The Warri Youth Movement (WYM) in Delta State, Nigeria, including activities, location, membership cards and treatment by government authorities [NGA42698.E]

Information on a group called the Warri Youth Movement (WYM) was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. According to the former editor of Delta, a newsletter about the petroleum industry in Nigeria, the Warri Youth Movement was active in the Niger Delta region around the early to mid-1990s, but it does not exist any more (28 May 2004). According to the former editor, its members were Itsekiri (28 May 2004). He believes that the group may have evolved into the Warri Social and then the Iwere Development Association (28 May 2004). This information could not be corroborated.

Information on a group called the Warri Social was not found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

References to a group called the Iwere Development Association were found (Vanguard 28 Apr. 2004; ibid. 21 May 2001). However, information regarding the group's activities or details about membership could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Regarding treatment by authorities, Indymedia UK, "a network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organizations," (Indymedia UK 21 Sept. 2001) reported in 2001 that the government of the Delta State in Nigeria had signed a bill prohibiting membership in youth groups (21 Sept. 2001). Corroboration of this information could not be found by 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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Editor, Delta [Leicester, UK]. 28 May 2004. Correspondence.

Indymedia UK. 21 September 2001. "Five Niger-Delta Youth Face Trial." Winters Negbenebor. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2001/09/12152.html [Accessed 19 May 2004]

Vanguard [Lagos] 28 April 2004. Austin Ogwuda, et al. "Benin River Killings: US Detectives Storm Warri to Fish Out Bandits -- FG Orders 13 Marine Boats as Delta Govt Sets up 19 Special Courts." http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/headline/f128042004.html [Accessed 28 May 2004]

_____. 21 May 2001. "Iwere Dev Association Declares Support for Rita Lori's Suit." (Ugbajo Itsekiri USA Website) http://www.itsekiri.org/News%202001/N20010521.htm. [Accessed 31 May 2004]


Additional Sources Consulted


Abuja Mirror, Daily Times, Environmental Rights Action, Find Nigeria.com, Friends of the Earth (Nigeria), Global IDP Project, Global Security.org, The Guardian, Ijaw National Alliance of the Americas, Itsekiri National Youth Council, Newswatch, Niger Delta Congress, Niger Delta Youth Movement, Nigeria First, Nigeria Web, Panos Institute, World Press Review.

Associated documents