Last modified: 2009-08-15 by phil nelson
Keywords: ijaw | egbesu | white flag |
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Ijaw is a major nation of Southern Nigeria, primarily in the States of Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers, in the oil-rich region of Niger Delta, numbering more than 14 million.1
Complaining about environmental degradation and wealth distribution from the oil exploitation in their homeland, the Ijaw people demand more autonomy or even secession from Nigeria or, in their own words, "resource control and self determination by any means necessary".
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta - MEND, with few
allied groups, conducts armed operations against the Nigerian government
and foreign oil companies - mainly kidnappings of oil workers and disruption
of oil fields work.2
There are several flags in use by the Ijaw, but the information on them is
very sketchy so far.
image by Chrystian Kretowicz, 8 Februrary 2009
Source: Ijaw Foundation website
The website shows the logo (emblem) of Ijaw Foundation featuring two crossed flags. One (on the right - a blue, red, green tri-band) appears to be an Ijaw "national" flag. The other (on the left - - plain white) is used by MEND
image by Chrystian Kretowicz, 8 Februrary 2009
The white flag of MEND appears on several photographs on the web - two examples are a shown at siu.no halfway down the page.
Also: english.aljazeera.net
The flag suppose to signify the Ijaw god of war, Egbesu.
image contributed by Chrystian Kretowicz, 8 Februrary 2009
Source: Ijaw People's Association website
image contributed by Chrystian Kretowicz, 8 Februrary 2009
Source: Ijaw Youth Movement website
The Ijaw Youth Movement started all the commotion and unrest with the Kiama Declaration of December 11, 1998.
