Map of Nigeria numerically showing states typically considered part of the Niger Delta region: 1. Abia, 2. Akwa Ibom, 3. Bayelsa, 4. Cross River, 5. Delta, 6. Edo, 7.Imo, 8. Ondo, 9. Rivers
Date
12 March 2003 - present[13][14] (21 years, 1 month, 2 weeks and 1 day)
Location
Nigeria
Niger Delta
Abia State
Akwa Ibom State
Bayelsa State
Cross River State
Delta State
Edo State
Imo State
Ondo State
Rivers State
Status
Ongoing
~15,000 militants signed for presidential amnesty program
Reformed Egbesu Boys of the Niger Delta (2016–present)
Egbesu Mightier Fraternity (2016–present)
Biafran separatists (from 2021)[9]
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (2004–14)
Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (2003–09)
Niger Delta Liberation Front (2005–14)
Joint Revolutionary Council (2004–14)
Niger Delta Vigilante (2004–09)
Supported by: IPOB elements[10]
Bandits[11]
Pirates
Nigerian mafia
Black Axe
The Outlaws
Eiye[12]
Commanders and leaders
Bola Tinubu (2023–present)
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (2023–present)
Kayode Egbetokun (2023–present)
Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (2023–present)
Christopher Musa (2023–present)
Taoreed Lagbaja (2023–present)
Emmanuel Ogalla (2023–present)
Hassan Abubakar (2023–present)
Alex Otti (2023–present)
Umo Eno (2023–present)
Douye Diri (2020–present)
Bassey Otu (2023–present)
Sheriff Oborevwori (2023–present)
Godwin Obaseki (2016–present)
Hope Uzodinma (2020–present)
Lucky Aiyedatiwa (2023–present)
Siminalayi Fubara (2023–present)
Former commanders
Muhammadu Buhari
Goodluck Jonathan
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua†
Olusegun Obasanjo
Mohammed Shata
Iyorchia Ayu
Magaji Muhammed
Oluyemi Adeniji
Godwin Abbe
Shettima Mustafa
Emmanuel Iheanacho
Abba Moro
Abdulrahman Dambazau
Mustafa Adebayo Balogun
Sunday Ehindero
Mike Mbama Okiro
Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo
Hafiz Ringim
Mohammed Dikko Abubakar
Suleiman Abba
Solomon Arase
Ibrahim Kpotun Idris
Mohammed Adamu
Usman Alkali Baba
Bashir Salihi Magashi
Mansur Dan Ali
Aliyu Mohammed Gusau
Labaran Maku
Olusola Obada
Haliru Mohammed Bello
Adetokunbo Kayode
Godwin Abbe
Shettima Mustafa
Yayale Ahmed
Rabiu Kwankwaso
Theophilus Danjuma
Lucky Irabor
Abayomi Olonisakin
Alex Badeh
Ola Ibrahim
Oluseyi Petinrin
Paul Dike
Owoye Andrew Azazi
Martin Luther Agwai
Alexander Ogomudia
Ibrahim Ogohi
Faruk Yahaya
Ibrahim Attahiru†
Tukur Yusuf Buratai
Kenneth Minimah
Azubuike Ihejirika
Abdulrahman Dambazau
Luka Yusuf
Owoye Andrew Azazi
Martin Luther Agwai
Alexander Ogomudia
Awwal Zubairu Gambo
Ibok Ekwe Ibas
Usman Oyibe Jibrin
Dele Joseph Ezeoba
Ola Ibrahim
Ishaya Ibrahim
Ganiyu Tunde Adegboyega Adekeye
Samuel Olajide Afolayan
Isiaka Oladayo Amao
Sadique Abubakar
Adesola Nunayon Amosu
Alex Badeh
Mohammed Dikko Umar
Oluseyi Petinrin
Paul Dike
Jonah Wuyep
Okezie Ikpeazu
Theodore Orji
Orji Uzor Kalu
Udom Gabriel Emmanuel
Godswill Akpabio
Victor Attah
Henry Seriake Dickson
Nestor Binabo
Timipre Sylva
Werinipre Seibarugo
Goodluck Jonathan
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha
Ben Ayade
Liyel Imoke
Donald Duke
Ifeanyi Okowa
Emmanuel Uduaghan
James Ibori
Adams Oshiomhole
Oserheimen Osunbor
Lucky Igbinedion
Achike Udenwa
Ikedi Ohakim
Rochas Okorocha
Emeka Ihedioha
Rotimi Akeredolu
Olusegun Mimiko
Olusegun Agagu
Adebayo Adefarati
Nyesom Wike
Rotimi Amaechi
Celestine Omehia
Peter Odili
Henry Okah (POW) Government Ekpemupolo Ebikabowei Victor-Ben Dokubo-Asari John Togo † General "Busta Rhymes"[8] Corporal "Oleum Bellum" (New Delta Avengers)[8] General Benikeme Hitler (Niger Delta Marine Force)[8]
Ateke Tom
Soboma George †
Strength
150,000 soldiers[15]
Unknown
Casualties and losses
2,500+ killed[16] ~15,000 militants surrendered as of 2023
v
t
e
Conflict in the Niger Delta
Warri
Odi
Abuja
2016 conflict
Other issues
Kaiama
Environmental, piracy
and oil theft issues
Ken Saro-Wiwa and Ogoni activism
The current conflict in the Niger Delta first arose in the early 1990s over tensions between foreign oil corporations and a number of the Niger Delta's minority ethnic groups who feel they are being exploited, particularly the Ogoni and the Ijaw. Ethnic and political unrest continued throughout the 1990s despite the return to democracy[17] and the election of the Obasanjo government in 1999. Struggle for oil wealth and environmental harm over its impacts has fueled violence between ethnic groups, causing the militarization of nearly the entire region by ethnic militia groups, Nigerian military and police forces, notably the Nigerian Mobile Police.[18] The violence has contributed to Nigeria's ongoing energy supply crisis by discouraging foreign investment in new power generation plants in the region.
From 2004 on, violence also hit the oil industry with piracy and kidnappings. In 2009, a presidential amnesty program accompanied with support and training of ex-militants proved to be a success. Thus until 2011, victims of crimes were fearful of seeking justice for crimes committed against them because of a failure to prosecute those responsible for human rights abuses.[19]
^"Amnesty Programme: Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders berate those seeking to oust Prof. Dokubo". Vanguard-nigeria. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
^Siarhei Bohdan.Belarusian Military Cooperation With Developing Nations: Dangerous Yet Legal // Belarus Digest, 5 December 2013
^Нигерийские солдаты проходят специальную подготовку в Беларуси для борьбы с боевиками в дельте Нигера Archived 2018-07-16 at the Wayback Machine - Центр специальной подготовки Республики Беларусь (in Russian)
^"VK.com | VK". m.vk.com.
^"Инструкторы из Израиля готовят нигерийский спецназ". Archived from the original on 2018-09-10. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
^Israel sends experts to help hunt for Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamists. Archived 2018-09-10 at the Wayback Machine The Jerusalem Post; 05/20/2014 18:03.
^Minahan, James B. (2016). "Urhobo". Encyclopedia of Stateless Nations: Ethnic and National Groups around the World. Santa Barbara, California: Greenwood. p. 442–443. ISBN 978-1-61069-954-9.
^ abcdeTife Owolabi (14 June 2017). "New militant group threatens Niger Delta oil war - in Latin". Reuters. Archived from the original on 21 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
^‘Asari Dokubo asking Niger Delta to join Biafra is a suicide mission’, PM News, 17 March 2021. Accessed 18 March 2021.
^Ludovica Iaccino. "Pro-Biafrans claim Niger Delta Avengers link: Who is behind group that halted Nigeria's oil production?". IBTimes. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
^Cite error: The named reference taz03092021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Nigeria's Cults and their Role in the Niger Delta Insurgency" by Bestman Wellington, The Jamestown Foundation, 6 July 2007
^"BBC News - Nigerian militants seize workers from oil rig". bbc.co.uk. 2010-11-09. Archived from the original on 2011-01-26. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
^"FPIF". fpif.org. 2003-07-01. Archived from the original on 2011-01-26. Retrieved 2003-07-01.
^"Background" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
^""Armed Conflicts Report - Nigeria"". Archived from the original on 2006-10-10. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
^Ehighelua, Ikhide (2007). Environmental Protection Law. New Pages Law Publishing Co. Effurun/Warri. pp. 247–250. ISBN 978-9780629328.
^Koos, Carlo; Pierskalla, Jan (2015-01-20). "The Effects of Oil Production and Ethnic Representation on Violent Conflict in Nigeria: A Mixed-Methods Approach". Terrorism and Political Violence. 28 (5): 888–911. doi:10.1080/09546553.2014.962021. ISSN 0954-6553. S2CID 62815154.
^"Violence in Nigeria's Oil Rich Rivers State in 2004 : Summary". Hrw.org. Archived from the original on 2008-11-02. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
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