Religious Violence in Nigeria
Religious Violence in Nigeria – the Causes and Solutions: an Islamic Perspective
BY
A. O. Omotosho
Swedish Missiological Theme
2003, P. 15-31
Introduction
M. M.C. K. Ajuluchukwu in his rejoinder to Northern Zone of the Christian Association of Nigeria’s booklet Leadership in Nigeria observes: “Ordinary Nigerian know nothing about inter-religious cleavages except when incited by their respective doctrinal leader. 1” This remark is a challenge and indictment to Nigerian religious leaders, and worth taking up keeping in mind the recent history of Nigeria in term of inter-religious harmony. So the purpose of this article is to examine the causes of inter-and intra-religious violence in Nigeria. It will also examine the role of religious intellectuals in the unfolding disturbances witnessed in Nigeria within the last twenty years, and what could be done to prevent recurrence and promote an environment of peaceful co-existence in Nigeria.
Survey of religious violence in Nigeria
Within the last two decades Nigeria has witnessed a variety of disturbances some of which have threatened the existence of the country as a nation. Some of these disturbances could be described as intra-religious while the others are inter-religious. There are others that are more of politico-tribal in nature than religious even though some people may see them as religious simply because each group involved come from a different religion. Below is a brief account of these disturbances according to the above classification.
Intra-religious violence
In December 1980, the Maitatsine riot broke out in Kano, claiming many lives. The exact number of people who lost their lives is very difficult to ascertain. Government presented a figure of hundreds while others put it at many thousands. It was the first major religious violente in the recent history of Nigeria. In October 1982, there was another Maitatsine uprising in
Maiduguri in which considerable numbers of lives were also
BY
A. O. Omotosho
Swedish Missiological Theme
2003, P. 15-31
Introduction
M. M.C. K. Ajuluchukwu in his rejoinder to Northern Zone of the Christian Association of Nigeria’s booklet Leadership in Nigeria observes: “Ordinary Nigerian know nothing about inter-religious cleavages except when incited by their respective doctrinal leader. 1” This remark is a challenge and indictment to Nigerian religious leaders, and worth taking up keeping in mind the recent history of Nigeria in term of inter-religious harmony. So the purpose of this article is to examine the causes of inter-and intra-religious violence in Nigeria. It will also examine the role of religious intellectuals in the unfolding disturbances witnessed in Nigeria within the last twenty years, and what could be done to prevent recurrence and promote an environment of peaceful co-existence in Nigeria.
Survey of religious violence in Nigeria
Within the last two decades Nigeria has witnessed a variety of disturbances some of which have threatened the existence of the country as a nation. Some of these disturbances could be described as intra-religious while the others are inter-religious. There are others that are more of politico-tribal in nature than religious even though some people may see them as religious simply because each group involved come from a different religion. Below is a brief account of these disturbances according to the above classification.
Intra-religious violence
In December 1980, the Maitatsine riot broke out in Kano, claiming many lives. The exact number of people who lost their lives is very difficult to ascertain. Government presented a figure of hundreds while others put it at many thousands. It was the first major religious violente in the recent history of Nigeria. In October 1982, there was another Maitatsine uprising in
Maiduguri in which considerable numbers of lives were also