Mismanaged Niger delta oil conflicts as terrorism in Amata’s <i>Black November</i>

Abstract

The spate of mismanaged conflicts and insurgencies in Nigeria has degenerated to terrorism in various degrees threatening lives and hampering the  sustainable economic development and social security of the country. Despite various efforts such as amnesty put in place to check the oil conflicts  between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Niger Delta militants, the insurgencies cum terrorism still remain part of the social identities of the  region. Since arts reflect and refract life, Nollywood film makers have responded to the imaginative recreation and narration of Niger Delta conflicts,  perhaps, with the intention to offer solution to the lingering mismanaged conflicts between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Niger Delta militants.  In this regard, Jeta Amata’s Black November is content-analysed with tenets of post-colonialism for data interpretation and discussion. The  findings reveal that Niger Delta oil conflicts remain mismanaged because of the complicity of local and foreign investors in the oil sector with the lack of  political will of the government to resolve the conflicts. Besides, some Niger Delta elites, politicians and political class enjoy economic benefits from the  lingering oil conflicts and thus, ensure that economic stratification in the region persists. Mismanagement of conflicts often degenerates to terrorism in a  state of anomy characterised by inequity and socio-economic stratification.