A TERM PAPER ON RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE IN NIGERIA
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Abstract
This assessment was set to investigate religious intolerance in Nigeria from an empirical point of view. The available literatures on religious intolerance in Nigeria largely points at socio-economic, political and governance deficits as the major causes of religious intolerance in the region. This assessment, however, departing from the underlying causes approach, undertakes an empirical inquiry into the immediate and visible factors that trigger religious crisis, extremism and conflicts in the country. It also evaluates the nature of state management of religious intolerance in Nigeria and posits that government’s proffer approaches to these social challenges as well as the absence of a long-term strategy for its management account for their reoccurring manifestation. Drawing from the findings made, recommendations on the appropriate approach to curbing religious intolerance in the country are proffered.
Introduction
Nigeria is one of the largest half Muslim, half Christian country which is also rated as the most African religious country. With between three hundred and four hundred ethno-linguistic groups, it is as well one of the most complex, though three ethnic identities make up two-thirds of the population: Hausa-Fulani at 30 percent, Yoruba at 20 percent, and Igbo at 17 percent. In general, Hausa-Fulani tend to be Muslim. While Yoruba are split evenly between Muslim and Christian. Igbos are predominantly Christian. Hence ethnic and religious identities may be conjoined, which also tends to reinforce regional zones: the north, predominantly Muslim; the southwest, a mixture of Yoruba Muslims and Christians; and the southeast, predominantly Christian Igbos.
Nigeria since independence has remained a multi-ethnic nation state, which has been grappling and trying to cope with the problem of ethnicity on the one hand, and the problem of religious intolerance on the other. Nigeria has witnessed its share of religious conflicts, including a 1967– 70 civil war when the southeast tried to secede as Biafra. The most recent ones are those of the Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen, and Niger Delta Militants, and so on. Since the return to civilian rule in 1999 insurgencies have flared up in the south-south (Niger Delta) and the northeast (especially Borno, Maiduguri, and Benue states), post-election violence was serious in Kaduna in 2011, while in the Middle Belt, Fulani herdsmen-farmer crisis continues till date. The recent cases of kidnapping and ethno-religious clashes in Kaduna is threatening the security and lives of citizens in the region on a daily basis.
CONTENT
Concept of Religious Intolerance
Causes of Religious Intolerance in Nigeria
Religions as a Driver of Religious Intolerance in Nigeria
Religions as a Driver of Religious Intolerance in Nigeria
Religious Intolerance in Nigeria
Conclusion/Recommendations
References
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Agwu, C.O.T. 2009. Religious conflicts in Kano and Kaduna states. In: Ikejiani-Clarke, Miriam ed. Peace studies and conflict resolution in Nigeria: A reader. Ibadan, Spectrum Books. pp. 518–531.
Balogun, K.A. 1988. Religious intolerance as a source of national disintegration. In: Mala, Sam B. ed. Religion and national unity. Ibadan, University Press.
Gofwen, Rotgak I. 2004. Religious conflicts in northern Nigeria and nation building: The throes of two decades 1980–2000. Kaduna, Human Rights Monitor.
Iwara, U.E. 2006. Religious violence in Nigeria: Causes and consequences. Sophia: An African Journal of Philosophy, 8 (2), pp. 153–157.
Juergensmeyer, Mark 2000. Terror in the mind of God: The global rise of religious violence. Berkeley, University of California Press.
Kwaja, Chris M.A. 2009. Strategies for [Re]building state capacity to manage ethnic and religious conflict in Nigeria. The Journal of Pan African Studies, 3 (3), pp. 105–115. Maregere, Tendaiwo Peter 2011. Religion: A source of conflict and a resource for peace. Conflict Trends Issue 1, 2011, pp. 17–23.
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