Violent conflict and its aftermath in Jos and Kano, Nigeria: what is the role of religion?

Abstract

This study examined protracted inter-religious conflict in Nigeria, focusing on recent violent episodes and their aftermath. Because much of the violence has been urban and because the violence itself and subsequent recovery and reconstruction are strongly influenced by contextual factors, the research was conducted in two cities: Kano in northern, predominantly Muslim Kano state (1999 and 2004), and Jos, the capital of Plateau State, in the religiously mixed Middle Belt (2001 and 2008). Hostility between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria has deep historical roots and is linked to politics characterized by struggles between the northern and southern states over access to federal power and resources, inequalities in access to opportunities and different views about legal regimes. Over the last thirty years, the frequency of violence with a religious dimension appears to have increased. It pits Muslims against Christians and Islamic sects against each other. The study used secondary sources, including the media, semi-structured interviews with a wide range of informants and focus group discussions to ascertain the role of religion in the causes, triggers and consequences of the violence.