Breaking the cycle of violence in Nigeria

Nigeria has been experiencing ethnic and religious violence for about four decades. Casting our minds back in time, one would remember Ife-Modakeke crisis in Osun state; the Yoruba-Hausa clash in Shagamu, Ogun state; Itshekiri-Urhobo clash in Delta state; and Aguleri-Umuleri in Anambra state, amongst others. The latest violence is in Kaduna state; for some concerned Nigerians to say that killings in Kaduna State started about 37 years ago, but none of the perpetrators had been brought to book is reasonably correct. Southern Kaduna killing in the past, according to reports, started in Kafanchan, Zango-Kataf, Godogodo, Gidan Waya among others. “No perpetrator has been arrested, prosecuted and punished.”If this was true, it is because of weak criminal justice system in the country. There is possibility that some influential people are benefiting from the chaos.

The violent terror attacks of 6 Jan to 9 Jan 2017 at Tachirak, Adu and Tsonje villages of Kagoro Town in Kaura Federal Constituency of Southern Kaduna has motivated me to write this article. What was responsible for this crime against humanity? I asked this question because violence, fights and conquests have shaped so much of our history as a nation, and sadly continue to shape our lives as a people. First it was tribe, now it is the fear of religion that breeds conflict in Nigeria. But we shouldn’t forget that conflict erupts between groups when one wants what other possesses. Most killings as witnessed today have hallmarks of a planned attack rather than a violent chance encounter.

My first visit to Kaduna state was in December 1979. At that time, Kaduna state in my view,was very peaceful, and there wasn’t much violence in the state. I’ve lived and visited Kaduna, Jaji, and Zaria couple of times for more than 35 years. I have been so fortunate that anytime I stayed in Kaduna no violence was recorded. But I know three families whose houses were razed down by fire as a result violence motivated by “religious intolerance.” They had to relocate to Kogi, Lagos and Oyo states respectively. The heads of those families have passed away because they couldn’t recover from the loss of their properties. For these victims of violence, they didn’t believe that those they lived with for more than 20 years could connive with criminals to set their houses ablaze in the name of religion.

Most of the killings in the world today suggests premeditation and planning.What could be the justification for innocent citizens to be killed in our nation? Personally, I can’t explain why in our society, people can’t live together in harmony. Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, recently lamented the killings that have taken place within the state saying“no fewer than 20,000 lives have been lost in various crises in the state since 1980.” If this was true, how many of the perpetrators of this monstrous crime have been arrested, tried and punished? I don’t think an answer to this questioncan be provided easily by either the federal or state governments.

What most critics refer to as “religious intolerance” or “religious riots,” may not be the cause of violence in most parts of the nation. A former Kaduna state governor, Balarabe Musa, says the cause of violence in Nigeria is due to the negative state of the nation, lack of respect for human lives and poverty. I agree with the views expressed by the former governor. If nothing is speedily done to reverse the declining economic trend, what happened in Southern Kaduna may happen in other parts of the country, perhaps on a large scale.

Those who kill are not fighting for the supremacy of their religion. They kill because of envy, hatred, frustration, disenchantment with religion, and disappointment with democratic governance. These are individuals who claim they have faith, but they exhibit their hatred of God and humanity by shedding the blood of innocent people. Most killers slaughter innocent souls using often, religion as a shield.

Poverty, according to Aristotle, is the parent of revolution and crime. I strongly think that poverty is the main cause of these rampant violence.While religious intolerance and ethnic cleavages are symptoms. Someone once said that “there are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.” Poverty breeds all manners of hatred. And that is why human beings kill their fellow men and women “An idle hand is the devil’s workshop,” they say.But in a country of over 180 million peoplewhere more than 70 percent are poor, an idle hand is the devil’s industry.

Not only does violence negatively impact the opportunities of those directly involved in it. Violence hinders an entire people or nation to grow. Can we imagine the losses in the Niger Delta because the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) have chosen to go berserk? If the Niger Delta is not peaceful, it will negatively impact Nigeria’s economy in the year 2017. The psychological costs of violence contribute to economic quicksand. Children of victims of violence are more likely to perform poorly in school, suffer cognitive and emotional disorders, lack motivation and have increased susceptibility to violence themselves.

We as a people must accept and tolerate each other, and say NO to violence! Federal and state governments’ sponsorship of pilgrims to Mecca and Jerusalem must stop. This doesn’t make economic sense to me. Why should a public or private organization be interested in my religion, local government or state of origin. All these are not necessary. It is because victims of violence find it difficult in most cases to break the cycle whether they are struggling with societal judgements and limitations or a lack of opportunity to embark on a new path. Methinks that religion in a liberal society like Nigeria mustn’t be governments’ responsibility. If not, everything else would be considered as “religious intolerance,” while the cycle of violence continues.

MA Johnson