indigenous land claims between the Ijaw and Bini ethnic groups in Ikoro and Obazuwa communities, Ovia North East LGA. The incident has intensified communal tensions in the area, raising fear of reprisals.