Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABUJA630
2007-03-30 15:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
A SUMMARY OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ABUJA 000630
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NI ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: A SUMMARY OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE
ABUJA 00000630 001.2 OF 004
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ABUJA 000630
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NI ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: A SUMMARY OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE
ABUJA 00000630 001.2 OF 004
1. (SBU) Political violence has increased over the past
several months and many fear this trend will only worsen
before the April elections. The driving force is a desire to
capture power and control of state resources at all costs.
Nigeria,s rampant corruption and patronage-based system
support a winner-take-all attitude with no room for
opposition or defeat. Increased oil revenues have only
served to raise the stakes and the lesson of 2003 that the
road to victory is through violence and rigging has been
learned well by all parties. Violence occurs at federal,
state and local levels, as well as within political parties.
Incumbents use state resources such as the police or arm
groups of &thugs8 to disrupt opposition campaign activities
while opposition groups deploy their own arsenals to confront
the ruling party by any means necessary. Most cases of
electoral violence are never fully investigated or prosecuted.
2. (SBU) COMMENT. There is little discussion of what happens
to these armed groups when the elections are over and they
are no longer needed by their political godfathers. Nowhere
has this played out more clearly than in the fragile Niger
Delta region, where militias armed to carry out political
violence in the lead up to the 2003 elections have moved on
to economic violence and sabotage aimed at critical oil and
gas infrastructure and more recently to kidnapping of foreign
oil workers. END COMMENT.
--------------
RECENT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE
--------------
3. (SBU) Statistics on political violence are difficult at
best. Even NGO groups within Nigeria cannot agree on what
constitutes political violence and, hence, how many such
incidents have occurred recently. The NGO Nigerian Alliance
for Peaceful Elections (NAPE) maintains it has recorded 77
cases (51 confirmed) of kidnapping, killings and clashes of
supporters in Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Rivers and Delta
States. The South Africa-based Institute for Democracy
recently claimed at a workshop in Abuja that as many as 280
people have been killed in Nigeria over the last 2 months.
Below is a list of recent incidents compiled by Post, dating
back to December 2006. Not all incidents have been
confirmed. Most, but not all, were reported in the press.
March 23, 2007
A group of youths threw stones at PDP presidential candidate
Umaru Yar'Adua's campaign team motorcade at an intersection
in Zaria, shouting "We don't want you." Yar'Adua was forced
to cancel his courtesy call on the Emir of Zaria and instead
proceeded directly to his next campaign stop in Kano.
Several vehicles were damaged. No injuries were reported.
March 21, 2007
Ekiyor Welson, Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State
Governor and PDP Vice Presidential candidate Goodluck
Jonathan, allegedly ordered security agents to shoot news
correspondent George Oraeki for writing a story on how State
funds were diverted to the Yar,Adua/Goodluck campaign. The
security agents refused and Oraeki was released unharmed.
March 20, 2007
DPP supporters in Gombe stormed a Magistrate Court with
knives, machetes and guns, forcibly freeing DPP gubernatorial
candidate Abubakar Habu Hashidu and wounding the presiding
judge. Hashidu was arrested on March 18 (see below).
March 19, 2007
An AC leader in Edo State was seriously beaten and three
others injured by suspected PDP thugs for organizing a rally
in support of LP gubernatorial candidate Adams Oshiomhole.
March 18, 2007
A clash between PDP and AC supporters left ten dead and 30
ABUJA 00000630 002.2 OF 004
homes burned in Benue State.
Police arrested Gombe State DPP gubernatorial candidate and
former state governor Abubakar Habu Hashidu and 14 supporters
for allegedly inciting a riot in Gombe. Hashidu and his
supporters maintain they were defending themselves against an
attack by a group calling itself Yan Kalare (NOTE: Yan
Kalare is widely believed to be a PDP-supported group).
The convoy of former minister and Labor Party candidate
Olusegun Mimiko was ambushed in Ondo state. There were no
injuries, but several cars were damaged. Mimiko and his
supporters blame PDP Governor Segun Agagu.
March 17, 2007
The motorcade carrying Hajiya Maimuna Aliero, wife of PDP
Governor Adamu Aliero of Kebbi State, was attacked by thugs
while campaigning in the Zuru local government area of the
state. No injuries were reported.
March 15, 2007
ANPP Senatorial candidate Haijiya Halima Alfa was attacked
near Ankpa, Kogi State by a group of thugs. Two ANPP
supporters were reportedly killed and four others injured.
March 11, 2007
Gunmen attacked an AC rally in Lagos State. Two people were
reportedly killed. (NOTE: This report remains unconfirmed.)
March 10, 2007
Groups affiliated with the PDP and DPP went on a 48-hour
vandalism spree in Sokoto, razing party offices and
destroying vehicles belonging to both parties. Several
injuries were reported. Police responded by banning all
political rallies in the state.
At least 4 people died and others were critically injured
when fighting broke out between PDP and ANPP supporters
Abeokuta, Ogun State (the home town of President Obasanjo).
The clash allegedly started when PDP supporters stopped the
movement of ANPP vehicles. Several vehicles belonging to
ANPP supporters were destroyed. Later, ANPP gubernatorial
flag bearer Senator Ibikunle Amosun was arrested and detained
for inciting the violence.
At least two people died and an unknown number were injured
when thugs carrying PDP placards attacked supporters of ANPP
candidate Buhari in Enugu. According to one eyewitness, at
least ten cars were destroyed and the thugs, with police
standing watch, continued firing weapons into the house of a
Buhari organizer where members of the group had taken refuge
for over an hour.
March 6, 2007
Taofiki Onigboho was assassinated by suspected thugs at his
residence in Ibadan. Onigboho is related to Sunday Igboho, a
suspected thug of Governor Rasheed Ladoja who is wanted by
police in connection with the February 3 Akure violence (see
below).
March 5, 2007
A report from Gombe maintained there was a clash between PDP
and ANPP supporters. Another version claimed armed policemen
attached to ANPP governorship candidate Jamilu Isiaku Gwamma
allegedly opened fire on PDP supporters at Tumu, injuring
Governor Danjuma Goje,s personal assistant.
March 4, 2007
Ten people were reportedly killed in several days of clashes
between rival gangs in Port Harcourt. The clashes are
believed to be evidence of the groups jockeying for position
ahead of the elections.
ABUJA 00000630 003.2 OF 004
February 12, 2007
At least 35 people were killed during seven days of clashes
in the Ogoni region of Rivers state where two of Governor
Peter Odili's associates were fighting over political control
of the area.
February 5, 2007
Gunmen attacked Vice President Atiku,s political associate
and chairman of the AC Steering Committee, Dr. Yakubu
Abdallah, in the United Kingdom. Abdallah,s security guard
and driver were killed.
February 4, 2007
Skirmishes occurred in Ogbomosho, Oyo State spreading to
other parts of the town. Fighting began when a Nigerian
Union of Road and Transport Workers leader loyal to former
governor Alao-Akala attacked supporters of Governor Ladoja.
February 3, 2007
Fighting broke out at a PDP rally in Akure, Oyo State between
supporters of Governor Ladoja and his former deputy,
Alao-Akala. The rally, which was attended by President
Obasanjo, confirmed Alao-Akala as the PDP gubernatorial
candidate. Two people were reportedly killed and several
others injured.
An ANPP party agent was killed in Iree, Osun State by
suspected PDP thugs who allegedly removed ballot boxes and
voters' lists during a bye-election for House of
Representatives in Ward 9. In Ward 10, two female INEC
employees were stripped naked and beaten to a coma.
The federal government deployed soldiers to Akure, Ondo State
to quell a major fracas between supporters of PDP and Labor
Party (LP). Two people were reportedly killed.
February 2, 2007
PDP and PPA supporters attacked each other in Aba, Abia
State. Several injuries were reported and vehicles and
property destroyed.
PDP chieftain Lawson Onokpasa of Delta State was murdered at
his residence by unknown gunmen.
February 1, 2007
Inspector General of Police Sunday Ehindero told the press
that the Nigeria Police impounded 7 trailer-loads of arms and
ammunition in Lagos suspected to have been smuggled into
Nigeria by &desperate politicians.8
January 18, 2007
Two PDP supporters died following an intra-party clash in
Asaba, Delta State. The fighting occurred during a
reconciliatory meeting of PDP stakeholders.
January 6, 2007
Suspected arson caused significant damage in the corporate
headquarters of Thisday, a leading Nigerian newspaper.
December 27, 2006
Mr. Godwin Agbroko, editor and columnist of Thisday was
gunned down in Lagos by unknown assassins on his way back
from work. Agbroko,s column was frequently critical of the
administration.
December 21, 2006
Umar Pariya, an aide to Vice President Atiku, was attacked at
his residence by suspected hired assassins. His guard and
domestic servant were injured; Pariya escaped injury.
ABUJA 00000630 004.2 OF 004
December 11, 2006
Vice-Chair of Odiolowo/Ojuwoye Local Government of Lagos
State escaped an assassination attempt. The attempt followed
a threat that he would be killed if he picked up the AC
nomination for Lagos State House of Assembly.
December 1, 2007
A Council Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area and
aspirant for the state House of Assembly of Benue State was
murdered by unknown gunmen.
CAMPBELL
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NI ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: A SUMMARY OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE
ABUJA 00000630 001.2 OF 004
1. (SBU) Political violence has increased over the past
several months and many fear this trend will only worsen
before the April elections. The driving force is a desire to
capture power and control of state resources at all costs.
Nigeria,s rampant corruption and patronage-based system
support a winner-take-all attitude with no room for
opposition or defeat. Increased oil revenues have only
served to raise the stakes and the lesson of 2003 that the
road to victory is through violence and rigging has been
learned well by all parties. Violence occurs at federal,
state and local levels, as well as within political parties.
Incumbents use state resources such as the police or arm
groups of &thugs8 to disrupt opposition campaign activities
while opposition groups deploy their own arsenals to confront
the ruling party by any means necessary. Most cases of
electoral violence are never fully investigated or prosecuted.
2. (SBU) COMMENT. There is little discussion of what happens
to these armed groups when the elections are over and they
are no longer needed by their political godfathers. Nowhere
has this played out more clearly than in the fragile Niger
Delta region, where militias armed to carry out political
violence in the lead up to the 2003 elections have moved on
to economic violence and sabotage aimed at critical oil and
gas infrastructure and more recently to kidnapping of foreign
oil workers. END COMMENT.
--------------
RECENT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE
--------------
3. (SBU) Statistics on political violence are difficult at
best. Even NGO groups within Nigeria cannot agree on what
constitutes political violence and, hence, how many such
incidents have occurred recently. The NGO Nigerian Alliance
for Peaceful Elections (NAPE) maintains it has recorded 77
cases (51 confirmed) of kidnapping, killings and clashes of
supporters in Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Rivers and Delta
States. The South Africa-based Institute for Democracy
recently claimed at a workshop in Abuja that as many as 280
people have been killed in Nigeria over the last 2 months.
Below is a list of recent incidents compiled by Post, dating
back to December 2006. Not all incidents have been
confirmed. Most, but not all, were reported in the press.
March 23, 2007
A group of youths threw stones at PDP presidential candidate
Umaru Yar'Adua's campaign team motorcade at an intersection
in Zaria, shouting "We don't want you." Yar'Adua was forced
to cancel his courtesy call on the Emir of Zaria and instead
proceeded directly to his next campaign stop in Kano.
Several vehicles were damaged. No injuries were reported.
March 21, 2007
Ekiyor Welson, Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State
Governor and PDP Vice Presidential candidate Goodluck
Jonathan, allegedly ordered security agents to shoot news
correspondent George Oraeki for writing a story on how State
funds were diverted to the Yar,Adua/Goodluck campaign. The
security agents refused and Oraeki was released unharmed.
March 20, 2007
DPP supporters in Gombe stormed a Magistrate Court with
knives, machetes and guns, forcibly freeing DPP gubernatorial
candidate Abubakar Habu Hashidu and wounding the presiding
judge. Hashidu was arrested on March 18 (see below).
March 19, 2007
An AC leader in Edo State was seriously beaten and three
others injured by suspected PDP thugs for organizing a rally
in support of LP gubernatorial candidate Adams Oshiomhole.
March 18, 2007
A clash between PDP and AC supporters left ten dead and 30
ABUJA 00000630 002.2 OF 004
homes burned in Benue State.
Police arrested Gombe State DPP gubernatorial candidate and
former state governor Abubakar Habu Hashidu and 14 supporters
for allegedly inciting a riot in Gombe. Hashidu and his
supporters maintain they were defending themselves against an
attack by a group calling itself Yan Kalare (NOTE: Yan
Kalare is widely believed to be a PDP-supported group).
The convoy of former minister and Labor Party candidate
Olusegun Mimiko was ambushed in Ondo state. There were no
injuries, but several cars were damaged. Mimiko and his
supporters blame PDP Governor Segun Agagu.
March 17, 2007
The motorcade carrying Hajiya Maimuna Aliero, wife of PDP
Governor Adamu Aliero of Kebbi State, was attacked by thugs
while campaigning in the Zuru local government area of the
state. No injuries were reported.
March 15, 2007
ANPP Senatorial candidate Haijiya Halima Alfa was attacked
near Ankpa, Kogi State by a group of thugs. Two ANPP
supporters were reportedly killed and four others injured.
March 11, 2007
Gunmen attacked an AC rally in Lagos State. Two people were
reportedly killed. (NOTE: This report remains unconfirmed.)
March 10, 2007
Groups affiliated with the PDP and DPP went on a 48-hour
vandalism spree in Sokoto, razing party offices and
destroying vehicles belonging to both parties. Several
injuries were reported. Police responded by banning all
political rallies in the state.
At least 4 people died and others were critically injured
when fighting broke out between PDP and ANPP supporters
Abeokuta, Ogun State (the home town of President Obasanjo).
The clash allegedly started when PDP supporters stopped the
movement of ANPP vehicles. Several vehicles belonging to
ANPP supporters were destroyed. Later, ANPP gubernatorial
flag bearer Senator Ibikunle Amosun was arrested and detained
for inciting the violence.
At least two people died and an unknown number were injured
when thugs carrying PDP placards attacked supporters of ANPP
candidate Buhari in Enugu. According to one eyewitness, at
least ten cars were destroyed and the thugs, with police
standing watch, continued firing weapons into the house of a
Buhari organizer where members of the group had taken refuge
for over an hour.
March 6, 2007
Taofiki Onigboho was assassinated by suspected thugs at his
residence in Ibadan. Onigboho is related to Sunday Igboho, a
suspected thug of Governor Rasheed Ladoja who is wanted by
police in connection with the February 3 Akure violence (see
below).
March 5, 2007
A report from Gombe maintained there was a clash between PDP
and ANPP supporters. Another version claimed armed policemen
attached to ANPP governorship candidate Jamilu Isiaku Gwamma
allegedly opened fire on PDP supporters at Tumu, injuring
Governor Danjuma Goje,s personal assistant.
March 4, 2007
Ten people were reportedly killed in several days of clashes
between rival gangs in Port Harcourt. The clashes are
believed to be evidence of the groups jockeying for position
ahead of the elections.
ABUJA 00000630 003.2 OF 004
February 12, 2007
At least 35 people were killed during seven days of clashes
in the Ogoni region of Rivers state where two of Governor
Peter Odili's associates were fighting over political control
of the area.
February 5, 2007
Gunmen attacked Vice President Atiku,s political associate
and chairman of the AC Steering Committee, Dr. Yakubu
Abdallah, in the United Kingdom. Abdallah,s security guard
and driver were killed.
February 4, 2007
Skirmishes occurred in Ogbomosho, Oyo State spreading to
other parts of the town. Fighting began when a Nigerian
Union of Road and Transport Workers leader loyal to former
governor Alao-Akala attacked supporters of Governor Ladoja.
February 3, 2007
Fighting broke out at a PDP rally in Akure, Oyo State between
supporters of Governor Ladoja and his former deputy,
Alao-Akala. The rally, which was attended by President
Obasanjo, confirmed Alao-Akala as the PDP gubernatorial
candidate. Two people were reportedly killed and several
others injured.
An ANPP party agent was killed in Iree, Osun State by
suspected PDP thugs who allegedly removed ballot boxes and
voters' lists during a bye-election for House of
Representatives in Ward 9. In Ward 10, two female INEC
employees were stripped naked and beaten to a coma.
The federal government deployed soldiers to Akure, Ondo State
to quell a major fracas between supporters of PDP and Labor
Party (LP). Two people were reportedly killed.
February 2, 2007
PDP and PPA supporters attacked each other in Aba, Abia
State. Several injuries were reported and vehicles and
property destroyed.
PDP chieftain Lawson Onokpasa of Delta State was murdered at
his residence by unknown gunmen.
February 1, 2007
Inspector General of Police Sunday Ehindero told the press
that the Nigeria Police impounded 7 trailer-loads of arms and
ammunition in Lagos suspected to have been smuggled into
Nigeria by &desperate politicians.8
January 18, 2007
Two PDP supporters died following an intra-party clash in
Asaba, Delta State. The fighting occurred during a
reconciliatory meeting of PDP stakeholders.
January 6, 2007
Suspected arson caused significant damage in the corporate
headquarters of Thisday, a leading Nigerian newspaper.
December 27, 2006
Mr. Godwin Agbroko, editor and columnist of Thisday was
gunned down in Lagos by unknown assassins on his way back
from work. Agbroko,s column was frequently critical of the
administration.
December 21, 2006
Umar Pariya, an aide to Vice President Atiku, was attacked at
his residence by suspected hired assassins. His guard and
domestic servant were injured; Pariya escaped injury.
ABUJA 00000630 004.2 OF 004
December 11, 2006
Vice-Chair of Odiolowo/Ojuwoye Local Government of Lagos
State escaped an assassination attempt. The attempt followed
a threat that he would be killed if he picked up the AC
nomination for Lagos State House of Assembly.
December 1, 2007
A Council Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area and
aspirant for the state House of Assembly of Benue State was
murdered by unknown gunmen.
CAMPBELL