ETHNO-RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS AMONG INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES: A STUDY OF TAFAWA BALEWA LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The phenomenon of conflict among indigenous communities was examined from an ethno-religious perspective in Tafawa Balewa Local Government, Bauchi State. Over the past two decades the conflicts in the communities have resulted in increasing gaps in socio-economic relationship and political development among indigenous communities of the area. Other consequences is threat to security of life, property, loss of houses, farms, foreign investment in the economy, worship places being burnt down, and unnecessary social tension created. The conflicts in the area have become major boundaries that create divisions among people. Ethnicity and religions have also become potent tools for mobilization and manipulation among indigenous community. In view of the above reasons therefore, there is need to investigate the ethno-religious conflict among indigenous communities in Tafawa Balewa local government, Bauchi State. To carry out this work, Specific objectives include: to determine the causes of ethno-religious conflicts among indigenous communities of Tafawa Balewa Local Government, Bauchi State and to examine the ways ethno-religious conflict undermining the peace and harmony of the study area. To achieve this, the following research questions: i. What are the causes of ethno-religious conflict in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State? And ii. How do ethno-religious conflicts undermine the peace and harmony of the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State? The research adopted the Structural Conflict theory as its theoretical framework. The study used multi stage sampling technique where by all the elements in the population stood equal chance of being selected. The study used survey research design. Both primary and secondary data were utilized. Questionnaires were distributed to a sample size of 384 from the 2 Districts (Bula and Lere) with 11 Wards. On the first research question, the study found that causes of ethno-religious conflict in Tafawa Balewa Local Government include, ridiculing of a Christian or Moslem Prophet in the media (72.2%), ethno-political power struggle (73.27%), and socio-economic factor (74.33%). Investigations based on the second research question revealed that consequences of ethno-religious conflict in the study area are: i. disruption of socio-economic life such as commercial activities, marriages, sport, and so on; ii. Targeting of people from other groups; and iii. Displacement of large numbers of people from their homes and livelihoods. It was thus concluded that ethno-religious conflicts have indeed undermined the peace and harmony of the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area. Recommended include that Followers of Christianity, Islam, and other religions should desist from ridiculing prophets of other religions and embrace tolerance and forgiveness. It was also recommended that ethnicity and religion should not be used by politicians as means for their struggle for political power.