Niger Delta Weekly Update for October 17-23, 2021

This edition of the weekly update spotlights the herder-farmer conflict in the Niger Delta with a focus on the resurgence of clashes between farmers and herders in Rivers State. According to data (see map below), resource conflicts caused more than 100 fatalities in Rivers State between January 2018 and September 2021. Recent incidents indicate a resurgence of clashes between herders and farmers over access to land for farming and grazing in the State. In June, 2021, for example, a 26-year old man was reportedly killed during a clash between herders and farmers in Egbeda town, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA. Separately, in June, armed herdsmen reportedly trespassed on farmlands to graze their cattle, destroyed crops, and forced residents to abandon their farms across several communities in Khana and Eleme LGAs. More recently, on October 14, 2021, scores of women protested against the alleged invasion of their farmlands by herdsmen in Obirikom community, Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni LGA. Several incidents of kidnapping, sexual violence and killings have been reported following the resurgence of the conflict.