In the oil-soaked soils of Nigeria’s Niger Delta, where rivers weave through mangroves and communities cling to fragile livelihoods, conflict simmers like an unextinguished flame. For decades, this region—encompassing nine states and over 40 million people—has been a hotspot for violence driven by resource disputes, environmental degradation, and socio-economic inequalities. Yet, amid the headlines of militancy and oil theft, subtler but no less devastating forms of conflict persist, eroding the fabric of society. The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), a non-profit organisation dedicated to fostering peace and equitable development, has once again shone a light on these issues with its latest weekly conflict update. Released in October 2025, this report zeroes in on the alarming rise in violence against women and girls, particularly the sexual abuse and exploitation of underage girls in Ondo State. By urging greater awareness as the cornerstone of peacebuilding, PIND reminds us that true stability begins with knowledge and collective action.
PIND, established in 2010, operates as a bridge between stakeholders in the public, private, and civil society sectors. Its mission is to build partnerships that mitigate conflict and promote sustainable growth in one of Africa’s most volatile regions. Through its Integrated Peace and Development Unit (IPDU), PIND has amassed over 12 years of expertise in conflict management, early warning systems, and data-driven analysis. The organisation’s weekly and quarterly conflict trackers are invaluable tools, drawing from verified reports submitted via its Partners for Peace (P4P) network—a grassroots coalition of over 10,000 members committed to non-violent resolutions. These reports not only catalogue incidents but also highlight trends, flashpoints, and strategies, empowering communities to respond proactively. As PIND states, its work delivers “tailored support to national and international stakeholders,” transforming raw data into actionable insights for peace.
The Niger Delta’s conflict landscape is multifaceted, rooted in the paradoxes of its oil wealth. Since the 1950s, crude extraction has generated trillions for Nigeria but left local communities grappling with pollution, poverty, and disenfranchisement. Resource disputes—over land, oil revenues, and environmental rights—have fuelled militancy, communal clashes, and criminality. According to historical data, the region has seen thousands of oil spills, displacing fisheries and farmlands while sparking inter-group tensions. In recent years, emerging threats like illicit arms proliferation and gender-based violence have compounded these issues. PIND’s quarterly trackers, such as the Q2 2025 edition released on 11 September 2025, reveal patterns of escalating insecurity, with incidents linked to cultism, kidnapping, and political violence. For instance, the Q1 2025 tracker, published on 5 June 2025, noted a spike in communal conflicts, underscoring how resource scarcity exacerbates divisions. These documents paint a picture of a region where peace is precarious, demanding vigilant monitoring.
Heat map illustrating the concentration of conflict incidents across the Niger Delta, based on PIND data (similar to patterns observed in 2025 reports).
The latest weekly update, covering 12-18 October 2025, shifts the focus to a particularly insidious form of conflict: violence against women and girls (VAWG). Titled “Niger Delta Weekly Conflict Update: October 12-18, 2025,” the report spotlights the sexual abuse and exploitation of girls in Ondo State, one of the Delta’s westernmost states. Ondo, with its mix of urban centres like Akure and rural communities, has seen a disturbing trend in child abuse, which PIND describes as “a serious threat to the human rights, health, and safety of the girl child.” The document warns that without intervention, this could escalate, further undermining girls’ security and well-being.
Drawing from PIND’s P4P Peace Map—a digital platform aggregating verified incident reports—the update provides a heat map showing the concentration of child sexual abuse and exploitation in Ondo from January 2021 to August 2025. While exact figures for the full period aren’t quantified in the summary, the map highlights hotspots, emphasising the need for targeted responses. The report details a timeline of recent incidents, illustrating the patterns:
- On 5 October 2025, a man was arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a six-year-old girl in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area (LGA).
- On 13 September 2025, a 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped and impregnated by her 53-year-old uncle in Igbado, Ondo West LGA.
- On 6 August 2025, a 17-year-old girl was reportedly raped by two commercial motorcyclists at Continental Street in Akure, Akure South LGA.
- On 28 August 2025, a 15-year-old girl was rescued from a forced marriage to a 52-year-old man in Idoani, Ose LGA.
These cases span multiple LGAs, revealing a geographic spread and a variety of perpetrators—from relatives to strangers. The update analyses these as forms of gender-based violence, driven by societal vulnerabilities like poverty, weak enforcement, and cultural norms that sometimes normalise exploitation. While not directly tied to resource disputes in this report, such violence often intersects with broader instabilities, where economic hardship pushes families into desperate situations.
This focus on VAWG is not isolated; it builds on prior updates. The preceding weekly report for 5-11 October 2025 highlighted the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which exacerbate all forms of violence, including against women. That document noted arrests in Ondo, Edo, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom, with incidents like a gunrunner supplying firearms to gangs in Irele LGA on 25 September 2025. PIND warns that such arms fuel crimes like kidnapping and armed robbery, creating an environment where vulnerable groups, including girls, face heightened risks. The heat map in that report similarly tracks illegal arms incidents from 2021 to August 2025, showing regional concentrations.
PIND’s emphasis on awareness as the “first step toward peace” is a recurring theme, echoed in its social media posts and reports. In the October 12-18 update, it calls for educating parents and caregivers on preventive measures, stating: “However, there remains an urgent need to raise awareness and educate parents and caregivers on effective preventive measures.” This aligns with the organisation’s broader peacebuilding strategy, which includes an early warning system allowing community members to report incidents via SMS to 0912 233 4455. By sharing details like state, LGA, town, date, and description, locals contribute to real-time data, enabling swift responses.
Human rights actors and law enforcement have shown progress, with intensified vigilance leading to arrests and prosecutions. Yet, PIND stresses the need for stronger accountability. Commentators argue that awareness campaigns must go beyond reports; they should involve schools, religious leaders, and media to challenge patriarchal norms. As one expert notes, in regions like the Niger Delta, where oil-related displacements heighten vulnerability, gender-sensitive peacebuilding is essential for long-term stability.
Map of the nine Niger Delta states, highlighting the region covered by PIND’s conflict tracking initiatives.
Looking ahead, PIND’s work underscores the interconnectedness of conflicts. Resource disputes, often at the heart of Delta violence, indirectly fuel VAWG by destabilising families and economies. For instance, oil spills in states like Rivers and Delta have led to job losses, pushing some into criminal networks that prey on the vulnerable. The organisation’s quarterly trackers provide deeper insights; the Q2 2025 report, for example, examines trends in political violence and cult clashes, recommending multi-stakeholder collaborations. As Q3 2025 data emerges, likely in December, it may reveal if these weekly spikes signal a broader surge.
In commentaries, PIND’s approach is praised for its grassroots focus. By empowering “peace actors”—ordinary citizens trained in mediation—the foundation fosters bottom-up change. However, critics point to challenges: underfunding, bureaucratic hurdles, and the influence of powerful oil interests. Still, success stories abound, like reduced communal clashes in areas where P4P interventions have taken root.
Ultimately, this latest report is a clarion call. Awareness isn’t passive; it’s the spark for action. As PIND asserts, “PIND’s Integrated Peace and Development Unit (IPDU) provides technical support… with over 12 years of experience in peacebuilding and conflict management.” For Niger Delta residents, stakeholders, and global observers, staying informed via tools like the Peace Map is crucial. Imagine a future where girls in Ondo walk safely, free from exploitation— that’s the peace PIND envisions. To contribute, report incidents, join the P4P network, or simply share these insights. In the Delta’s turbulent waters, knowledge is the anchor that holds.
