The Izon (Ijaw) National Congress (INC) is an umbrella association of the Ijaw ethnic group "set up to defend the rights of Ijaw people anywhere in the world" (The Week 31 Mar. 1997).

The INC came into existence in 1992 when

leaders of the Ijaw ethnic nationality met in Patani, then in Rivers State ... to devise new strategies and long-range political calculations for a fair share of the resources in the country. ... The mobilisation cut across the Ijaw in Rivers, Ondo, Delta, Edo and Akwa Ibom states. It was the first time the Ijaw were responsing to a tribal call en masse. ... At the meeting C.A. Dime, a university professor, emerged as the first national president of the Ijaw National Congress (ibid.19 Dec. 1997).

Among its objectives is the creation of more states out of Ijawland. Through its contacts in the army, civil service and traditional institutions, the INC succeeded in creating "Baysela State out of Rivers State and more local governments for the non-Rivers Ijaw." (ibid.).

The Week of 19 December 1994 states that the INC is divided between a radical executive wing and a conservative wing. The radical wing allegedly supported the results of the 12 June 1993 election in Nigeria, which showed Moshood Abiola to be the "undeclared winner of the election," but the conservative wing was sympathetic to the defeated National Republic Convention (NRC). The rift between the two wings heightened when the conservatives sponsored a delegation to Abuja to pay hommage to President Sani Abacha and thereby demonstrate their support (ibid.). Efforts to reconcile the two sides were fruitless and the Ijaw Council of Elders and Traditional Rulers stepped in to try and reconcile the two camps.

No reports on the membership of the INC and the Izon Communities Ughelli could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

The Week. 31 March 1997. Vol. 6. No. 13. Wisdom Dike. "Mark of the Mafia." (The Ethnic Newswatch/NEXIS)

_____. 19 December 1994. Vol. 1. No. 31. Issac Umunna. "Season of Rancour: Divisions Afflict the Ijaw, Raising the Spectre of Ogoni-style Killings." (The Ethnic Newswatch/NEXIS)

Africa Confidential [London]. January - June 1998. Vol. 39. Nos. 1-12.

_____. January - December 1997. Vol. 37. Nos. 1-25.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Issues. January - June 1998.

Vol. 35. Nos. 1-5.

_____. January 1997 -January 1997. Vol. 34. Nos. 1-12.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1997. 1998. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

Keesings Record of World Events [Oxford]. January - December 1997. Vol. 43. Nos. 1-12.

_____. January - April 1998. Vol. 44. Nos. 1-4.

Resource Centre. Nigeria. Country File. 1997-1998.

West Africa [London]. January - December 1997. Nos. 4130 - 4178.

_____. January - May 1998. Nos. 4130 - 4178.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, World News Connection (WNC).