ETHNO-RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS AND THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS: AN AGITATION FOR LEGAL FRAMEWORK A CASE STUDY OF KADUNA STATE

CHAPTER ONE GENERAL INTRODUCTION

                        Background to the Research

Ethnicity and religion have become powerful factors of mobilization for violence leading up to the destruction of lives and properties, displacement of whole communities and especially in Kaduna State and Nigeria as a whole.

In Kaduna State, there have been conflicts leading to loss of lives and destruction of properties at KasuwanMagani in 1980, Kaduna metropolis in 1982, Gure/Kahugu in 1986, Kafanchan in 1987, Kaduna City again in 1992, Kafanchan in 1999 and Kaduna, KachiaandBirninGwari in February 2000. Also, in 2007 at ZangonKataf Local Government and lastly the election violence of 2011in many parts of Kaduna State which have 3 religious and ethno-centric colorations. The causative factors that culminated into ethno-religious crises in Kaduna State include struggle for power, religious differences, political party disputes and economic imbalance.¹

Other Factors Include:

• High level of poverty and unemployment,

• Government reliance on repressive measures which later erupt on a more serious scale.
• Government failure to promote social welfare, social security, social justice and equity.
• Government structure   is    anchored   on    patronage    and   social    exclusion through discriminatory policies and actions resulting in mistrust and hostilities. Poor threat analysis, ineffective and inefficient intelligence information by security agencies and relevant government officials.
• Lack of seriousness in the implementation of the report of panels and commission of enquiries‟ recommendations and their manipulation‟s.

In Northern Nigeria, we are faced with a more devastating situation, some communities, ethnic and religious group that have enjoyed peaceful coexistence have been pitched against one another as enemies. This enmity hasoften times degenerated to a situation where whole communities are sacked, burnt down, and property worth billions of Naira have been lost or destroyed in the process.

In Kaduna State alone, during the 1987 crisis, hundreds of lives were lost, while police assessed damage to properties at seventy-eight million, five hundred and thirty- seven thousand thirty- eight naira (N78,537,038).²

On 6^th February, 1992, more clashes occurred which according to official report resulted in the death of 95 persons and 252 others injured, while 133 houses and 26 farmlands were destroyed.³ Also in May, 2000 ethno-religious crisis eventually engulfed, Kaduna, Zaria, Ikara and ZangonKataf local governments. According to official report 471 persons were killed, 518 persons were injured and 229 houses and 218 vehicles were destroyed.⁴

In 1999 and 2000 violence erupted as a result of introduction of Sharia in ZamfaraState. Followed by Kaduna State, fighting lasted for four days in the State with death of about 1,800 people and about 5,100 people were injured.⁵

Recurrent incidences in ethno-religious violence have taken a severe toll in the region especially in Kaduna State. All the conflicts have led to significant population displacement affecting children, women and the aged. Also, properties worth more than N40b(forty billionnaira) were destroyed.

Furthermore, in 2011, there was incidence of ethno-religious violence which permeates the political scene in Nigeria; this resulted in the loss of lives which mostly affected children, women and the aged. Similarly, places of worship, homes, schools and even hospitals were destroyed.⁶

Also the incessant insurgency by the group called Jama‟ataulSunnahWal- Jama‟aa.k.aBoko Haram (Western Education is illegal or prohibited) devastated the Northeastern part of the country i.eBorno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe and Bauchi States. Many more other states such as Kaduna, Kano, and Abuja were not left out in the attacks which had claimed the lives of many people and their properties.

This research work, intends to confront the monumental task of ensuring protection for persons forcibly uprooted from their homes by violent conflicts, gross violation of their rights and other traumatic events, but who,however,remain within the borders of their own countries. Often, they suffer from severe deprivation, hardship and discrimination.