conflict briefing notes - nsrp...conflict briefing notes conflict briefing no. 42, november 2016 key...

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CONFLICT BRIEFING NOTES CONFLICT BRIEFING NO. 42, November 2016 KEY MESSAGES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CONTEXT ANALYSIS 1. 2 2. NATIONAL 2 POLITICAL 3 SOCIAL 4 ECONOMIC 6 3. IMPLICATIONS FOR PROGRAMMING IN NSRP TARGET STATES 7 *Disclaimer: The contents of this briefing note do not necessarily reflect the views of DFID or the UK Government. ** All reports are based on anonymous NSRP sources. PAGE

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Page 1: CONFLICT BRIEFING NOTES - NSRP...CONFLICT BRIEFING NOTES CONFLICT BRIEFING NO. 42, November 2016 KEY MESSAGES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CONTEXT ANALYSIS 1. 2 2. NATIONAL 2 POLITICAL 3 SOCIAL

CONFLICT BRIEFING NOTES

CONFLICT BRIEFING NO. 42, November 2016

KEY MESSAGES

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CONTEXT ANALYSIS

1. 2

2. NATIONAL 2

POLITICAL 3

SOCIAL 4

ECONOMIC 6

3. IMPLICATIONS FOR PROGRAMMING IN NSRP TARGET STATES 7

*Disclaimer: The contents of this briefing note do not necessarily reflect the views of DFID or the UK Government.

** All reports are based on anonymous NSRP sources.

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Executive Summaryhe overall finding for the month of November shows an increase in incidents of violence in the

outskirts of Maiduguri. A number of deadly attacks were launched on military locations, with a Tnumber of ambushes on military personnel by Jama'atul ahl al-sunnah li da'awati wal jihad (JAS) in

Borno State. The frequency of attacks is becoming a matter of concern to both residents of Maiduguri and

the local government areas (LGAs) throughout the state. To address the safety concerns, a ban on all public

gatherings in Maiduguri and a general call for extra vigilance in public places was put in place this month.

The month of November also witnessed a ban by the Borno State Government on all forms of processions

by individuals, group and organisations in the state.

The Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission released the timetable for local government elections. This has stirred preparations for campaigns and politicking in the state. The state continues to witness relative peace and the reduction in the activities of JAS in the month. Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) marked the feast of Arbaeen without open rallies or conflict between them and formal security actors. However, graffiti, handbills and posters attributed to members of IMN were distributed throughout the state.

The major political, social and economic conflict issues in Kano State were related to the tensions between Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Senator Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso. In spite of this, the governor and his cabinet have now concentrated on how to develop the state rather than devoting more time and energy on face-off with the former governor Kwankwaso and his supporters.

Kano State witnessed violent conflict between members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) and the Nigerian Police. The incident occurred in the outskirts of Kano city along Kano-Zaria road and caused a lot of turmoil in the area, leaving many motorists stranded during the clash. It was reported that roughly eight members of IMN and one policeman were killed and many more injured during the clash.

With the confirmation of the Governor's nominees for the Chairmanship and members of Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), the state has put in place a key structure for the conduct of the much agitated local government elections in the State. It is now expected that the election will hold within the first quarter of 2017.

Across Kaduna State, the rising incidences of kidnapping, armed robbery, killings and theft of cattle remains a major security challenge for security operatives. As with previous months, the month of November recorded high profile kidnapping in which prominent persons and citizens were kidnapped in Kaduna and ransom were allegedly paid to securing release.

The lingering tension between the Nigeria Army personnel and the outlawed Shiite members of the IMN increased within the month. The Shiite Fudiyya Islamic centre housing the IMN primary and secondary school was allegedly destroyed by Kaduna State government and they were allegedly prevented from marking the holy trekking of “Yaumul Arbaeen” as a result of the ban of their activities.

In Bayelsa State, the destruction of farms by cattle and herders has raised serious security concerns in the state. Farmers from Ekpetiama clan protested against the destruction of their crops by herdsmen and their cattle as well as the Okutukutu, Opolo, Etegwe, Gbaraintoru, Tombia, Agudama and Biogbolo communities. The Biogbolo community has decided to chase out all herdsmen and their cattle from the community, while the youths of Okutukutu chased out herders from a farm after beating them up. These attacks have elicited calls for legislation to control grazing in Delta State.

National Context

Senate rejects Buhari's request for $30bn loanThe Senate unanimously threw out President Muhammadu Buhari's request for external loan of $29.96 billion Naira to execute key infrastructural projects across the country between 2016 and 2018. It was

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claimed that the request was rejected because it did not have the required borrowing plan accompanying it. However, the Presidency, under the leadership of Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters Senator Ita Enang, said it would engage the Senate and provide all the needed documents and borrowing plan.

Senate rejects President Buhari's list of non-career envoysThe Senate refused to confirm 46 of 47 non-career ambassadorial nominees forwarded by President Muhammadu Buhari. However, it approved all 47 nominees as 'career envoys.' There have been protests and complaints by some prominent members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), including state governors, against the manner the President Buhari has been allegedly making political appointments without the input of other stakeholders.

Political

Political leadership conflict within ruling party in Borno StateBorno State has been engulfed in a conflict between those loyal to Governor Kashim Shettima and the APC State Party Chairman Ali Bukar Dalori, and Member representing MMC in the National Assembly, Kadiri Rahis. The duo have started scheming for who would succeed the governor in 2019. It is seen by analysts as a dangerous development for Borno state where notorious persons, a group of illiterate and semi-literates ganged up and replaced 10 LGA party chairmen while the governor was away; side-lined all his supporters, and he could not reverse it on return.

JAS violence continues to claim lives in Borno StateIn another development two soldiers were reported dead after a bomb explosion along Banki – Usmanari – Kumshe road in Central Borno. About eight soldiers of the 152 Task Force Battalion of the Nigerian Army were also reported injured in the explosion which occurred at about 8:10 am. One canter truck was destroyed, while the injured soldiers were later evacuated by air to the hospital in Maiduguri. This occurred a day after one soldier was killed when JAS attacked troops in Angara Village. The Army said 13 insurgents were killed in the attack while three other soldiers were injured.

Residents of Umarari along Maiduguri – Damboa road experienced a bomb explosion in the early hours of Friday. It was reported that a female suicide bomber detonated an IED, strapped to her waist leading to the death of the two other bombers. The spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, Victor Ishaku, while confirming the incident said security agents killed three of the suicide bombers.

Scheduled elections in Yobe state releasedThe schedule of events for the local government elections has been released by the Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission (YSEIC). The timetable which was released on 7 November, 2016 indicates that elections into chairmanship and councillorship positions would be held on 11 February, 2017. Political parties are expected to collect nomination forms between 21 November and 1 December. Nominations close by 12.00 PM on 12 December 2016. It was reported last month that concerned citizens expressed doubts about the sincerity of the state government to conduct the elections. With the release of the timetable, their doubts have been allayed.Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has started nominating their candidates for the chairmanship and councillorship positions. But this has generated intra-party murmuring. Some members of APC alleged that the nomination process is not transparent and lacks the attributes of internal democracy because they alleged that the so-called 'consensus candidates' were rather imposed on them.

The National Judicial Council, NJC, suspended seven senior judges arrested in October 2016 by the State Security Service for alleged corruption. The NJC had initially refused to suspend the judges despite public pressure, saying the allegations against them had not been substantiated. The latest decision came after the council's 7th meeting between Wednesday and Thursday. A communique issued at the end of the meeting, and signed by NJC's Director of Information, Soji Oye, said the decision was taken to avoid allowing persons under investigation to partake in presiding over judicial matters at the same time.

National Judicial Council backtracks, suspends seven senior judges accused of corruption

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This is because no room was given for open contests in the party primaries. The opposition parties have thnot conducted their primaries as at 24 November. The close of nomination would indicate whether they

would participate in the elections or not. It is predicted that their lack of participation would affect the credibility of the elections negatively thus impeding inclusiveness in governance.

Political conflicts continue in Kano statePolitical issues continue to dominate happenings in Kano in the month of November. Conflict between the incumbent Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and former Governor, Senator Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, has continued to generate debates among various political commentators, especially the supporters of the two camps. The situation continued to negatively impact the political, social and economic development in the state. However a significant change is noticed in the month under review as the Governor and his cabinet seem to be devoting more of their attention to governance. This is noticed in the drastic reduction of daily special radio political programmes being granted by political appointees, as well as the frequent clashes and persistent political conflict between supporters of the two political actors. The state government was busy implementing policies and programmes and commissioning completed projects. The only recorded political conflict was intra-party in nature. Party executives at the LG chapters of the ruling APC continued to visit and pay allegiance to the factional state party chairman recognised by Governor Ganduje.

Plateau state House of Assembly confirms eight nomineesThe Plateau State House of Assembly screened and confirmed eight nominees for Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) forwarded by Governor Lalong on 8 of November 2016.

Rebuilding facilities in Kaduna state designed to build peaceThe Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, also announced a donation of 100 million Naira to support the rebuilding of churches and mosque destroyed during violent conflicts in southern Kaduna. The governor made the pledge in Samaru-Kataf where 29 communities from southern Kaduna unveiled a billboard to say sorry to each other for the violence they have contributed to or suffered. The governor also praised the efforts of the communities for working towards peace.

Dialogue in Niger Delta continuesThe calls for dialogue between the Federal Government and leaders of the Niger Delta advanced in the month with the invitation of the Niger Delta leaders by President Buhari. It was reported that Chief E.K Clark and King Alfred Diete Spiff led the group that met with the President where it was agreed that conflicts and insecurity have made peace elusive in the region. The group, while pledging the loyalty of the region to President Buhari's administration, maintained that the Federal Government ought to build trust and confidence in the region. To this extent, a 16-point demand encapsulating short and long term socio economic development of the region was presented to the President.

Social

Banned processions in Borno stateThe Borno State Government has banned all forms of processions by individuals, groups and organisations in the state. The ban was contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Usman Shuwa, who cited security reasons and directed security agencies to ensure the ban is complied with. He warned that any attempt at resisting the ban will be met with full force of the law. He added that it will be in place for an indefinite period of time, and would be reviewed from time to time based on adequate security assessment and advice, adding that adequate security measures have been instituted to ensure sufficient surveillance and adequate monitoring of all major streets and public structures by security forces.

IDPs continue to face challenges in Borno stateBorno state governor, Kashim Shettima said, some of his colleagues in the Northeast were making false claims about the situation of IDPs and destructions wrecked by JAS in their states, adding that the governors were exaggerating the impact of the insurgency in their domains to rake in donations from

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philanthropists and international donor agencies. He said this on Friday 18 November in Government House, Maiduguri when he hosted a delegation of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), led by its deputy regional director for West and East Africa, Beatrice Mutali.

Governor Kashim Shettima said all IDP camps in Borno would be closed down by May 29, 2017. He said the government had placed priority on the reconstruction of communities destroyed by insurgents, to facilitate the return of IDPs to their towns and villages because the IDP camps are becoming a huge problem.

In late July, 2016, Human Rights Watch (HRW) documented sexual abuse, including rape and exploitation of 43 women and girls living in seven IDP camps in Maiduguri. HRW accused personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, vigilante groups and camp leaders of raping young girls and women in various camps. It also criticised the government for not doing enough to sanction those involved in the act. The research showed that some of the victims were drugged and raped while others were forced into sex through false marriage promises, material and financial inducement. According to the report, some of those coerced into sex said they were abandoned when they became pregnant. President Muhammadu Buhari had since directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris to investigate. The IGP then set up a special investigation team to probe all cases of the alleged sexual abuses, exploitation, harassments, gender-based violence and professional misconduct on IDPs, in some Northeast states.

IMN communications materials distributed in Yobe and Kano stateThe national headquarters of the IMN has not taken up residence in Yobe State in spite the insinuations in the previous months that it would. The feast of Arbaeen was marked in the month of November by the members of IMN across the state without the usual open rallies. However, graffiti, posters and handbills carrying anti-government slogans or calls for the release of their members detained by Nigerian security actors – including Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zazzaky, their spiritual leader – were distributed across the urban settlements in the state. Despite the fact that security actors in the state continue to reiterate that they are “on top of the situation”; some residents of Yobe State are concerned that such slogans and “roar of the words” originating from members of IMN on social media and oral discourses could stir empathy that would incite the populace against constituted authorities in the state.

Violent clashes between members of the IMN also called Shi'ites and the officers of Kano state police command were recorded in the month under review. The conflict broke out around Tamburawa town on the outskirts of Kano city, after the police personnel tried to stop the Shiite members who had embarked on their usual annual Arbaeen (40 days) trek from Kano to Zaria. It was reported that following the clash not less than eight people, mostly members of the movement and a police Sergeant were confirmed dead bringing the total death toll to nine. Many others were injured. The Kano police commissioner Alh Rabi'u Yusuf explained that the Shiites members completely took over one side of the Kano - Zaria highway by blocking the Kano entry axis and began to attack motorists and passers-by. The command also confirmed that some policemen were injured. In the same incident, the security agents also intercepted a truck loaded with various forms of sophisticated weapons and small and light arms including guns, which were alleged to be in the possession of the Shiites, on transit from Kano to Zaria. The truck was arrested with some suspected members of the movement and were in the custody of the Nigeria Police, Kano command at the time of reporting.

Kidnapping cases continue in Plateau stateKidnapping of high profile individuals from Plateau State was recorded during the month of November. One of the four kidnapping cases happened in Kaduna State on the Kaduna -|Abuja road, and one incident occurred in Jos. Sheikh Abdul-Azeez Yusuf was kidnapped on 16 November 2016 along with his driver in Saminaka, Lere LGA of Kaduna State on his way to Kaduna, on a condolence visit to the family of the late

th18 Sultan of Sokoto – Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki. The kidnapper demanded for a ransom of 10 million Naira before he was released after two days in captivity. The incident immediately attracted public attention and condemnation of the incident by both the State and other stakeholders because he is a religious leader and an elderly individual who is 80 years old.

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Sara-suka boys inflict violence on Plateau state residentsOn Saturday, 26 November 2016, the Sara-suka boys (youth gang that specializes in the use of knife for violence) cut off a young man's hand in Gangare area of Jos. It was reported that, fight broke out between two groups of the Sara-suka boys after one of boys succeeded in marrying a girl over whom he contested with another member of the second group. The gang of the unsuccessful young man in the courtship attacked the group of the newly married one in Gangare area of Jos North LGA. Some of the fighters sustained different degrees of injuries during the encounter between the two gangs. This is not the first time that the Sara-suka boys will be attacking another group when one of their members lost out in a contest for securing a girl's hand in marriage.

Conflict over IMN continues in Kaduna stateThe Kaduna State Government through the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA) in company of security agents demolished Fudiyya Primary and Secondary School owned by the Shiite Islamic movement of Nigeria (IMN) located at Babban Dodo in Zaria on 17 November 2016. There were jubilations by host and neighbouring communities as the Fudiyya Centre, primary and secondary school was being brought down by authorities. A month earlier in October 2016, the Kaduna State government had banned the group from any form of activity within the state.

Cultism in Bayelsa state raise concernsCultism now appears to be the greatest threat to peace and security in the state. It is noticeable in the entire Yenagaoa urban, but most prominent in Etegwe, Kpansia, Yenizue-Epie, okaka, Amarata, Opolo, Agudama, Otuokpoti and Ovom communities and in public schools such as Community Secondary School Agudama, Community Secondary School Kpansia, Community Secondary School Opolo, St Jude's Girls Secondary, Community Comprehensive Secondary School Agbura, Community Secondary School Biogbolo, and Bishop Dimeari Grammar School. In areas such as Arietellin and Gwegwe streets in Ovom, Bacha estate, Bossy Water road and Tinacious road in Etegwe, cultists operate with impunity as they attack residents anytime of the day and sometimes move in a procession, wielding guns and other dangerous weapons such as broken bottles, axe, cutlass and knives without any challenge or arrests. On 28 October 2016, inter-cult clash occurred at Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Agbura in broad day light.

Ossissa communities in Ndokwa East LGA were reportedly attacked by herdsmen. The attack breached the peace agreement reached by the herdsmen, farmers and stakeholders in a meeting facilitated by the Delta State Conflict Management Alliance (DSCMA) that the herdsmen should leave Ossissa Communities until a coordinated re-entry was negotiated. Following the clash, the chairperson of Ndokwa East LGA, Mrs. Chukwura has called on the government to fast track laws to regulate grazing in the State. The Ossissa Communities leaders reportedly lamented the brutality of the attack on their people by the herdsmen. They also call on government to regulate grazing through legislation and document herdsmen's movement and entry into communities.

Economic

Salary payments continue to generate grievances in Borno state Fifty per cent of workers in Borno state are yet to receive their salaries. This has been taking its toll on the already impoverished (by security challenges) society. This is worsened by the report that food commodities are being transported out to the neighbouring Cameroun, Chad and Niger under Military escorts, where they are sold at very exorbitant prices, as people in Borno could not afford such cost.

Economic challenges in Yobe state continueThe economic situation in Yobe State in the month of November continues to deteriorate. The price of foodstuff and other essential commodities continue to rise. For instance, the economic situation in the state has made commercial road transporters to express their incapacity to purchase – so as to use – speed limiting devices. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has been mandated to enforce the speed limiting policy on commercial road transport vehicles with effect from 1 October, 2016.

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Wapa Forex Trading Market invaded in Kano stateIn the month of November, like Abuja and Lagos, Kano state also recorded conflict between security operatives and the operators of Bureau de Change (BDC). The popular Wapa Forex Trading market was on several occasions invaded by the officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) and arrested many of the traders. The leaders of the BDC association reacted. The DSS alleged that the marketers refused to comply with the federal government's directive regarding the rates at which to exchange foreign currencies. Most of the marketers were accused of selling the US dollar and other foreign currencies at rates far above what was approved and directed by the central bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Federal government had earlier urged the leadership of the BDC traders' association to let its members abide by FG's order regarding the business, parts of the order state that there should be no hiking of the exchange rates beyond approved ceiling and no interception of customers at the roadsides near the market.

Salaries and allowances payments being made in Plateau stateThe Plateau State Government has continued to fulfil its commitment to the payment of workers' salaries and allowances. The state and local government worker's salary has been paid up to the month of September 2016. According to the Hon. Commissioner for Information and Communication, during the monthly briefing for the month of November 2016, he stated that the state government has paid arrears of staff promotion and annual increment along with September salary to the tune of over N205million. Pensioners have also been paid their arrears for the month of April 2016. He said that, machinery has been put in place to clear salaries and pension arrears by the end of 2016.

Healthcare facilities equipped in Kaduna stateThe Kaduna State Government and Global Corporate giant General Electric (GE) flagged off a programme to equip 278 healthcare facilities in Kaduna State early in the month. This is set to be the biggest ever refit of the public healthcare infrastructure in the state. Reports indicate that this represents Kaduna state efforts to provide a comprehensive solution to the healthcare delivery challenges in the state, which includes maternal and infant mortality, communicable illness and the problems caused by the growth of chronic conditions like diabetes, heart diseases and cancer.

Implications and recommendations for programmes in the NortheastIt is recommended that programmes working on humanitarian support need to do some need assessment in the nearby LGAs, especially Konduga where there is now enough food, that the IDPs are selling the items like beans, palm oil to buy firewood or charcoal for cooking and soup ingredients. There is need for proper coordination among organisations to balance IDP needs rather than over supply certain items, while lacking in others. It is recommended for programmes working on peacebuilding and governance to focus on supporting the humanitarian assistance with improved conflict and gender sensitive tactic. Programmes need to draw government attention to the three LGAs in Northern Borno where there are still some people who are trapped without food or any interventions. Agencies can explore scaling their interventions to locations outside of major capital cities in the northeast. They could consider adapting flexible planning to ensure that its staff and the local beneficiaries do not become targeted in the process of providing aid.

For programmes working on security sector in Yobe State, it is pertinent they empower members of local communities in voluntary policing, intelligence gathering and sharing. They should also assist in updating the capacity of formal security actors in such a way that their efficiency and effectiveness would be enhanced in sustaining peace and stability in the state. Furthermore, given the possibility of armed groups crossing into the state from other states, programmes working on, or considering working in the state need to be conscious of security and regularly update risk assessments. Programmes working on good governance and political participation should support the Yobe SEIC to conduct free and fair elections in February, 2017. This would enhance political recruitment and participation. They should support political education and capacity building for electoral officials. It is envisioned that such would minimize electoral malpractices, political violence and sustain the restoration of peace in the state.

Programmes like PERL should continue to support the state government on matters that would change governance for the better. The inaugurated boards of fiscal responsibility and public procurement should be further supported to carry out their responsibility to the best of their abilities. Programmes should continue to empower the populace and give them a voice on how to hold their leaders accountable. This would enhance confidence building between the leaders and the governed thus consolidating stability.

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The emergence of graffiti, handbills and posters emanating from IMN calls for engagement with the IMN. As recommended in the previous month, it is important that programmes working on human rights and the security sector such as J4A as well as peacebuilding such as NSRP provide capacity building support to the state government and community leaders to continue to engage the leadership of IMN so as to have dialogue sessions that would ensure sustainable peaceful coexistence and mutual respect for the worth and dignity of one another. The programmes should also support inter-sectarian dialogue that would minimize the use of anti-sectarian hate words. Programmes working on education should explore the appropriate platforms to mediate in the industrial disputes at The Federal Polytechnic Damaturu and Federal College of Education (Technical) Potiskum. The NSRP Yobe State Conflict Management Alliance (SCMA) and the respective Community Peace Partnerships (CPPs) in Damaturu and Potiskum LGAs should be supported to facilitate and consolidate the mediation. Programmes working on youth empowerment and employment in the state should support potential entrepreneurs' initiative to access facilities that would engage post-secondary school students in vacation jobs so as to minimize their vulnerability to social vices when schools are not in session.

Implications and recommendations for programmes in Northwest (Kano)Kano in the month of November witnessed improved peace and security situation due to the efforts and commitments put in place by various stakeholders in security sectors, the police, Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Kano state Hisbah Board, the Department of State Services (DSS), the traditional and religious leaders, the CSOs and other NGOs. Programmes working on peace building, security and governance like the NSRP and hosts of others should continue to work with units to support community level activities between the citizens and the state. As we are currently in the harvest season the NSRP supported State Conflict Management Alliance (SCMA) must continue to encourage various security outfits and other relevant agencies and stakeholders to increase their efforts to prevent unnecessary cases of farmers and herders conflicts as well as stealing of farm produce or outright destruction of farm lands by invading pastoralists.

Implications and recommendations for programmes in the Middle Belt (Plateau and Kaduna)The confirmation of the Governor's nominees for PLASIEC by the Plateau State House of Assembly signifies the commencement of the political process for the conduct of Local government election in the State. The electoral process in Nigeria is often characterised with various challenges peculiar to each stage in the process. From the conduct of party primaries to elect party flag bearers; submission of elected or consensus candidate of each party to the electoral body (in this case PLASIEC); the campaign process to the actual conduct of elections and post-election activities, such as collation and announcing of election result; are potential conflict triggers. It is therefore recommended that programmes in the area of governance such as Partnerships to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL); civic education and election monitoring like Transition Monitoring Group (TMG); and peacebuilding such as NSRP to look into the possibilities of promoting inclusive and coordinated information sharing among various stakeholders in the electoral process to ensure credible election that is free of violence. The Plateau State Conflict Management Alliance convened by NSRP may well serve this purpose.

The spate of armed robbery, community crimes such forceful bag snatching, rape, youth violence through gangs' operation are indications of insecurity and failure of the security's intelligence gathering and inter-agency coordination with the community. This has the tendency to heighten peoples' distrust of the security agents' capacity to protect and the need to be armed for self-defence. It is therefore recommended that programmes in the area of governance such as PERL and peace-building such as NSRP to look into the possibilities of promoting inclusive governance through a participatory process and entrenching conflict sensitive communication to ensure peaceful coexistence. Platforms like the SCMA can be further strengthened to widen their sources of information for early warning with the view of bridging the dearth of early warning coming from the communities and the security architecture in the State for response.

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Implications and recommendations for programmes in the Niger Delta (Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta) The conflict situation in the Niger Delta has severe implications for programmes working on peacebuilding, governance and human development. The herders' destruction of farms in Delta state raises both an economic and security concern. The destruction of farmlands and by extension means of livelihood undermines the efforts of programmes working on human development, such as DFID funded MADE project which seeks to lift people out of poverty. The destruction of cassava which is one of MADE's focal value chain makes this concern important and requires the adoption of appropriate conflict proofing of investments policies. This situation also impacts on programmes such as the NSRP which works on peacebuilding in the state. The Bayelsa State Conflict Management Alliance (BSCMA) which is one of the platforms of the NSRP has been engaging with key stakeholders on how to ensure peaceful coexistence among herders and farmers in the state.

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