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You are here: > About The Delta > Conflict Drivers > Historical
Historical
Addressing the basic developmental needs of the population has never been the concern of either military or civilian government while they have grown rich from the resources of the Niger Delta. Frustration and anger over the lack of delivery of basic needs have grown over decades and now are the most serious underlying dynamic of the mounting conflict in the Niger Delta.
Successive post-independence governments have failed to use the oil revenues for the benefit of the people. The current violent trends in the Delta to address this deprivation first raised its head in 1967. The person who led the first revolt against the Nigerian military government in response to the repression of the Delta people was Isaac Boro. The rebels proclaimed an independent Niger Delta People’s Republic. All oil contracts were declared null and void and Boro ordered oil companies to negotiate directly with his new administration. The government forced the rebels to surrender after only twelve days but the trend to change the situation using violence lingered in the region. However, until the rise of democracy violence remained rare. This has significantly changed in the last years as more sophisticated weapons and increasing number of armed youths are seriously challenging the state's monopoly of force.
