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Methodology

This report is primarily based on a two-week research mission in September-October 2007 to Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers State, along with interviews with government and police officials in Abuja. In Rivers State, Human Rights Watch researchers interviewed government officials, civil society activists, analysts, gang members, and more than 60 victims and witnesses to the violence. Interviews were conducted in English. In most cases, the names of interviewees have been withheld for their security. Researchers visited neighborhoods throughout Port Harcourt as well as the communities of Bodo and Ogbogoro.

Currency figures given in this report are in naira (₦), which in July-August was worth ₦126 to US$1 and ₦172to the euro.

March 2008

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