Religious extremism in nigeria pdf

In nigeria, the two major dominant religious groups in. Parallels between the pseudotijanis and boko haram. A chain of events in nigeria has recently spurred an international debate about religious extremism in the country. For many, religion is often considered synonymous with violence. This question is even more important that young people have reported that boko haram recruiters have. Religious extremism occurs when ideological beliefs are religious in nature, and ideological behaviours are religiously motivated and rationalised. Indeed, this tripod is what carried the pot of religious conflicts in nigeria. In contemporary times, islamic extremism in northern nigeria is typified by the boko haram insurgency and the proselytizing campaigns of salafist groups like the izala society. Religious contributions to peacemaking n religion is a significant factor in the identity of one or both parts to the conflict. Testimony of uscirf chair leonard leo on briefing on religious freedom in nigeria. Islamic extremism in nigeria center for strategic and. Pdf religious extremism and terrorism in nigeria researchgate. On april 2, 2020, the governments of niger, nigeria, and chad announced a joint bombing and clearance operation to rid the lake chad region of boko haram and islamic state west african province iswap. Despite the deployment of troops into the northern states of.

In meetings with leaders of the christian association of nigeria can and jamaatu nasril islam, the national islamic umbrella organization, to discuss religious freedom, embassy officers affirmed u. Boko haram and violent extremism amazon web services. Consul general in lagos continued to discuss religious tolerance and interfaith relationship building with religious leaders from all faiths in the country. Countering violent extremism in nigeria nigeria coalition.

This study discussed religious fanaticism and civil education in nigeria as a paradigm for national development. The current negative impact of violent religious extremist groups in africa has. The atrocities unleashed by boko haram since 2009 have affected millions of people in nigeria and the region as a whole. Government responses to religious extremism and root causes. Undertaken as part of the undp africa pve programme, the journey to extremism in africa study. It is very unlikely that christianity taught the revd abubakar bako to provoke. Pdf fundamentalism has been defined as an unwavering faith to a religious system. Respondents were selected using networks established by the network for religious and traditional peacemakers. To comprehend the most repugnant violence unleashed by a nonstate actor in nigerias postindependence era, it is pertinent first to understand the motive of this group.

Religious extremism in africa center for strategic and. The need for essencism as a philosophy barrister samuel asuquo ekanem, ph. As your project implies, policymakers need to better understand both how religion affects issues of security and stability, and equally important, how to encourage and reinforce nonviolent, tolerant expressions of faith. Although it could be applied to adherents of any religion, today it. Pdf arguably, religious extremism is a major derivative of terrorism in the contemporary world. Radicalisationderadicalisationcounterradicalisationmarch20. Since appearing as a religious movement in the 1990s, the group has primarily been active in nigerias northern states of borno, yobe and adamawa. Introduction at first glance, the link between religious extremism and terrorism seems obvious. In contemporary times, islamic extremism in northern nigeria is typified by the boko haram insurgency and the proselytizing campaigns of salafist.

This publication is the most comprehensive analysis of such extremism to date and utilises data on terrorism in a new way to show. Perspectives from peacebuilders in religious issues. Washingtonthe united states should assist the nigerian government to promote national security and social development and should partner with civil society, especially faithbased institutions, to build social cohesion and stop violence, said the chairman of the u. Oct 30, 20 a chain of events in nigeria has recently spurred an international debate about religious extremism in the country. Recent incidences of ethno religious violence in northern nigeria have alarmed the international community to the point where nigeria is now perceived as a potential breeding ground for transnational terrorism and violent religious extremism. Religious extremism in northern nigeria past and present. 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. Another worrying trend in nigeria is the proliferation of religiousowned private universities. Colonial masters play a vital role in the growth of ethno religious conflicts, these colonial masters brought the christianity with them and try to penetrate the western values in the system of nigeria. Combating violentextremism and insurgency in nigeria. Nigeria stands on the border between the islamic influence, whose expansion came from the continents north and east, and the christian one, that moved its first steps in africa along with those of the european colonizers landing on its shores. Insurgent groups have made several daring attempts to impose religious ideology forcefully, such as the practice of sharia law on nigerias secular state.

Religious antagonism among these two ascendant religions is without any reservation one. The study utilized existing literature and participant observation method for gathering of information. Against this background, this article examines the history of religious extremism in contemporary africa and nigerias approach to countering extremist groups and the potential for. Oct 02, 2018 since appearing as a religious movement in the 1990s, the group has primarily been active in nigerias northern states of borno, yobe and adamawa. Most recently, in late september 20, students at an agricultural college were shot dead as they slept in the college dormitory. While the root causes of extremism and interreligious conflict in northern nigeria have eluded manystudies,historical accounts have shown that the current pattern of ethno religious intolerance was not always the case.

Boko haram as case study muhammad asif abstract the world observed the transformation process of continent africa from colonialism to independence with hopes and fears. A cursory look at all these factors reveals religious intolerance, fundamentalism and extremism. According to nigeria expert john paden, this characterization is false. Pdf ending religious extremism in northern nigeria. Economics of religion, religious violence, extremism, sectarianism, terrorism, suicidebombing, rational choice. Another worrying trend in nigeria is the proliferation of religious owned private universities.

Violentextremism and homegrown insurgency appear to be ripping the fabric of nigerias unity. In nigeria, the two major dominant religious groups in the country, islam and christianity are the. Islamic fundamentalism in nigeria and the churchs response. Religious extremism as a challenge to tertiary education in nigeria. The insurgency and eruption of extremism in the nation. Recent incidences of ethnoreligious violence in northern nigeria have alarmed the international community to the point where nigeria is now perceived as a potential breeding ground for transnational terrorism and violent religious extremism. The igbo massacre of 1966 in the north that followed the countercoup of the same year had as a dual cause the igbo officers coup and preexisting sectarian tensions between the igbos and the local muslims. Military and religious extremism on the shores of lake chad. The following aremajor conflicts that bore apparent ethnoreligious trademarks in northern nigeria between 2000 and 2015 7, 8, 9. For example, alshabaab in east africa, boko haram in nigeria and lra in uganda justify their brutality with religion. What do we know about drivers of radicalisation and. However radicalization as violent extremism is the process by which an individual or group adopts extreme political, social, or religious ideals that reject the status quo, undermining contemporary ideas regarding freedom of choice and expression and condoning violence to achieve ideological ends, including undertaking terrorist acts. Undertaken as part of the undp africa pve programme, the journey to. As indicated above, in most cases this extremism is based on poor knowledge of the teaching of the religion being defended by the group involved.

The reality of religious extremism in nigeria is a challenge to tertiary. Religious violence in nigeria refers to christianmuslim strife in modern nigeria, which can be traced back to 1953. Islamic extremism is adherence to a fundamentalist interpretation of islam see islamic fundamentalism, potentially including the promotion of violence to achieve political goals see jihadism. Religious conflict in nigeria goes as far back as 1953, and in the case of the town of tafawa balewa, to 1948. Findings from the research revealed that religious fanaticism is. This project is a sort of an awearnesses of understanding the mentality of the religion radicalist and paradigm, which brought alot of misunderstandings in the society. Education and violent extremism in nigeria open briefing. This policy brief presents the results of a fieldbased study on peacebuilders perspectives of the drivers of violent extremism.

The second part was a qualitative study in the form of interviews with 10 prominent peacebuilders in areas affected by boko haram in northern nigeria. Nigerias ranking on the global terrorism index rose from 16th out of 158 countries in 2008 to 6th tied with somalia by the end of 2011. N orthern nigeria has been the locus of an upsurge in youth radicalization and virulent militant islamist groups in nigeria since 2009. Religious extremists are willing to murder because they embrace theologies that sanction violence in the service of god. In addition, prominent religious and political leaders in the north publicly preach and. Boko haram and other violent islamist groups have been able to tap grievances over widespread poverty, government corruption, ethnoreligious divides, and abuses by security forces to fuel a rise in islamic radicalization in northern nigeria. It has also had negative influences on other countries, primarily those in the lake chad region chad, niger and cameroon. Introduction this paper is an attempt to sketch out and analyse the evolution and diverse patterns of violent deaths involving muslims and christians in nigeria between 1 june 2006 and 31 may 20141. While the root causes of extremism and interreligious conflict in northern nigeria have eluded manystudies,historical accounts have shown that the current pattern of ethnoreligious intolerance was not always the case. Thus, the proximity of zinder with northern nigeria together with linguistics, family and ethnic ties, and with important flows of people and trade between the two regions raise the question of the potential influence of the extremist group boko haram, present in north nigeria, on zinders youth. Nigeria chapter 2015 annual report hausa translation.

Operation bomas wrath was spearheaded by chad in coordination with niger and nigeria. Implications for national security ushe mike ushe, ph. People have been mesmerized and deceived by religious fanatics to take up arms as a way of performing the will of god. Extremism from both sides is another important reason behind religious violence in nigeria. Religious extremism in africa avril 2017 3 nicolas kazarian. The role of religion in the increasing spread of violent extremism cannot be over emphasized. Military and religious extremism on the shores of lake.

Some of these disturbances could be described as intrareligious while the others are interreligious. Arguably, religious extremism is a major derivative of terrorism in the contemporary world. Religious intolerance appears to be on the rise in parts of subsaharan africa, leading to infringements of religious freedom and abuses of human rights. Islamic extremism in nigeria january 7, 2010 the suspected bomber, umar farouk abdulmutallab, is a 23yearold nigerian muslim from a prominent family who, it is claimed, picked up his explosives in yemen before trying to detonate them as the plane began its descent into the united states. They defy easy analysis, and understanding of the phenomenon remains incomplete. So im pleased that youve taken on the topic of religious extremism in africa. D school of arts and social sciences,national open university of nigeria,lagos. What do we know about drivers of radicalisation and violent. It places the adherents in a position to question certain religious views and dogmas. This publication is the most comprehensive analysis of such extremism to date and utilises data on. Boko haram is an extremist sect in nigeria that has caused. If anything, nigeria is a hotbed of islamic moderation. The threat of religious extremism is real and well docu mented.

In cold war era, the african states have been engaged by the superpowers, on strategic and economic fronts, with certain limitations. Today, religious violence in nigeria is dominated by the boko haram insurgency, which aims to establish an islamic state in nigeria. Abstract the persistent religious conflicts and insecurity in nigeria has given meaningful nigerians. Part of this work is research into the phenomenon of extremism derived particularly from the abuse of islam. Implications of counterextremism approaches on sustainable. The consulate general also cosponsored an event to reinforce countering violent extremism messaging from. Origins and consequences article pdf available in contemporary jewry 201. Boko haram, present in north nigeria, on zinders youth. In nigeria, the two major dominant religious groups in the country, islam and christianity are the principal actors. Islamist militancy has garnered the most attention, which in its most extreme form has found expression through the violent activities of boko haram, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb, and alshabaab. Religious extremism has become the main driver of terrorism in recent years, according to this years global terrorism index the report recorded 18,000 deaths in 20, a rise of 60% on the. The consulate general also cosponsored an event to reinforce countering violent extremism messaging from academic, religious, and humanitarian perspectives.