Effium and Ezza Effium Ceasefire

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Country/entity: Nigeria
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Effium and Ezza Effium Ceasefire
Date: 13 Aug 2023
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local conflict
Nigerian Civil War (1967), Delta Unrest (1990 - ), Communal Conflicts (1978 - ), and Boko Haram Insurgency (2009 - )
Since 1960 when Nigeria became independent, it has seen a number of coup d’etats and instability. In 1967, after confederation plans for the Nigerian regions to gain more independence failed, the Eastern region seceded as the Republic of Biafra and this caused the Nigerian Civil War. The conflict resulted from political, economic, ethnic and religious tensions which had existed since before Britain drew new borders when colonising the area. The discovery of oil in the Niger Delta heightened the intensity of the conflict. With the aid of British forces, the Nigerian military managed to take back the territory in 1970. Since then, ethnic violence has persisted.

Nigerian Delta Unrest (1990 - )
Conflict in the Niger Delta arose in the 1990s between foreign oil companies and ethnic groups which felt exploited after being forced to abandon their land. The Nigerian military caused international consternation in 1995 when members of the Ogoni tribe of the Niger Delta were found hanged without due process. The proliferation of arms in the region has encouraged the rise of armed groups which have targeted oil companies and pipelines. This came to a head in 2004 when Shell withdrew personnel from two oil fields in response to attacks on wells and pipelines by rebels. The military have attempted to clamp down on militant groups in the Niger Delta but it was not until the establishment of the Presidential amnesty program in 2009 which required the surrender of weapons by militants in exchange for amnesty. In 2016 a new militant group called the Niger Delta Avengers has announced its existence in the Niger Delta illustrating the continued instability in that region.

Boko Haram Insurgency (2009 - )
Sectarian violence has also been rife in Nigeria and since 2002, the radical Islamist group Boko Haram have been violently seeking to establish sharia law throughout Nigeria and an Islamic caliphate in the Northern part of the country. In 2009 they began an official insurgency which spread to Cameroon, Chad and Niger. In 2014 the group kidnapped 276 girls from a college in Chibok and bombed the town of Jos. The insurgency is the result of Muslim – Christian tensions in the country which is a constant source of instability and violence. In 2015 the military led a regional coalition of forces on a counter-offensive against Boko Haram and they were successful in taking ground. There are also conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and Christian peasants in the Middle belt. Widespread corruption and lack of state authority exacerbate these many complex tensions.

Central Nigerian communal conflicts (1978 - )
Unrest in Nigeria is a product of socio-economic pressures between migrating herdsmen and settled agriculturists, exacerbated by firearms proliferation, ethnic conflict, sectarianism and banditry. Since 2001, attacks have adopted a more sectarian character involving suicide bombings and shooting at churches by the jihadist group, Boko Haram. Peaks of violence occurred in 2004 and 2011, patoral/farmer conflict has resulted in the deaths of thousands since the Fourth Nigerian Republic was founded in 1999. The Land Use Act of 1978, exacerbated conflict by allowing longtime occupants 'indigeneship' and the ability to apply for a certificate of occupancy, putting migrating communities at a disadvantage.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: Nigeria - local agreements
Parties: Effium Community
Ezza-Effium Community
Third parties: Bishop Nnachi Okoro, Peace and Reconciliation Committee
Dr. Donatus Ilang, The Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution
Most Rev. Nnachi Okoro, retired Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, Chairman of the peace and reconciliation committee
Description: In Effium community, Ebonyi State, the previously warring parties of Effium and Ezza-Effium have signed a ceasefire agreement, ending a conflict that began on January 21, 2021, resulting in significant casualties and property damage. The peace and reconciliation committee, established by Governor Francis Nwifuru and led by Bishop Nnachi Okoro, brokered the truce in Abakaliki, with the participation of security chiefs. The agreement obligates both sides to halt hostilities, cooperate for lasting peace, and holds violators accountable under local and federal law.

Agreement document: NG_230813_Effium and Ezza Effium Ceasefire.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Formal structured process
Rationale: Formal process as the ceasefire was mediated by a reconciliation committee and signed in the presence of the governor of the Ebonyi State. However, there is no indication that the ceasefire is part of a larger process or that it was preceded by other attempts to end hostilities since they erupted in 2021.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: No
Link to national process: articulated rationale: The ceasefire only mentions the federal Republic of Nigeria once but does not make any other reference to the national peace or political process.
Name of Locale: Ohaukwu Local Government of Ebonyi State
Nature of Locale: Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 6.635601, 8.059678
Participant type: Local armed group
Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
Mediator, facilitator or similar: Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references): See main references box below.
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar: Local state actor Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): No specific mention.
Grievance List: Whereas there was a crisis between Effium and Ezza Effium, Effium community in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State which started on 21st January 2021 and has lingered till date.
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: Whereas there was a crisis between Effium and Ezza Effium, Effium community in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State which started on 21st January 2021 and has lingered till date.
Consequently, any party or group of persons or individuals that violate this ceasefire agreement will be answerable to the laws of Ebonyi State and the federal republic of Nigeria

A ceasefire agreement is made this day of 2023 between Effium and Ezza Effium.

Whereas there was a crisis between Effium and Ezza Effium, Effium community in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State which started on 21st January 2021 and has lingered till date.

Not comfortable with the war, the state government constituted a peace and reconciliation committee to resolve the crisis.

The reconciliation committee has commenced mediation, arbitration with the parties who have mutually agreed to halt all forms of attack against one another

The parties have agreed as follows;

that the state government through the committee should use all available at its disposal oral and handwritten to resolve the crisis.

That both parties have agreed to prevail on their warriors to lay down their arms by the ceasefire to enable the committee fully wade into the crisis and amicably resolve same.

Both parties have also agreed to stop all forms of hostilities and to cooperate with the state government and the committee in their efforts to bring lasting peace to the trouble-ridden community.

Consequently, any party or group of persons or individuals that violate this ceasefire agreement will be answerable to the laws of Ebonyi State and the federal republic of Nigeria