Nigeria: Situation of the Eggon ethnic group, including treatment by society, armed groups and state authorities (2011-June 2016)

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Overview

Two sources indicate that the population of the Eggon is estimated to be more than 200,000 people (Professor of history 30 May 2016; Joshua Project n.d.). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a professor of history at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, who has researched the Middle Belt region of Nigeria but is not a specialist on the Eggon, stated that, because ethnicity was not a criteria in the 2006 census, there is no official estimate of the population of the Eggon (Professor of history 30 May 2016). The same source added that in the 1991 census, there were approximately 140,000 Eggon in Nigeria (ibid.). Ethnologue: Languages of the World, a "comprehensive reference work cataloging all of the world's known living languages" (Ethnologue n.d.), similarly notes that there were 140,000 Eggon speakers in 1990 (ibid. 2016). Sources indicate that the Eggon ethnic group speaks the Eggon language (Jamestown Foundation 17 May 2013; Professor of history 30 May 2016), which includes different dialects depending on the "clans and settlements" (ibid.).

Sources indicate that the Eggon mainly reside in Nasarawa [Nassarawa] state (Joshua Project n.d.; Jamestown Foundation 17 May 2013; Professor of history 30 May 2016). According to the Professor, there are also some Eggon people living in parts of the states of Kaduna and Benue, as well as in Abuja, part of the Federal Capital Territory (ibid.). Other sources report that the Eggon are found in the Lafia, Akwanga, Nasarawa-Eggon districts of Nasarawa state (Jamestown Foundation 17 May 2013; Joshua Project n.d.) as well as in the Keffi district (ibid.). However, the Nigerian news source the Daily Trust notes in an article published in 2013 that there are Eggons "spread across all zones of the [Nasarawa] state" (Daily Trust 20 May 2013). Sources indicate that the Eggon language is spoken in the Nasarawa state Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Nasarawa, Akwanga, Lafia, Awe and Obi (Nasarawa n.d.; Ethnologue 2016), as well as in Nasarawa Eggon, Keana, Keffi, Kokona, Karu and Toto LGAs (ibid.).

In terms of physical appearance, the Professor of history said that the Eggon do not look different from other Nigerians, but the "older generations used to have distinct tribal marks and marks of lizards, birds and other objects on their necks, arms and belly" (Professor of history 30 May 2016). Further information about distinguishing physical characteristics of Eggon could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

The Professor of history indicated that the Eggon are "mainly traditionalists" in terms of religion, but that "Islam and Christianity is gaining ground among them" (ibid.). Agence France-Presse (AFP) states that the Eggon are divided between Muslims and Christians, but also have "a history of links to pagan movements" (AFP 9 May 2013).

In a paper about Muslims in Nasarawa state, Dr. Sa'adatu Hassan Liman and Dr. Abubakar S.I. Wakawa [1], both lecturers at Nasarawa State University, indicate that Nasarawa state has a population of approximately 1.8 million people and is "extremely diverse," with more than 18 different ethnic groups recognized as "proper indigenes" of the state, including the Eggon (Liman and Wakawa Jan. 2012, 3). According to the website of Nasarawa state, Eggon is one of 29 "first languages" spoken in the state (Nasarawa n.d.).

Some sources indicate that many of the Eggon in Nasarawa state are "sedentary agriculturalists" (Jamestown Foundation 17 May 2013) or "farmers" (Vanguard 10 Feb. 2013; IWPR 23 Feb. 2015).

1.1 Ombatse Movement

Sources indicate that some Eggon have formed a group called the Ombatse, which means "time has come" in the Eggon language (Reuters 9 May 2013; IHS Global Insight 10 May 2013; Daily Trust 20 May 2013). According to the Daily Trust, the group became visible in 2012 and has over 50 branches throughout Nigeria, particularly in "Eggon land" (ibid.). Some sources describe the Ombatse as a "cult" (Jamestown Foundation 17 May 2013; Reuters 9 May 2013; IHS Global Insight 10 May 2013), including the Nasarawa state governor (ibid.). A 2013 article published by the Daily Trust refers to Ombatse as "an Eggon spiritual group" (Daily Trust 20 May 2013). Sources indicate that the Ombatse aim to rid Nigeria of vices, such as adultery and alcohol consumption (ibid.; AFP 9 May 2013; IHS Global Insight 10 May 2013). According to IHS Global Insight, a global forecasting company that provides "economic, financial, and political coverage" of countries and industries (IHS Global Insight n.d.), Nasarawa state police have said that the Ombatse have been involved with "forced conversion" of Christians and Muslims, and that this has become "increasingly aggressive" (ibid. 10 May 2013). According to the Jamestown Foundation, a Washington, DC-based organization that has a "network of indigenous experts in more than 50 different countries to conduct research and analysis on terrorism" (Jamestown Foundation n.d.), "[t]he Ombatse cult is based on traditional forms of worship practiced by the Eggon ethnic group" and the movement

has embarked on a violent campaign of moral and spiritual reform implemented through forced conversions, though the campaign also draws on currents of political frustration and perennial disputes with semi-nomadic herders like the Fulani, who use the same land as sedentary agriculturalists like the Eggon. (ibid. 17 May 2013)

Sources indicate that the Ombatse is a "militia" (Reuters 9 May 2013; IWPR 23 Feb. 2015) or "ethnic militia" (Jamestown Foundation 17 May 2013). According to the Professor of history, the Eggon formed the Ombatse cult with the alleged purpose of protecting themselves from attacks by other groups, such as the Fulani, Alago and Migili [Migli], but other groups in the region claim that the Ombatse is used to "terrorize them" (Professor of history 30 May 2016). Sources report cases in which the Ombatse have instigated violence against other groups in Nasarawa (IWPR 23 Feb. 2015; AFP 9 May 2013). Some sources report allegations that the Ombatse have a political agenda (Jamestown Foundation 17 May 2013; Daily Trust 20 May 2013; AFP 9 May 2013), such as aiming to secure a governor of Eggon ethnicity (ibid.; Daily Trust 20 May 2013). Sources indicate that the Ombatse was banned by Nasarawa state authorities in 2012 (ibid.; Jamestown Foundation 17 May 2013).

2. Treatment by Society and Armed Groups

Sources indicate that the Eggon have complained of being mistreated by other ethnic groups, including the Fulani (The Herald 5 Sept. 2013; Professor of history 30 May 2016), the Alago (ibid.; Leadership 24 June 2012) and the Migili (Professor of history 30 May 2016; Daily Trust 29 Nov. 2014).

2.1 Clashes with Fulani

Several sources report that there is a problem with ethnic violence between the Eggon and Fulani in Nasarawa state (Vanguard 10 Feb. 2013; Daily Trust 20 May 2013; IWPR 23 Feb. 2015). The Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), an organization that supports local reporters, citizen journalists and civil society activists in countries in conflict and crisis (IWPR n.d.), explains that, in addition of ethnic differences, access to scarce resources, such as grazing and water, are factors in the violence between nomadic pastoralists and farmers in Nasarawa (ibid. 23 Feb. 2015). According to the African News Agency (Agence de presse africaine, APA), the Eggon and Fulani have been in conflict since 2010, "leading to bloodletting and loss of property and destruction of Eggon villages" (APA 21 Oct. 2012). Nigerian Tribune similarly reports that the Fulani have carried out "serial attacks" on Eggon communities (24 Sept. 2014). The Daily Trust states in a 2014 article that "in recent months," hostilities between the Eggon and Fulani had impacted at least 40 communities in Lafia, Obi, Keana, Doma, and Nasawara Eggon (Daily Trust 29 Dec. 2014). The same source states that "[h]undreds have been killed, while thousands have migrated to urban centres and neighbouring states of Plateau, Benue and Taraba" (ibid.).

Sources report that several clashes between the Fulani and Eggon occurred in Nasarawa state between 2012 and 2014, including the following:

In October 2012, Fulani herdsmen allegedly raided 3 villages in the Giza development area, killing 13 people, including 9 Eggon farmers (APA 21 Oct. 2012).

In February 2013, 30 people were killed and several others wounded in a clash between Fulani and Eggon in Randa village, near Kwandere (Vanguard 10 Feb. 2013). Police were deployed to the area, but the attack continued (ibid.).

In a memorandum submitted to the Judicial Commission of Enquiry [2], Eggon communities in the Barkin Abdullahi District (BAD) of Lafia and its surroundings accused "'Fulani mercenaries'" of killing 22 people and burning 139 homes, 10 shops and a hospital in multiple villages in this area in February 2013 (The Herald 5 Sept. 2013).

In August 2014, approximately 60 people died in fighting between Fulani herdsmen and ethnic Eggon farmers in Nasawara state (AI 25 Feb. 2015, 277; IWPR 23 Feb. 2015). According to the IWPR, the attack on the Fulani village of Alingani in Nasarawa state was supported by the local Ombatse group and more than 80 houses and properties were destroyed (ibid.).

In September 2014, Fulani "mercenaries" attacked Kampani, Agbolagu and Fadama-Bona, three Eggon communities in the Eggon LGA, and shot 45 people (Nigeria Tribune 3 Sept. 2014). Later in the same month, 10 people were killed and houses were burnt when approximately 300 "Fulani mercenaries" attacked Gidan-Gambo, an Eggon community in Lafia LGA (ibid. 24 Sept. 2014).

In November 2014, Fulani herdsmen carried out twin attacks in Likygegba, in Arikya, and Agwan-Mangoro in Lafia LGA, killing over 32 people and injuring several others (Nigerian Tribune 10 Nov. 2014). The attack was reportedly in reprisal for an Eggon militia attacking the Gwayaka and Tungan-Dauda communities the day before (ibid.).

Later in November 2014, an armed group believed to be Fulani raided Alakyo, a village outside Lafia; the spiritual leader of the Ombatse and the village head of Alakyo were believed to be killed, and a shrine was destroyed (Daily Trust 24 Nov. 2014). The fighting also spread to Fadaman Bauna and Doka, two other Eggon settlements in Akura (ibid.).

Daily Trust indicates that in December 2014, the Eggon and Fulani "entered a pact to end the ethnic hostilities," which was initiated by the House of Representatives member for Lafia/Obi (ibid. 29 Dec. 2014). Further information about the pact and its implementation could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

In 3 June 2016 correspondence with the Research Directorate, an assistant professor of criminology and socio-legal studies at the University of Alberta, who specializes in Nigeria but not on the Eggon, stated that Fulani herdsmen are "a genuine threat to the Eggon vis-à-vis their livelihood and increasingly, [their] lives," and that Fulani attacks have "escalated in the last few months" (Assistant professor of criminology 3 June 2016). He explained that the Fulani's "[r]oving cattle destroy the farmland of whole communities and families with impunity" (ibid.).

2.2 Clashes Between the Eggon and Other Groups in Nasarawa State

Media sources report on the following clashes between the Eggon and Alago ethnic groups:

In June 2012, there was a clash between the Eggon and the Alago communities in Assakio, in the Lafia LGA of Nasarawa state, that killed at least 30 people, injured thousands, and destroyed property (Leadership 24 June 2012). The fighting was reportedly caused by a unilateral decision of the Alago traditional leader to increase land rent for farmers cultivating the community land (ibid.).

In September 2013, there were additional clashes between the Eggon and Alago ethnic groups in Nasarawa state, resulting in 31 killings, the destruction by arson of 1,300 homes and the displacement of people into refugee camps (ibid. 23 Sept. 2013; Xinhua 20 Sept. 2013). The President deployed troops to quell the violence (ibid.; Leadership 23 Sept. 2013).The fighting reportedly happened in the Obi LGA and the Assakio area of Lafia East LGA (Xinhua 20 Sept. 2013).

Sources report incidents of violence between the Eggon and other groups, including:

According to Amnesty International (AI), in November 2014, 40 people were killed in clashes between the Eggon and Gwadara ethnic groups over a piece of land (AI 25 Feb. 2015, 277).

The Daily Trust reports that, in November 2014, three people were killed in an attack on a Migli community, which the community blamed on the Ombatse (Daily Trust 29 Nov. 2014).

Sources indicate that there were clashes between the Eggon and other groups in the Nasarawa state capital Lafia in November 2014, which included clashes between the Eggon and the Kambari (Leadership 19 Nov. 2014; Daily Trust 18 Nov. 2014) and the Eggon and the Gwandara (ibid.). According to Nigerian Abuja-based newspaper Leadership, 12 people were killed and over 30 houses were burnt in fighting between the Eggon and the Kambari, before soldiers arrived (19 Nov. 2014). According to the Nigerian newspaper Premium Times, Eggon residents were fleeing Lafia "in droves" and heading towards Nasarawa Eggon LGA and Akwanga LGA (18 Nov. 2014).

2.3 Treatment Outside of Nasarawa State

The Professor of history stated that if Eggon people relocate to other areas of Nigeria, "they may have the issue of indigeneship to contend with": it may be difficult for them to get jobs or occupy political offices in states to which they are not indigenous (Professor of history 30 May 2016). The assistant professor of criminology similarly stated that,

[t]he Eggon may face serious problems while attempting to settle in other parts of the country, particularly if they are farmers. Land may be unavailable to them and exclusion in terms of employment (in a country with high unemployment rates) is a real possibility. (Assistant professor of criminology 3 June 2016)

For further information on ethnicity in Nigeria, the issue of indigeneship, and the ability for ethnic groups to relocate to areas where they are not indigenous, see Response to Information Request NGA104216.

3. Treatment by Authorities

According to the Professor of history, within the last 15-18 years, the Eggon have complained of discrimination by state political leaders who came from outside their area (Professor of history 30 May 2016). The same source further stated that the Eggon "have complained of neglect, persecution and harassment in terms of provision and maintenance of infrastructure and job[s] as well as deliberate sponsorship of armed attacks on them" (ibid.). In contrast, in correspondence with the Research Directorate, a professor of history and international studies at the University of Ilorin in Nigeria, who has conducted work on ethno-cultural conflict in Nigeria, said that the Eggon "are in control of most issues in Nasarawa state," and receive "government patronage with prominent Eggons as Ministers" in the government (Professor of history and international studies 31 May 2016). He stated that they have "very good work opportunities, heathcare and educational systems" and he gave the opinion that they are not a marginalized group (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

In their memorandum to the Judicial Commission of Enquiry, reported on in the Herald, Eggon community members in the BAD region near Lafia faulted the Nasarawa state government for not taking "'proactive measures'" to protect them against violence in February 2013 and for releasing 28 "suspected mercenaries" who had been arrested following the attacks (The Herald 5 Sept. 2013).

In May 2013, the Ombatse reportedly "ambush[ed]" dozens of police officers in a community located approximately 10 kilometres outside Lafia (Reuters 9 May 2013; IHS Global Insight 10 May 2013; AFP 9 May 2013). The number of police officers killed ranges among sources from 30 (ibid.; Jamestown Foundation 17 May 2013) to as many as 95 (ibid.). Media sources indicate that the police officers were deployed to the area to arrest the leader of the Ombatse (Reuters 9 May 2013; IHS Global Insight 10 May 2013) for alleged forced conversions of Muslims and Christians in the area (ibid.). According to the Daily Trust, 17 suspects of Eggon ethnicity were arrested in connection with the event (Daily Trust 20 May 2013).

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.

Notes

[1] Dr. Sa'adatu Hassan Liman is a lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies at Nasarawa State University and Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Idris Wakawa is a lecturer in the Department of Languages and Linguistics at the same university (Liman and Wakawa Jan. 2012, 1).

[2] According to the Herald, a Nigerian digital newspaper and magazine (The Herald n.d.), the Judicial Commission of Enquiry was "probing the killing of over 50 security personnel at Lakyo village in Nasarawa State" (The Herald 5 Sept. 2013). See section 3 of this Response to Information Request for information about Ombatse involvement in the killing of law enforcement officials in Alakyo village in May 2013.

References

Agence de presse africaine (APA). 21 October 2012. "At Least 13 Die in Inter-Ethnic Violence in Northern Nigeria." (Factiva)

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 9 May 2013. Aminu Abubakar. "Gunmen from Nigeria Cult Kill 30 Police in Ambush." [Accessed 26 May 2016]

Amnesty International (AI). 25 February 2015. "Nigeria." Amnesty International Report 2014/15: The State of the World's Human Rights. [Accessed 25 Feb. 2012]

Assistant professor of criminology, University of Alberta. 3 June 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Daily Trust. 29 December 2014. Hir Joseph. "Fulani, Eggon in Pact to End Hostilities." (Factiva)

Daily Trust. 29 November 2014. Hir Joseph. "Militia Kill Three Members of One Family in Nasarawa." (Factiva)

Daily Trust. 24 November 2014. Hir Joseph. "Nasarawa Bloodbath - the Inside Story." (Factiva)

Daily Trust. 18 November 2014. Hir Joseph. "Alakyo Violence Spreads to Lafia." (Factiva)

Daily Trust. 20 May 2013. Hir Joseph. "Ombatse - Profile of Deadly Cult Group." (Factiva)

Ethnologue: Languages of the World. 2016. 19th ed. "Eggon." Edited by M. Paul Lewis, Gary F. Simons and Charles D. Fennig. Dallas: SIL International. [Accessed 1 June 2016]

Ethnologue: Languages of the World. N.d. "About the Ethnologue." [Accessed 1 June 2016]

The Herald. 5 September 2013. Tobi Adeyeye. "Nassarawa Killings: Eggon Accuse Fulani Mercenaries of Killing 22 People, Burning 150 Houses." [Accessed 26 May 2016]

The Herald. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 7 June 2016]

IHS Global Insight. 10 May 2013. Fred Saugman. "'Cult' Gunmen in Nigeria Kill at Least 46 Police Officers." (Factiva)

IHS Global Insight. N.d. "About IHS Global Insight." [Accessed 6 June 2016]

Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR). 23 February 2015. Edegbe Odemwingie. "Grazing Routes to Ethnic Bloodshed." [Accessed 26 May 2016]

Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR). N.d. "What We Do." [Accessed 7 June 2016]

Jamestown Foundation. 17 May 2013. Andrew McGregor. "Ombatse: Nigerian Religious Cult Joins War on the State in Central Nigeria." Terrorism Monitor. Vol. 11, Issue 10. [Accessed 26 May 2016]

Jamestown Foundation. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 2 June 2016]

Joshua Project. N.d. "Eggon in Nigeria." [Accessed 26 May 2016]

Leadership. 19 November 2014. "Latest Adamawa Village Attack - 10 Soldiers, Scores of Insurgents Killed." (Factiva)

Leadership. 23 September 2013. "Al-Makura Confirms Death of 31 People, Burning of 1,300 Houses in Nasarawa Crisis." (Factiva)

Leadership. 24 June 2012. Donatus Nadi. "The Bloodbath that Disfigured Two Nasarawa Communities." (Factiva)

Liman, Sa'adatu Hassan and Abubakar S.I. Wakawa. January 2012. Muslims of Nasarawa State: A Survey. Nigeria Research Network (NRN), Oxford Department of International Development, Oxford University. [Accessed 26 May 2016]

Nasarawa State. N.d. "Languages of Nasarawa State." [Accessed 30 May 2016]

Nigerian Tribune. 10 November 2014. "Again, Fulani Herdsmen Kill 32 in Nasarawa." (Factiva)

Nigerian Tribune. 24 September 2014. "Fulanis Invade Eggon Community in Nasarawa Kill 10 People, Set Houses Ablaze." (Factiva)

Nigerian Tribune. 3 September 2014. "Forty-five Feared Killed in Nigeria Attack in Nasarawa." (Factiva)

Premium Times. 18 November 2014. Muhammad Ahmad. "Fresh Fighting Erupts in Lafia, Nasarawa - One Feared Killed." (Factiva)

Professor of history, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. 30 May 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Professor of history and international studies, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. 31 May 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Reuters. 9 May 2013. "Nigeria Ambush Kills 46 Police, Blamed on Local Cult." (Factiva)

Vanguard. 10 February 2013. Abel Daniel. "Community Clashes in Nigeria's Nasarawa State Claim 30 Lives." (Factiva)

Xinhua News Agency. 20 September 2013. Olatunji Saliu. "31 Killed in Nigeria Ethnic Violence." (Factiva)

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Africa Center for Strategic Studies; ecoi.net; Factiva; Human Rights Watch; Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa; Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre; IRIN; Minority Rights Group International; Nigeria - National Population Commission; UN - Refworld; US Institute of Peace.