The Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF) 



Origins

The exact origins of the NDVF are difficult to describe as there are many differing reports, however, what is agreed upon is as follows:
The NDVF was founded in 1966 by Isaac Boro (1938-1968), a well-known Ijaw nationalist. Boro and several compatriots started a now-famous 12-day revolution which, according to Elias Courson, was necessitated by social neglect, ethnic chauvinism, political marginalization and economic strangulation orchestrated by the Nigerian ruling elites. The goal of the short revolution was to prevent oil from the Niger Delta, in the eastern region of Niger, coming under the control of the dominant Igbo elite as well as to assert Ijaw "sovereignty" over its ancestral territory.
Boro’s group was defeated by the army and the members were tried on charges of treason, found guilty, and subsequantly sentenced to death. However, Boro was pardonned and released by Colonel Yakubu Gowon. He was killed shortly thereafter during the Biafran War under mysterious circumstances on May 17, 1968.
Many reports suggest that in October 1998, the NDVF was re-formed by a coalition of "43 militant Ijaw youth organizations," reportedly to "protect" the Ijaw community and to press their demands for jobs and resources from the Nigerian government and oil companies operating in the Niger Delta. ] According to Sesay, the NDVF “has been active in the Ijaw youth’s armed struggle against marginalization and neglect. It is one of the main militarized wings of the IYC-Ijaw Youth Council- involved in insurgency, seizure of oil installations, and violent confrontations with State security agencies.
As confusion often occurred, it is important to mention that the NDVF is different from the NDPVF, led by Asari Dokubo.
 

Location / Main area of operation

The NDVF was active in the Niger Delta, particularly in the state of Bayelsa and its capital, Yenagoa.


Objectives

The main demands of the NDVF include the renegotiation of the role of the Niger Delta in the Nigerian federation by means of a sovereign national conference as well as the direct allocation of oil revenues to the communities which are in greatest need of infrastructural development, which had been assured by the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) but has not yet been realized. The NDVF sought a 20% equity stake by the oil producing communities in the operation of oil companies, and employment of Ijaw youths, on quota and on merit.

Number of Members


Unknown.

Type : National

The activities of the NDVF are limited in their geographical scope and focus on operations in and around the Niger Delta, particularly in the state of Bayelsa. Therefore, the armed group is considered as national.

Conflict Status : Active

According to Small Arms Survey, many analysts believe this group is dormant, with some reports stating that it essentially folded in 2003. The NDPVF and the NDV, led by Ateke Tom, appear to have sprung up around the same time, but there appears to be no link between NDVF and either of these two organizations, although some members associated with the NDVF may have joined the NDV and NDPVF. However, Justus Demeyai, a National Public Relations Officer of the Niger Delta and regional coordinator of the Nigeria Action Network on Small Arms, stated in 1995 that the group was still active.
Some new elements confirm Demeyai's assertion. Indeed, in a statement by its spokesperson, Gbomo Jomo, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said it attacked the facility with its ally, the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF): “About 2200 Hrs on Tuesday, September 16, 2008, fighters from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF) in a new alliance attacked and destroyed the Orubiri flow station operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company in Rivers state of Nigeria.” The same information is confirmed by the Guardian, which states that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in alliance with the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF) claimed responsibility for the sabotage of the two major flow-stations at Orubiri and Rumuekpe in Rivers State on 16 September 2008.

 

Structure of the organization

Unknown.

Leadership

Bello Orubebe, a human rights lawyer, is the coordinator of the NDVF while Ekiokenagha Zuokumor (also known as Ekioemi Zuwokomo) acts as President of NDVF.

External aid/Third party involvement

Sesay et al. states that the NDVF is closely associated with the Egbesu Boys. Moreover, since the attack against the Shell Petroleum Development Company and according to MEND’s declaration, it is alleged that the MEND and the NDVF had formed an alliance to fight Nigerian military forces together.

External effects of the NSAG's armed activities

No information available on this matter.

Funding

No information available on this matter.

Relationship with the international community

No information available on this matter.

Books

  • Florquin, Nicolas and Berman, Eric G. (eds) (2005), Armed and Aimless: Armed Groups, Guns, and Human Security in the ECOWAS Region (Geneva: Small Arms Survey).
  • Sesay, Amadu, Ukeje, Charles, Aina, Olabisi, and Odebiyi, Adetanwa (eds), (2003) Ethnic Militias and the future of Democracy in Nigeria, (Nigeria: Centre for Development and Conflict Management Studies).
     

Articles and Chapters

  • Obi, Cyril, “Youth and the Generational Dimension to Struggles for Resource Control in the Niger Delta: Prospects for the Nation-State Project in Nigeria” The Codesria Monograph Series, (2006), available at: link
  • Obi, Cyril, “Eye of the Storm: Ethnic Identities and ‘Contested Sovereignties’ in the Niger Delta ," Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala, Sweden, Paper presented at Panel on: Africa’s Challenge to Global studies: Sovereignty, Authority in a Redefined Era, 49th ISA Annual Convention, San Francisco, March 26-29, 2008, available at: link.
  • Courson, Elias, “The burden of Oil: Social Deprivation and Political Militancy in Gbaramatu Clan, Warri South West LGA Delta State, Nigeria." Institute of International Studies, University of California, Berkeley, USA, Working Paper No. 15 (2007), available at: link
     

Reports and resolutions of intergovernmental organizations

Governmental reports

  • Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Nigeria: Existence and activities of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force; treatment of its members and leaders by the authorities (1998-1999) , 17 December 1999. NGA33382.E . Online. UNHCR Refworld, available at: link [accessed 28 September 2008]

Reports of think tanks and non-governmental organizations

  • Human Rights Watch (HRW). May 1999. Nigeria: Crackdown in the Niger Delta,available at: link
     

 

Press Information (in chronological order)

  • “Nigerian Oil Threat.", Steven Mufson, The Washington Post, 22 September 2008, available at: link
  • “Oil shut-in rises as militants renew attacks," Kelvin Ebiri, RoseAnn Chikereuba, Florence Oretade, Olukayode Thomas, Yetunde Ebosele, Taiwo Hassan, The Guardian, 18 September 2008, available at: link

 

Interviews

Internet resources

Statements of the armed group

Agreements involving armed groups