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Nigeria: Leadership structure of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF); whether a certain individual is a leader of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF); his alleged arrest in 2006 and his current whereabouts

Information on the individual named in the Information Request could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the following information on the leadership structure of the NDPVF may be of interest.

The Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF) is headed by Alhaji Muhajid Dokubo-Asari (SAS Dec. 2007, 127; Jamestown Foundation 2 Aug. 2007; International Crisis Group 28 Sept. 2006, 6).

According to a 2007 report published by Small Arms Survey (SAS), an "independent research project located at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland" (SAS Dec. 2007, iii), the NDPVF has a "loose command structure" (ibid., 128). There are reportedly groups affiliated with NDPVF in the states of Bayelsa and Delta that have their own command centres, each with their own sector commanders (ibid.). An August 2007 issue of the Jamestown Foundation's Terrorism Monitor similarly notes that there are several youth confraternities (i.e., cult groups) and gangs that operate under the umbrella of the NDPVF (2 Aug. 2007). These groups have reportedly kept their leadership structure intact, while "surrendering command-and-control to the NDPVF" (Jamestown Foundation 2 Aug. 2007).

The NDPVF itself also reportedly operates under the umbrella of two other organizations in the Niger Delta: the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) (SAS, 129; see also International Crisis Group 28 Sept. 2006).

A list of names of the various sector commanders and leaders of groups and umbrella organizations affiliated with the NDPVF could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

International Crisis Group. 28 September 2006. Fuelling the Niger Delta Crisis. (Africa Report No. 118) <http://www.crisisgroup.org/library/documents/africa/west_africa/118_fuelling_the_niger_delta_crisis.pdf> [Accessed 19 June 2008]

The Jamestown Foundation. 2 August 2007. Erich Marquardt. "Mujahid Dokubo-Asari: The Niger Delta's Ijaw Leader." Terrorism Monitor. Vol. 5, Issue 15. <http://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2373587> [Accessed 19 June 2008]

Small Arms Survey (SAS). December 2007. Jennifer M. Hazen with Jonas Horner. Small Arms, Armed Violence, and Insecurity in Nigeria: The Niger Delta Perspective. <http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/files/sas/publications/o_papers_pdf/2007-op20-Nigeria.pdf> [Accessed 19 June 2008]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Africa Research Bulletin (ARB), AllAfrica, British Broadcating Corporation (BBC), European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net), Factiva, Human Rights Watch (HRW), United Kingdom Home Office, United Nations Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), United States Department of State.