INTER-RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study examine in one sense has tried to look at the emergence of inter-religious conflict and its impact on the most crowded African country, Nigeria, while using Benin city as a study area. Religion is a social phenomenon and builds a bond of trust and interactions among individuals of different ethnic groups within a political system where language and culture are the most prominent attributes. Religiosity has emerged as the most basic and politically salient identities of the Nigerians. In many places in Nigeria including Benin city, structures of political control are formed on the basis of ethnicity and religion via a custom-made patronage system. These identities have been a constant source of inter-religious conflict and cleavage in the country. A number of uprisings and concomitant mayhem have been reported even before independence and have resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and the destruction of property. In recent times, for instance, the militarization of Boko Haram has undermined Nigeria’s stability and placed the country under constant threat. Inter-religious conflict is encouraged by the failure of religious leaders or intellectuals to imbibe the spirit of live and let live by accepting the existence of other religions alongside their own and through demonstrating this acceptance by recognizing all necessary rights to which others are entitled. Inter-religious violence was also very much encouraged by the “tit for tat” spirit that exists between the two main religions in Nigeria. This is demonstrated by provocative utterances, damaging literature and competing atmosphere that at presently prevails in Nigeria.