A SURVEY OF RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE IN THE NORTH-WEST OF NIGERIA A CASE STUDY OF KADUNA EXPERIENCE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

More than anything else, the greatest obstacle to the nascent democracy is the pervasive insecurity of lives and property as evidenced by the spate of armed robbery attack assassinations and religious intolerance coupled with the seeming helplessness of agencies to handle criminal act (OJO 2010). Nigeria (2002) that the situation is worsened by increasing number of unemployed Nigerians some of whom are ready recruit for criminal activities.The above statement from an editorial comment by a national daily in Nigeria indeed, epitomizes the central focus of this paper, the aim of is to analyze the nextus between democratic nurturing, sustenance and eventually consolidation via-a-via religious intolerance seeing it as the most significant factor impeding constitutional democracy. Joseph (1998) said not only Nigeria but in Africa generally is a source of serious concern. Social disintegration could well be the most acute danger facing democracies, undermining the human rights and civil liberties on which democracy stand. Przeworski (1995) arguably with senseless Nigeria’s most senseless Nigeria’s most serene city. Kaduna is now synonymous with senseless intolerance largely occasioned by misgiving and primordial sentiment and prejudices among inhabitant. The directive given to national institute for policy and strategic studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Kaduna sometimes ago to carry over a comprehensive research into the crisis and similar cases across the country can only have the desired results. If the government master enough political will to tackle the issues leading to and fuelling the situations. Gomas (2011) said when it began, it was a time the entire country was trying to come to terms with the prospects of democracy into the fourth REPUBLIC. A monster called indigene/settler syndrome tore the Kaduna people apart the Birom and Hausa were engaged in a supremacy feud over Kaduna North-West Nigeria. Simultaneously religion became an issue when it did it the scope of the problem was amplified as dwellers from other parts of the country were compelled to line up behind the two original parties to the conflict.

Predictably the mixtures of ethnicity and faith has taken the strife to unimaginable, deadly height whole villages have been leveled. Neighbours who had lived in harmony for decades have turned on one another with murderous fervours that has led to the loss of thousand of lives. Numerous buildings and other valuables have been razed social and economic life is at its lowest. The city and indeed state that used to hold a lot of attraction for tourists now find it hard to sustain even the love of the indigene fear has become a common denomination only few weeks ago two suspected bombers who were on a morbid mission to one of the churches in the city were allegedly blown up by their own device before they could reach their destination. As the report was being disseminated church services were promptly terminated and worshippers dispersed law enforcement agents now comb worship centre in Kaduna on Friday and Sundays to safeguard them for a nation whose citizens boast of belongings to either Christianity or Islam two of the world is greatest faith that indeed is said Commentary (Egwu 2011). On the surface, the order given to NIPSS by the Federal Government should bring hope to and even the International Community many of whom are apprehensive about the surface of the city.

Obateru (2011) said to begin with the institute in located within the troubled area, so it should hopefully possess first-hand information about the subject. This is the thrust of this paper so as to sustain the current debate on sustainable development and security which are topical issues in Africa. The profile of the team, several competent scholar practitioner and researchers in peace and conflict. Sociology were deployed in order to attain sustainable development in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general which were from diverse ethnic religious geographical and political backgrounds is an added boost equally noteworthy is the government brief which includes devising workable peace enhancing strategies building a stake holder model by applying strategies for sustainable development, participatory crisis analysis and strengthening community based groups toward achieving societal harming.

1.2 Statements of Problem

This is aimed at investigating and unfolding a survey of religious intolerance in the north-west of Nigeria with special focus in Kaduna State. The above project topics have been selected by the researcher because of special interest, experiences and observation on religious intolerance in Nigeria society.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study is: i. To find out whether competitive politics pose any challenge to the management of the recurrent ethno religious intolerance in Kaduna state. ii. To ascertain if the presence of a huge pool of angry brigade of youth pose any challenge to the management of the recurring ethno-religious intolerance in Kaduna State. iii. To determine whether the significant gap in the capacity of the security agencies to bring perpetrators of intolerance to face the wrath of the law pose any serious challenges to the management of the recurrent ethno-religious intolerance in Kaduna State. iv. Examine if the inputs of stakeholders to peace building process on one group against another ignite the management of violent ethno religious intolerance in Kaduna state.