Onitsha Traders Association Vigilante Group (Nigeria)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
no
|
| PGM ID Number: |
401
|
| Country: |
Nigeria |
| Date formed: |
Nov. 1, 1999 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
month
|
| Details of Formation: |
It is the security arm of the Onitsha Traders Association. It was founded in November 1999 to reduce crime in Onitsha. |
| Date dissolved: |
July 11, 2000 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: |
day
|
| Details of Termination: |
The governor had banned the vigilante group of the Onitsha Traders Association in July 2000 following mass protest by traders in the town against their activities, and empowered the "Bakassi Boys" to take charge of the security of lives and property in the state. The governor did not disband OTA as a body, but its vigilante outfit. |
| Termination Type(s): |
government defects
|
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): |
none
|
| Successor group(s): |
none
|
| Private Military Company? |
no |
| Former Group? |
no information |
| Former Armed Group? |
no information |
| Former Rebel Group? |
no information |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? |
no information |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: |
informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: |
no information |
Main Creating Government Institution: |
none
|
| Government Link(s): |
sub-national government
|
| If link to party, name of party: |
None |
| Training and Equipment: |
no information |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: |
yes |
| Shared Personnel: |
no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: |
no information
|
| State Sponsor(s): |
none
|
| Other Connection(s): |
|
Group Characteristics
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Membership: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Purpose: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: |
not applicable
|
Other Information
| Other Information: |
Police and OTA vigilante group fougt each other in January 2000. However, state government never withdraw its support. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
The state government aligned with the militia so that it can support police operations against criminals. When there were clashes between the Onitsha Traders and the regular police, the state government supported the militia, which led to tensions between the two parties. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use |
unknown
|
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: |
The militia used excessive violence to curb crime and to attack alleged criminals. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: |
killing
|
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? |
no information |
| PGM Members Paid? |
no information |
| Reasons for Membership: |
Young men were recruited by the association to join the armed wing of the trading organization. |
| PGM Members Killed? |
no information |
PGM Size
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
No information. |
Organisation
| Organisation: |
The militant wing of the association was created in 1999 by Paulinus Ubanozie to improve the security situation for the traders in Onitsha. However, its command structures and its links to the state government are unknown. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.
Evidence
