ligious 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 lost. Later on, the same riot spread
to Kaduna and to the Sabon Gari area of the city of Kano. In the middle of February of 1984
there was yet another Maistatsine riot in Jimeta-Yola of what was then Gongola State. Some
lives were lost. There was another Maistatsine disturbance in Gombe (now capital of Gombe
State) in April 19822
. Little information was given about it.
Inter-religious violence
The first major inter-religious violent broke out in Kafanchan on 6th of March 1987. It later
spread to Zaria and Funtua (now part of Katsina State). Many lives were lost on both sides
1 M.C.K. Ajuluchukwu, ‘C.A.N., Christ and Government’ published in Democratic Weekly. Sunday August 13,
1989,pp. 9-10.
2 C. O. Imo, Religions and the Unity of the Nigerian Nation, Almqvist and Wisksell International, Uppsala, 1995 p.
21-22. Also see National Concord Newspaper of 27th Otober 1982.