Ethno-Religious Conflicts and Insecurity in Nigeria’s 4th Republic

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue VI, June 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705

Ethno-Religious Conflicts and Insecurity in Nigeria’s 4^th Republic

Emmanuel E. Etim¹, Chris I. Nwagboso²

¹B.Sc, M.Sc, Department of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Faculty of Social Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria.
²Ph.D, Lecturer, Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

Abstract: – Most of the conflicts in Nigeria, both past and present, have been linked to religion and ethnicity. Today, aside from the alarming case of underdevelopment in the country, the upsurging waves of violent conflicts and crimes have left much to wonder. This study seeks to examine ethno-religious conflicts and insecurity in Nigeria’s 4th Republic. The study relied heavily on secondary data sources. Findings revealed that ethno-religious conflicts have brought about instability, loss of lives and has disrupted the peaceful co-existence of the Nigerian people. The paper concludes that there is the need to take the fight against insecurity to the next level where all hands must be on deck and every individual and institutions must join in the fight to restore security in Nigeria. The study recommends, among others, that some non-military approaches should be adopted to compliment the efforts of the Nigerian Military. Also, religious leaders, traditional rulers and chiefs, the media and other stakeholders should lend their supports to the government by sensitizing the youths on the need for unity and peaceful co-existence. State policing should also be considered, with adequate strategies to funding it, as well as eliminating any form of political interference.

Keywords: Conflict, Ethnicity, Fourth Republic, Religion, Security, State Police.

I. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Nigeria is an African Country that is located on the Gulf of Guinea. The country is blessed with numerous human and natural resources and landmass of 923,768 sq. kms, the size of many countries (like Netherlands, France and others put together). Before the advent of colonialism, one interesting thing about the geographical territory now known and referred to as Nigeria was her affluently diverse cultural outlook. To say that the country was rich and highly-varied would be to say the least. From the North to the South and from the East to the West, the rich heritage of the country spoke volumes of how versatile, hospitable and industrious the Nigerian people were. There was unity in diversity and respect for individuals irrespective of linguistic, cultural and ethnic differences (Okoro, 2016).
However, from the time un-concerted efforts were made to bring Nigeria together, series of problems were created as a result of some actions and inactions of the colonial masters, who were more interested in the natural resources found in the territory, without adequate plans to manage the conflicts that were generated during the exploitation process. Colonialism may have long ended in Nigeria, but the disparities it created among ethnic groups persist (Duke, 2018). Colonialism has contributed, in more ways than one, to the security problems faced in Nigeria because whatever the colonial masters did in Africa in those twilight days, including the amalgamation of 1914 was solely to the advantage of the Whites and for administrative convenience (Abeeb, 2017), and before independence in 1960, the shadow of ethnicity had grown so tall in Nigeria that groups within the country began to see themselves as distinct from each other and not as a nation. Regrettably, Nigeria already had two opposing religions (Christianity and Islamic religion), this compounded the problem and caused more division (Smith, 2001; Mohammudzodeh, 2016).

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