Pro-Government Militias

Bayelsa Volunteers / Bayelsa Volunteers Anti-Sea Piracy Squad (Nigeria)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder:	no
PGM ID Number:	470
Country:	Nigeria
Date formed:	Aug. 1, 2003
Accuracy of date formed:	month
Details of Formation:	The PGM was formed in August 2003 by the Bayelsa state government in order to fight the increased activities of pirates. They were formerly known as “Isein Peace Council” until the government employed their services.
Date dissolved:	May 26, 2009
Accuracy of date dissolved:	day
Details of Termination:	On 26 May 2009 the leader of the PGM, Ken Nweigha, was arrested by the state Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State.
Termination Type(s):	government defects

Former and Successor Group Information

Predecessor group(s):	none
Successor group(s):	none
Private Military Company?	noinf
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:	semi-official (type 2)
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:	yes
Shared Information and Joint Operations:	no information
Shared Personnel:	no information
Type(s) of Material Support:	domestic government
State Sponsor(s):	none
Other Connection(s):

Group Characteristics

Membership:	no information
Primary Membership:	no information
Alternative Primary Membership:	no information
Location:	a. Brass local government area, Ekeremor local government area
Force Strength:	[unknown, unknown]
Target(s):	criminals
Purpose(s):	anti crime

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:

Other states in Nigeria may possess similar vigilante groups, but evidence on whether those groups are armed is missing: Delta State Vigilante Groups, Kaduna State Vigilante Group, Kano State Vigilante Group, Osun State Vigilante Group and Yobe State Vigilante Group (see evidences). See also similar federal state-sponsored State Vigilante Groups in the databank.

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose:	The militia was used by the state government to combat sea piracy and to protect oil pipelines in the Delta region. It was supposed to curb crime and acted as a waterway patrol.
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use	unknown

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians:	No information.
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians:	unknown

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced?	no information
PGM Members Paid?	no information
Reasons for Membership:	No information.
PGM Members Killed?	no information

PGM Size

Size:

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training:

No information.

Organisation

Organisation: