Rising Tensions Over Communal Conflict in Delta State
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This weekly report highlights intercommunal strife in the Niger Delta with a particular emphasis on escalating hostilities over power struggles and land disputes in Delta State. Conflicts over land and power struggles have been significant contributors to deadly violence and communal unrest in Delta State. Data (see map above) indicate that between January 2019 and June 2022, community conflict in Delta State was responsible for almost 200 fatalities. Recent events point to increased intercommunal strife amid the state’s escalating land conflicts and power struggles. For instance, a youth leader was allegedly shot dead and three others were injured in a fight over a leadership dispute in the Ufuoma town of the Ughelli North LGA in August 2022.
In the Igbide village, Isoko South LGA, a conflict between two competing factions over a leadership dispute reportedly resulted in the shooting death of a passenger and serious injuries to a community leader in September. On September 16, 2022, new fighting over a boundary dispute between the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in the LGAs of Udu and Warri South-West, respectively, reportedly resulted in the death of a middle-aged man.
WHY IT MATTERS
Conflicts over boundary, land, and leadership conflicts may flare up again, heightening tensions between communities and posing the risk of a vicious cycle of retaliatory violence in the State. In the State, the dynamics of conflict and instability may be significantly impacted by communal antagonism. At the local, state, and regional levels, this can have significant negative social, political, and economic repercussions.
Social: The stability of the State’s communities could be severely impacted by recurrent conflicts over land disputes and leadership squabbles. It might escalate interethnic tensions, which might lead to murders, looting, and internal migration. Long-running land disputes and power struggles may fuel the development of local militias and the spread of weapons, which may make the root causes of the conflict more difficult to resolve.
Economic: Given that land is the foundation of the regional agro-based economy, protracted communal conflicts over land disputes could have a devastating effect on the economy. Land ownership disputes may make farming more difficult by restricting access to land. Due to the disruption of agricultural livelihoods and agro-related industries, this may result in food insecurity. By lowering agricultural output and household income in the State, this might also make rural poverty worse.
Political: Given that property is not just an economic asset but also the foundation of communal identity, social legitimacy, and political representation, communal conflict over land disputes and leadership squabbles could destabilize local politics and governance in the State.
Credit: Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta
The first is that as you age, you will get physically stronger and healthier, in the name of Jesus. According to Deuteronomy 34:7 of the Bible, Moses was 120 years old when he passed away. And neither his eyes nor his inherent vigor were faded. For the normal human, getting older causes them to slow down, produce less, or even become barren. The Word of God, however, tells Nigeria today that this would not be the case.
Even as you get older, you’ll produce more. You won’t get weaker as you get older. And in the name of Jesus, each Nigerian will bear more fruit as they age and get stronger every day.
Psalms 92:13–14 of the Bible declare that people who are planted in the Lord’s temple will thrive in the courts of our God. They will remain young and healthy until old age and continue to bear fruit. In the great name of the Lord Jesus, it shall come to pass for you and everything you cherish.
The blessing “as your days so shall your strength be” also implies that God’s promises will be fulfilled in your life each day. In Genesis 12:2–3, God promised Abraham, “I will bless you, I will make you a large nation, I will magnify your name, and you shall be a blessing. All the families on earth will be blessed through you, and I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.
Because God added the promise that through Abraham, all the nations of the globe would be blessed, let me reiterate these blessings for Nigeria, for those of you who are present, and for every Nigerian.
Therefore, in the mighty name of Jesus, you will be a great nation, and God will bless you. Anyone who blesses you will also be blessed, and those who curse you will also be cursed.
Another implication of this blessing is that every day, every month, and every year will be better, happier, more prosperous, and more joyful than the one before it. As your days, so shall your strength be
The splendour of this latter temple, says the Lord of hosts, shall be greater than the old, says the Word of God in reference to this nation, Haggai 2:9. The Lord of Hosts declares, “And I will give peace in this location (in this nation).”
Nigeria’s future will be considerably more wonderful and peaceful than her past, and the same is true for you. In the name of Jesus, may each year be happier, more glorious, successful, and peaceful for you.
“Your strength shall be like the days of your life.”
Another consequence of this gift is that you will have enough strength—physical, mental, spiritual, and even financial—for every new season, circumstance, and challenge. In the name of Jesus, you will have more than enough for each new phase of your life.
Brothers, we are standing at the entrance of a new country, and its lights are flashing brightly. The country of God’s promises; a country of chances, of equality and justice, a country of safety and prosperity, a country of laws and righteousness.
Even if the situation as it stands right now seems gloomy and hopeless, we have faith that God, who created the heavens and the earth, will keep His word regarding this country. Indeed, He claims that not a single good thing that the Lord had said to the house of Israel had failed in Joshua 21:45. All things happened.
And we make the proclamation that nothing positive that the Lord has said about Nigeria will fail in this country. In the name of Jesus, anything will happen.
Finally, we proclaim in the name of Jesus that each and every resident of this country, as well as each and every family represented here, is still to see their best years. In the great name of Jesus, every promise that God has made to you will be fulfilled.
Enjoy your 62nd anniversary!
The first is that as you age, you will get physically stronger and healthier, in the name of Jesus. According to Deuteronomy 34:7 of the Bible, Moses was 120 years old when he passed away. And neither his eyes nor his inherent vigor were faded. For the normal human, getting older causes them to slow down, produce less, or even become barren. The Word of God, however, tells Nigeria today that this would not be the case.
Even as you get older, you’ll produce more. You won’t get weaker as you get older. And in the name of Jesus, each Nigerian will bear more fruit as they age and get stronger every day.
Psalms 92:13–14 of the Bible declare that people who are planted in the Lord’s temple will thrive in the courts of our God. They will remain young and healthy until old age and continue to bear fruit. In the great name of the Lord Jesus, it shall come to pass for you and everything you cherish.
The blessing “as your days so shall your strength be” also implies that God’s promises will be fulfilled in your life each day. In Genesis 12:2–3, God promised Abraham, “I will bless you, I will make you a large nation, I will magnify your name, and you shall be a blessing. All the families on earth will be blessed through you, and I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.
Because God added the promise that through Abraham, all the nations of the globe would be blessed, let me reiterate these blessings for Nigeria, for those of you who are present, and for every Nigerian.
Therefore, in the mighty name of Jesus, you will be a great nation, and God will bless you. Anyone who blesses you will also be blessed, and those who curse you will also be cursed.
Another implication of this blessing is that every day, every month, and every year will be better, happier, more prosperous, and more joyful than the one before it. As your days, so shall your strength be
The splendour of this latter temple, says the Lord of hosts, shall be greater than the old, says the Word of God in reference to this nation, Haggai 2:9. The Lord of Hosts declares, “And I will give peace in this location (in this nation).”
Nigeria’s future will be considerably more wonderful and peaceful than her past, and the same is true for you. In the name of Jesus, may each year be happier, more glorious, successful, and peaceful for you.
“Your strength shall be like the days of your life.”
Another consequence of this gift is that you will have enough strength—physical, mental, spiritual, and even financial—for every new season, circumstance, and challenge. In the name of Jesus, you will have more than enough for each new phase of your life.
Brothers, we are standing at the entrance of a new country, and its lights are flashing brightly. The country of God’s promises; a country of chances, of equality and justice, a country of safety and prosperity, a country of laws and righteousness.
Even if the situation as it stands right now seems gloomy and hopeless, we have faith that God, who created the heavens and the earth, will keep His word regarding this country. Indeed, He claims that not a single good thing that the Lord had said to the house of Israel had failed in Joshua 21:45. All things happened.
And we make the proclamation that nothing positive that the Lord has said about Nigeria will fail in this country. In the name of Jesus, anything will happen.
Finally, we proclaim in the name of Jesus that each and every resident of this country, as well as each and every family represented here, is still to see their best years. In the great name of Jesus, every promise that God has made to you will be fulfilled.
Enjoy your 62nd anniversary!
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