Managing Nigeria's Niger Delta crisis under democratic rule: An assessment of the utility of military engagement

Abstract

Since the return to civil rule, the Niger Delta has witnessed increasing dissent in the form of an armed insurgency with the attendant criminal activities. The Nigerian state has sought to manage the region’s crisis using both conciliatory and militarist approaches with little success. Drawing insights from in-depth interviews, newspaper interviews, commentaries and editorials, this article assesses the utility of military deployment in containing the crisis. While recognising the need for securing oil installations, the scale of avoidable civilian casualties raises questions about the utility of military engagement in managing the Niger Delta crisis.