THE EFFECT OF ARMED VIOLENCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NIGER DELTA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Man knows that the peaceful world is far better than the violent world because development, which is positive change and which enhances, promotes and advances his well being is a direct function of peace. While backwardness, which distorts, disfigures, diminishes and impoverishes his well being, is a direct product of violence (war). Yet for the reasons that will be given latter, man could not restrain himself from entertaining thoughts and engaging in activities that provoke crises, violence and wars to his enormous cost and peril. A close study of man and his activities represent him as a being prone to antagonistic impulses. He is always either fighting or preparing to fight. His moments of peace are smokescreen, which in no distant time is pierced through by strokes of violence. One suggested typology of armed violence in Niger Delta includes  inter- and intra-communal violence, ethnic militia and vigilante violence, political and electoral violence, armed criminality and gangsterism, state armed violence, state-sponsored violence, ethno-religious violence, and arms racing (Ginifer and Ismail, 2005, pp. 7–10).  Armed violence is not a rare occurrence in Niger Delta, it is important to note that the country should not, and cannot, be viewed as homogenous in terms of criminality or security. The frequency and nature of crime vary across the region. The type of perpetrator involved depends on the context, as do the tools used in committing violence. Violence is ‘the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation’ (WHO, 2002, p. 5). Specifically, the concern is with armed violence which hinders development in Niger Delta region. There is a common set of explanations in the literature for what causes violence in Niger Delta. This includes politics and elections, the shift to democratic governance, the rise of armed groups, oil, ethnicity and religion, and poverty. These issues represent dividing lines in communities that have led to heightened tensions between and within groups. But to say that groups or individuals are fighting over any single issue is too simplistic. This struggle for resources has led to non development in the region. Oil, or more specifically the proceeds from the sale of oil, has long been a source of contention in the Delta region of Nigeria. Although originally seen as a blessing by those living in the Delta, oil has become something of a curse to the local population. Prospectors first struck oil in the 1950s, with Shell finding high-quality oil in 1956 in Oloibiri, Bayelsa state (Olojede, 2004). The Niger Delta has been described by many as being both ungoverned and ungovernable, because the government lacks the capacity to resolve the crisis there (Chatham House, 2006; Lubeck, Watts, and Lipschutz, 2007, p. 1; Watts, 2007). The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has gone a step further by describing the situation as one that ‘could tip towards outright warfare’ (UNDP, 2006, p. 18). The situation has deteriorated significantly since the 2003 elections due to the increase in militancy, the access to oil revenues and arms by armed groups, and the government’s militant response to armed group activity while failing to address any of the legitimate concerns of the population in the Delta region. According to Osinbajo  “No Nigerian can be proud with the state of development in the Niger Delta; we are all beneficiaries from resources from the region. However, we cannot have instability and be able to carry out speedy development of the region.

He nevertheless urged all stakeholders to join in the effort to bring about the desired stability in the Nigeria Delta, noting that President Mohammadu Buhari was committed to the development of the region. But with armed violence in the region can drive away the planned government has for the region for the secure reason, with this background the researcher want to investigate the effect of armed violence in the development of Niger Delta.

The suggested armed violence in Niger Delta includes inter- and intra-communal violence, ethnic militia and vigilante violence, oil revenue political and electoral violence, armed criminality and gangsterism, state armed violence, state-sponsored violence, ethno-religious violence, and arms racing. All these are cause with the fact that there is no development in the region where the heartthrob economy of the nation is based. Foregoing reasons prompted the researchers to investigate the effect of armed violence in the development of Niger Delta.

The main objective of this study is the effect of armed violence in the development of Niger Delta.

Specifically, the study intend to;

1. Assess the effect of armed violence in the development of Niger Delta
2. Assess what causes the armed violence in the Niger Delta
3. Assess the relationship between armed violence and Niger Delta development

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H0:  there is no effect of armed violence in the development of Niger Delta

H1:  there is effect of armed violence in the development of Niger Delta

H02: there is no significant relationship between armed violence and development of Niger Delta

H2: there is a significant relationship between armed violence and development of Niger Delta

• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of benefit to Niger Delta people, which the study will help to find the causes and lasting solution. The study will also be of great benefit to the researchers who intends to embark on research on similar topics as it will serve as a guide. Finally, the study will be of great importance to academia’s, lecturers, teachers, students and the general public.

• SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study covers the effect of armed violence in the development of Niger Delta. In the course of the study, the researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
3. c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities.

EFFECT: A change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.

ARMED VIOLENCE: The concept of armed violence reduction (AVR) has gained significant in importance after the 2006 Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development. According to OECD, more than 740,000 people die each year as a result of the violence associated with armed conflicts and large- and small-scale criminality.

DEVELOPMENT: Development meaning, definition, what is development: the process in which someone or something grows or changes and becomes more advanced.