Reports specific to the Modakeke Youth Organisation including its structure, hierarchy, and problems the organisation has had with the Ile Ife; and whether the government supports the Ile-Ife, and targets the Modakeke could not be found among the sources currently consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, conflict between the Ile-Ife and the Modakeke was reported in 1997 and in 1998 (PANA 25 Sept. 1997; Country Reports 1997, 1998, 274; DP-A 30 Jan. 1998). The Ile-Ife and the Modakeke, two communities in Osun state, reportedly disagreed over the relocation of a local government headquarters (ibid., IPS 6 Feb. 1998). "The Ife say they should have sole control over the local governments because they are original inhabitants of the town, whereas the Modakeke believe that they have lived there long enough to have earned a claim to a measure of self-governance" (DP-A 30 Jan. 1998). By September 1998, AFP reported that more than 3,000 people had died, people had lost employment and tens of millions of dollars in damages had resulted from the 13-month conflict (3 Sept. 1998).

For a history of the conflict between the Ile-Ife and the Modakeke, please consult NGA29933.E of 14 September 1998, available at Regional Documentation Centres.

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 see the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 3 September 1998. "3,000 morts en 13 mois de violences inter-communautaires dans le sud-ouest du Nigeria." (NEXIS)

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

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DP-A). 30 January 1998. "Five Dead in Nigeria Ethnic Dispute." (NEXIS)

Inter Presse Service (IPS). 6 February 1998. Remi Oyo. "Nigeria-Politics: The Festering Wound of Communal Violence." (NEXIS)

PANA. 25 September 1997. Paul Ejime. "Death Toll Rises to 30 in Nigerian Communal Violence." [Internet] http://www.africanews.org/west/nigeria/stories [Accessed 9 Feb. 1999].

Africa Confidential [London]. January-December 1998. Vol. 39. Nos. 1-25.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. January-December 1998. Vol. 35. Nos. 1-12.

West Africa [London]. 1998.

Unsuccessful attempt to reach oral source.