Incident Summary:

04/22/2004: Suspected Itsekiri militants attacked a boat traveling from Warri to Burutu in Nigeria, killing at least 10 people and wounding four others. The victims were primarily ethnic Ijaw and Urhobo market vendors. Although no group claimed responsibility for the shootings, Nigerian authorities believed that ethnic tension was a plausible cause.

GTD ID:
200404220002

When:
2004-04-22

Country:
Nigeria

Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Delta

City:
Near Warri

Location Details:
This incident occurred on a boat between Warri and Burutu.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Civilians
Specific Description Civilian boat passengers en route to Burutu from Warri
Nationality of Target Nigeria
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Unknown
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) No
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) Yes
Alternate Designation (more) Intra/Inter-group Conflict
Additional Information Itsekiri National Youth Council spokesman Matthew Tsekure denied that Itsekiris were responsible. He warned, however, that Itsekiris were prepared to defend themselves against rival Ijaws he accused of forcibly preventing displaced Itsekiris from returning to swamp villages they abandoned during fighting in 2003.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Itsekiri (suspected) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 10 Fatalities / 4 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 10
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 4
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
Dulue Mbachu and George Osodi. “Ethnic Rivalry Flares, Ten Killed in Nigerian Oil Delta,” Associated Press, April 22, 2004.