International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue VII, July 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186
Effect of Ethno-Religious Conflicts on The Upsurge of Violent Crimes in Taraba State, Nigeria
GARBA, Mbave Joshua PhD, AHIMA, Egashi Solomon, EMMANUEL, Victor
Department of Sociology, Taraba State University Jalingo
Abstract: The study was designed to investigate Ethno-Religious Conflicts and Upsurge of Violent Crimes in Taraba State, Nigeria. The study made use of a cross-sectional research design. Data were collected from a randomly selected sub-set of Taraba state adult population (1,283,817). From the three senatorial districts of the state (Northern, Central, and Southern), two (2) Local Government Areas were purposively selected, being the areas with a history of intense ethno-religious conflicts were included in the study. The sample size was 1110, drawn using a mixed multi-stage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics like frequencies/percentages tables and charts were employed in interpreting the data, while chi-square and Pearson’s correlation analysis were used in analyzing the research hypotheses. A hierarchical multiple regression model was employed to predict socio-demographic factors associated with perceived nexus between ethno-religious conflicts and violent crimes. The study found out among others, a high perceived role of arms proliferation during ethno-religious conflicts in the growing incidence of violent crime (90.1%). The Paper among other recommendations recommended for proactive security measures to be employed to ensure that ethnic militias are not allowed to bear firearms and light weapons. They should embark on disarmament and mopping up of weapons.
I.INTRODUCTION
From the point of Nigeria’s amalgamation in 1914 to its independence and even after independence, Nigeria has remained a plural state. The country is a multi-ethnic and a multi-religious, grappling with the problems of ethnicity, religion and/or ethno-religious conflicts on the one hand, and the problem of increasing violent crimes on the other. As time passed by, the phenomena of ethnicity and religious intolerance led to the continual recurrence of ethno-religious conflicts, which has led to the rise and formation of many ethnic militias in the country. With the emergence and sustenance of these ethnic militias and the deep divides that exist between the various ethnic/religious groups, ethnic and/or religious intolerance has become rampant, visible, violent and bloody with more devastating results as the ethnic militias as the executors of ethno-religious agenda. Some organisations are set up to “protect” the “interest” of their members. Besides the claim of protecting members’ interest, they also serve as a mobilisation tool for their members, in most cases, members pledge more allegiance to these organisations over the central government.
Taraba State is the second-largest state in Nigeria in terms of landmass and the most culturally diverse state in the federation, accommodating the largest number of ethnic groups in Nigeria (Oruonye & Abbas, 2011). These different