Gombe state

2.11.1 General description of the state

Gombe state shares boundaries with the states of Borno, Taraba, Adamawa and Bauchi. The state’s capital is Gombe.¹¹¹⁹

Gombe state is composed of the following 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs): Akko, Balanga, Billiri, Dukku, Funakaye, Gombe, Kaltungo, Kwami, Nafada, Shongom and Yamaltu Deba.¹¹²⁰

In the 2006 census, the population of Gombe state was 2 365 040. Based on this census, the population was estimated at 3 256 962 in 2016.¹¹²¹

There are different ethnic groups in Gombe state, including the Tangale, Terawa, Waja, Kumo, Fulani, Kanuri, Bolewa, Jukun, Pero/Shonge, Tula, Cham, Lunguda, Dadiya, Banbuka, Hausa and Kamo/

Awak.¹¹²²

Approximately 80 % of the state’s population is involved in agriculture.¹¹²³

2.11.2 Conflict background and armed actors

2.11.2.1 Background of the conflict

Although Gombe had experienced several Boko Harm attacks in the past (in particular 2014-2015), the state did not experience the ‘levels of violent extremism’ noted in other North-East Region states, as an ISS report noted.¹¹²⁴ In 2017-2018, like in the period 2019-2020, very few violent incidents were registered by ACLED. ¹¹²⁵

1116 Daily Post, Boko Haram: Borno to return 1.8 million IDPs, refugees to 19 communities, 4 August 2020, url

1117 EWN, In Nigeria, mass return of displaced persons from Boko Haram despite the weekend killings, 1 December 2020, url

1118 UN OCHA, Nigeria, Situation Report, Last updated: 4 February 2021, url

1119 Nigeria, Gombe State, n.d., url

1120 Nigeria, Gombe State, n.d., url

1121 Nigeria, National Bureau of Statistics, National Population Estimates, n.d., url, p. 2

1122 Nigeria, Gombe State, n.d., url

1123 Nigeria, Gombe State, n.d., url

1124 ISS, New insights into how communities resist Boko Haram, 15 July 2020, url

1125 EASO analysis PowerBI based on ACLED dataset, filtered on Nigeria, 1-1-2017 to 31-12-2020, url

2.11.2.2 Actors

Actors in the few violent incidents recorded by ACLED in Gombe are ISWAP and local militia (Falgori Militia). ¹¹²⁶

2.11.3 Recent security trends and impact on the population

2.11.3.1 Number of security incidents

In 2020, ACLED reported a total of 3 security incidents (1 battle, 1 case of violence against civilians, 1 incident of riots) in Gombe state, resulting in 3 deaths. The security incidents took all place in Gombe LGA. The incident of violence against civilians was an attack. ¹¹²⁷

The evolution of the types of security events through the reference period, as well as the highest number of incidents by LGA is shown in the graph below. Other than the above-mentioned types of security incidents, 4 protests were reported during the reference period. ¹¹²⁸

Figure 20 Evolution of security events coded battles, explosions/remote violence, riots, and violence against civilians according to LGAs in Gombe state in 2020, based on ACLED data¹¹²⁹

No source was found reporting on civilian casualties, including deaths and injuries of civilians. The identified sources report solely on the number of fatalities and do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their reporting. The table below shows the number of violent incidents and fatalities, according to type of incident for Gombe state in 2020, as recorded by ACLED.

1126 ACLED dataset, filtered on Nigeria, 1-1-2020 to 31-12-2020, url

1127 ACLED dataset, filtered on Nigeria, 1-1-2020 to 31-12-2020, url

1128 EASO analysis PowerBI based on ACLED dataset, filtered on Nigeria, 1-1-2020 to 31-12-2020, url

1129 EASO analysis PowerBI based on ACLED dataset, filtered on Nigeria, 1-1-2020 to 31-12-2020, url

Gombe state Nr of incidents Nr of fatalities

Battles 1 3

Explosions/remote violence

Violence against civilians 1 0

Riots 1 0

Total 3 3

Table 16 Number of violent incidents and fatalities by type of incident in 2020¹¹³⁰

From 1 January to 30 April 2021, ACLED reported a total of 3 security incidents (2 battles, 1 incident of riots) in Gombe state, resulting in 17 deaths. ¹¹³¹

2.11.3.2 Illustrative security incidents

On 24 July 2020, ‘ISWAP claimed to have clashed with a local militia in Falgori village in Gombe state.

3 people were killed’, according to ACLED (based on undisclosed Twitter sources). ¹¹³²

On 12 April 2021, communal clashes between militias from the Waja and Lunguda ethnic groups clashed in several Lunguda communities in Balanga LGA, along the border with Adamawa state where similar clashes had taken place. Fifteen people were killed and several houses were destroyed.¹¹³³

2.11.3.3 State’s ability to secure law and order

An ISS report noted that Bauchi and Gombe did not experience the ‘levels of violent extremism’ that other states had. Crucial factors contributing to limiting spread of extremism were: specific geographic and ethnic factors, but also a strong community-oriented traditional leadership and involvement of religious leaders and organisations who can ‘deconstruct a terror group’s ideology. Also, vigilante groups collaborating with the police and sharing information were essential.¹¹³⁴

The ISS report mentioned collaboration between police and vigilante groups in Gombe state such as Yan Banga was effective in resisting Boko Haram, especially at the height of Boko Haram attacks in 2014-2015. The vigilante groups helped identify Boko Haram members; other vigilante groups such as the hunter’s group Yan Baka defended the residents against attacks from insurgents. Community members reported suspicious persons, shared information and collaborated with security agencies.¹¹³⁵

2.11.3.4 Road security

No information was found on road security in Gombe state.

2.11.3.5 Infrastructure damage and explosive remnants of war

No information was found on major damage in infrastructure or explosive remnants of war in Gombe state.

1130 ACLED dataset, filtered on Nigeria, 1-1-2020 to 31-12-2020, url

1131 EASO analysis PowerBI based on ACLED Dataset, filtered on Nigeria, 1-1-2021 to 30-04-2021, url

1132 ACLED dataset, filtered on Nigeria, 1-1-2020 to 31-12-2020, url

1133 Daily Post, Communal Clashes: 18 persons allegedly killed in Gombe, Adamawa States, 15 April 2021, url

1134 ISS, New insights into how communities resist Boko Haram, 15 July 2020, url

1135 ISS, New insights into how communities resist Boko Haram, 15 July 2020, url

2.11.3.6 Displacement and return IDPs

The total number of IDPs for Gombe by November 2020 was 39 532, an increase of 266 individuals (1 %) compared to Round 34 (see Table 12 in Section 2.8.3.6). Gombe had the lowest number of IDPs in the North-East Region. ¹¹³⁶

Returnees

No information was found on the number of returnees to Gombe state.