| 30
May 1999: |
Clashes
between Ijaw and Itsekiri youths just south of Warri reportedly
caused nearly 200 deaths. Western and Nigerian oil companies
evacuated
people from the area as fighting nears Chevron's oil export
terminal. Some
150 soldiers from the army's 20 Amphibious Battalion, based
at Effrun in
Delta State, were deployed to the area. |
|
1 June: |
Village
Chief Ogibodide of Ugborodo village in Delta area was kidnapped
from
his home and subsequently beheaded. Ijaw youths thought to be
responsible. |
| 6
June: |
Dawn-to-dusk
curfew imposed in Warri by Delta State Governor, James Ibori. |
| 19
June: |
Ijaw
youths reportedly attacked the Itsekiri town of Kantu, near
Warri.
Houses were burned and five people were killed. Kantu leaders
later
reported
that armed robbers were responsible (possibly in order to ensure
severe
punishment of the perpetrators). |
| 19-20
June: |
Dozens
reportedly were killed in Taraba, in northeastern Nigeria. |
| 23
June: |
Armed
youths attacked and boarded two oil rigs, demanding compensation
for
a
June 1998 oil spill. The attack prompted Texaco to declare "force
majeure"
and temporarily suspend production. |
| 28
June: |
Two foreign helicopter pilots were kidnapped by a group called
'Enough is Enough' after landing at Shell's oil platform in
Rivers State. Their release is reported on 17 July. |
| 29
June: |
Two
Indian nationals working for Nigerian rubber-processing company
in
Ughelli, Delta State were kidnapped. The Indian Embassy confirms
their
release on 14 July. |
| 1
July: |
Three
Shell employees were taken hostage. They were released unharmed
on
11
July. |
| 8
July: |
16
Shell employees were taken hostage by armed militants, but released
hours
later. |
| 18
July: |
Fighting
erupted between Hausas and local Yorubas in Shagamu, a town
of
about 300,000 inhabitants some 50-km north of Lagos. An estimated
60
people
are reported dead. |
| 22-25
July: |
Violence
resulting in the deaths of sixty persons took place in Kano
following the return of dead and displaced persons from Sagamu.
|
| 25
July: |
Seven expatriates and 57 Nigerian Shell employees were seized
on their
drilling rigs in the Delta by ethnic Isoko youths in Ozoro and
Ovrode who
demanded money and amenities for the local population. They
are released
two
days later. |
| July
6-August: |
Fighting
erupted between Ijaws and Ilajes in the southwestern state of
Ondo.
News organizations estimated 59 killed. The conflict originally
broke out
in
September 1998 over control of land after rumors that oil companies
had
shown interest in the area. |
| 15
August: |
Troops
were deployed to restore peace in the northern state of Taraba
after
clashes between the Jukun and Kutep over chieftaincy titles
and boundary
adjustments. |
| 1-14
September: |
Fighting
between Ijaws and Ilajes in Ondo resulted in 16 killed and 20
reported missing. |
| 23
September: |
The liquefied natural gas plant in the south-eastern town of
Bonny, worth
US
$3.8 billion, was shut down less than two weeks after beginning
operations
after militant youths blocked roads to press demands for jobs
and social
amenities. Obasanjo met with the youths and calls for time to
develop the
area. |
| 29-31
September: |
Clashes
between Ijaw and Yoruba youths in Ajegunle neighborhood in Lagos
caused at least 12 deaths. Fifty-six youths were arrested. OPC,
Ilaje and
Ijaw leaders signed a peace pact. |
| 30-31
October: |
Six
Royal Dutch/Shell employees were seized near Warri by youths
from the
Opuama community. Four are released on 4 November. The company
later
reported that the last two were freed on 11 November. |
| 11
November: |
The governor of the southeastern state of Bayelsa announced
that 12
policemen were killed the previous week in Odi, a village in
the state. |
| 20-21
November: |
Some
5,000 troops are deployed in Bayelsa State. |
| 25-26
November: |
Clash
at mile 12 market in Ketu Lagos, Hausa traders clashed with
Yoruba
resulting in at least 30 casualties and causing hundreds of
Hausas to flee
the area. The Nigerian Red Cross evacuated 150 wounded to two
area
hospitals. The police regained control, under orders from Obasanjo
to
shoot
on sight. |
| 19
December: |
Churches in the central state of Kwara were attacked by some
3,000 youths,
reportedly Muslims, and 14 were destroyed, according to State
Police
Commissioner Antony Sawyer. Police trying to protect the churches
were
stoned. |
