Discourse analysis of religion and inter-communal conflicts and its causes in Nigeria

Religious-motivated inter-communal conflict has become quite common in Nigeria today. Affirming this view, Bourdillion (1990:183) averred that it appears conflict sometimes arises precisely over religion and that religion therefore creates conflict. The conflict has been between Christianity and Islam. The frequency with which it occurs leads to wanton destruction of lives and property on a very large scale (Nwachukwu & Ibenwa 2011). The spate at which these conflicts are occurring is alarming and this is portraying Nigeria as a hostile nation. Anugwom and Oji (2004) opined as follows:


Introduction
Religious-motivated inter-communal conflict has become quite common in Nigeria today. Affirming this view, Bourdillion (1990:183) averred that it appears conflict sometimes arises precisely over religion and that religion therefore creates conflict. The conflict has been between Christianity and Islam. The frequency with which it occurs leads to wanton destruction of lives and property on a very large scale (Nwachukwu & Ibenwa 2011). The spate at which these conflicts are occurring is alarming and this is portraying Nigeria as a hostile nation. Anugwom and Oji (2004) opined as follows: [T]hroughout recorded history in West Africa and indeed black Africa in general, Nigeria seems to rank top among the list of an unprecedented upsurge of ethnic and religious disturbances in contemporary times. The situation has remained a constant threat to peace in Nigeria. The vigour it has assumed, has therefore, continued to threaten the nationalities that make up the country as a single sovereign democratic entity. (p. 14) Therefore, this has become a source of great worry to concerned Nigerians.
The purpose of this study was not only to point out the factors responsible for crises and to trace and analyse the antecedents of the crises but also to proffer solutions to this seemingly intractable national malady of Nigeria. The methodology adopted for the study was the qualitative phenomenological approach, whereby data were collected from secondary sources. A critical discourse analysis was conducted on the research with no bias.
The terms, 'conflict' and 'religion' have been severally defined by different scholars at various times under different historical, ideological and cultural influences. This means that there is no one universally accepted definition of 'conflict' and 'religion'. However, Francis (2007) defined 'conflict' as, 'the pursuit of incompatible goals and interests by different groups'. Phil-Eze (2009) stated that conflict is: [A]n expression of disagreement over something important to two individuals, groups, states or nations when they have different views, different goals, different needs, and different values and they fight over limited resources to address them. (p. 393) The religious crisis in Nigeria dates back to the colonial era. The amalgamation of two distinct nationalities (Northern and Southern Nigeria) for the purpose of administrative convenience by the colonial government, irrespective of their cultural and educational differences, not only created a hitch in assimilation but also mistrust and bitter rivalry that has accentuated to conflict. In the same vein, most of the communal crises taking place today could be traced to colonial making as they created artificial boundaries that did not take cognisance of kith and kin, consanguinity and linguistic identity. It rather brazenly demarcated people to suit their exploitative governance. The above built-up grievances and tensions spark off a crisis at the slightest provocation or misunderstanding. The objectives of the study are as follows: (1) to identify the factors responsible for the crises, (2) to trace and analyse the antecedents of the crises, and finally (3) to proffer solutions to this seemingly intractable national problem. The methodology adopted for the study is the qualitative phenomenological approach, whereby data were collected from secondary sources and treated analytically. The work found that religion and intercommunal conflict have hindered sustainable development, taking a large toll of lives and property amongst others.

Discourse analysis of religion and inter-communal conflicts and its causes in Nigeria
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Simply put, conflict is disagreement between two individuals, groups, states or nations in their pursuit of incompatible interests. Bouquet (1941:183) defined 'religion' as, 'a fixed relationship between the human self and some non-human entity, the sacred, the supernatural, the self-existent, the absolute or simple, God'. Another definition by James (2018) sees religion as: relatively bounded system of beliefs, symbols and practices that addresses the nature of existence through communion with others and Otherness, lived as both taking in and spiritually transcending socially grounded ontologies of time, space, embodiment and knowing. (p. 70) Religion is better described as man's awareness of the existence of a supernatural being whom she/he believes to be his creator and controller of the universe and his willingness to worship him through an intermediary in solitariness and context of group.

Methods of data collection and analysis
Data for this study were collected using secondary sources. The secondary sources included, amongst others, materials such as textbooks, journal articles, encyclopaedia and Internet material. These materials helped the researchers to make a qualitative analysis of the issues involved in the topic. The study adopted the qualitative and phenomenological methods in the analysis of data. The qualitative and the phenomenological methods helped the researchers to make unbiased and valid deductions from the documentaries as they related to those religions and communities that were involved in religious and intercommunal conflicts. Elements that were responsible for the crises were identified and discussed critically. At the end, suggestions were made that would create healthier relationships between religions and communities involved in conflicts. Adejo (2002:248) observed that each conflict does not just happen in a normal manner, they are rooted in some basic dissatisfaction or grievances which await detonation at the slightest opportunity. In fact, conflicts characterise social relations in Nigeria, and some factors are responsible for this development. The factors are many, some of which are sectarian, others are products of unresolved political differences, perceived social marginalisation, unhealthy socio-economic relations and local governments and relocation of markets (Adetula & Dung 2006in Abada 2009). Different factors are treated as follows.

Relocation of Market:
This is what governments at all levels occasionally do in order to decongest highly populated area to develop another area that is less busy. However, when this is carried out without the due approval of the groups that are involved, it usually leads to resistance and eventual war. Corroborating this view, Okwueze (1995) said that the Zango-Kafaf (Kaduna religious riots of 1992) between the two groups was the result of the relocation of a market by local government.
The imposition of Sharia is one of the factors that encouraged fanatics and gave legitimacy to Islamic fundamentalism. Of a truth, the imposition of Sharia by government in most states in northern Nigeria was marked by widespread violence in Zamfara, Kaduna and Kano, to mention but a few (Ibenwa & Ayogu 2010).
Colonialism: The way the British government restructured Nigerian society on their arrival, left much to be desired. Some of the rearrangements were carried out without the consent of the parties involved. The result of this was that when they left, problems began to manifest here and there unabated. In addition to this, the two foreign religions of Christianity and Islam exacerbated the problem by their frequent crises that lead to loss of lives and property worth millions and billions of naira. This is in line with what Ekwunife (1992) argued that the seeds of religious intolerance in Nigeria were quietly sown through the agencies of colonialism, Islam and Christianity. The British colonial masters with their policy of indirect rule in Nigeria tried to favour some groups and tribes at the detriment of others; hence, some people began to see themselves as being superior to others. So with the departure of colonialists, this began to create animosity and rancor, which sometimes culminated into war. Affirming this, Ugwu (2009) commented that one of the principal and outstanding factors fanning the embers of religious crisis in our nation, and which has continued to fuel it in Kano and Kaduna states, is the colonial government's support and favouritism.
Another area that always generates tension is the issue of indigene and strangers., Tension has persisted because of economic or political hegemony of settlers, which is vehemently resisted by natives, who put in their might to prove the ownership of their lands. Of course, this promotes their primordial ties and makes it to be stronger; however, on the other way round it heats up polity by generating ethnic or identity conflict. Anugwom and Oji (2004) wrote that beginning from the colonial era, the Northern religion manifested signs of ethno-religious divergence, as there was a rigid distinction in interaction and residence between the indigenes and those from outside the religion. Okpara (2013) opines as follows: Boko-Haram is a euphemism for the Islamic extremist daredevil group set to torpedo the President Goodluck led government, and a strategy and tactics to continue a northern hegemonic hold on the country. (p. 27) The next causative factor in communal conflict is poverty, particularly amongst the indigenes. This has always increased tension in the relationship between the two parties -the natives who always feel exploited or dispossessed or deprived, hence jealous of the strangers or settlers, for example, Ife-Modakeke and Awka/Amawbia conflict. The issue under contention has always been the denial of basic http://www.hts.org.za Open Access economic resources that form the core means of their livelihood and survival and refusal to pay agreed rent.

Onwudiwe (2004) commented as follows:
Much of the bloody disorder in the northern cities of Kano, Kaduna and Jos is restricted to poorer neighbourhoods, a situation that suggests an economic dimension to this general atmosphere of distrust and violence in the country. In these poor, overcrowded and starved communities, youthful gangs of Muslims and Christians burn down churches and mosques and savagely hack each other to death over trivial provocation. (p. 45) Next in the line are inflammatory or provocative language/ statements by some members of a community that are easily misinterpreted or related to a previous issue of misunderstanding between individuals or groups from any of the parties. These statements involve cajoling, insulting, blackmailing and castigating, thereby generating acrimony, rancour, bitterness and segregation. These types of statements should be avoided for the interest of peace, harmony and cordial relationship. Alluding to this statement, Ugwu (2009) has noted that '… unguarded utterances and rumours were also principal to religious crises'. Furthermore, the attack and killing of innocent citizens under the guise of protests against the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad by a Dannish newspaper is another case in point.

Ife-Modakeke crisis
The Ife-Modakeke crisis is one of the important negative events in the life of the Yoruba people. It is regarded entirely as an intra-ethnic conflict that has led to the destruction of occupational and vocational trade as well as lives and property. Aja (2007)

Aguleri-Umuleri communal conflicts
Aguleri and Umuleri are two different communities in the southeast of Anambra state of Nigeria. They share common culture and boundary. They were said to be living peacefully before the arrival of colonial masters.
However, with the coming of colonial masters the terrain changed because of their business strategies and the attendant implications. In fact, when the Europeans settled at Otu-Ocha, the place became a business centre for all towns comprising the two communities.
The situation, therefore, is that as Otu-Ocha grew into a centre of trading and attraction, the land became a commodity with beginning of competition. This, according to Ake (1986) in Nwanegbo (2009), is what happened in the most growing societies, more especially with urbanisation. Although this could be coincidental, but it was during this period that contest for the ownership of the portion of the land, today known as Otuocha, became conflictual, with beginning of court cases, propagandas, framing and reframing of history as well as open wars.
The conflict involving these two communities that lay on the eastern bank of the Omambala (Anambra) river has manifested since 1993 when they had their first recorded fullblown war. Interestingly, the two communities then had three other fierce battles, with the first two coming every 31st year and increasing in intensity of action and extensiveness of spread with each developing phase. These were the 1964, 1995 and 1999 wars. Following each stage of developed conflicts/wars, there were loss of lives and property and the displacement of population with its ensuant consequences (Nwanegbo 2009). Government waded into the conflict and with the assistance of elders and chiefs from both sides succeeded in bringing a halt to protracted crisis. Since then, a peaceful atmosphere has prevailed there. The Kaduna state government in an effort to control the situation and restore peace in southern Kaduna instituted a commission of inquiry headed by Justice Rahilla Cudjoeto to ascertain the causes of the conflict.

Zangon-Kataf crisis in Kaduna, Nigeria
The commission investigating the conflict had not concluded its public hearings when a more devastating riot broke out in May 1992 in major cities of Kaduna state, which claimed many lives and destroyed vast property.
Prior to the riots of May 1992 in southern Kaduna, the two communities of Zangon-Kataf in the Zango-Kataf local government council had been managing and controlling their differences, thereby existing harmoniously and having mutual coexistence. Even when the migrant (Hausa-Fulani) seemed to be wielding a lot of economic and socio-cultural influence against natives (Atyaps), the tension did not build until when extraneous elements created by colonial masters came in (Abada 2009).

Cases of religious conflicts in Nigeria
Christianity, Islam and African traditional religion are the three major religions in Nigeria. It is pertinent to stress at this point that the battle is always between the two foreign religions, that is, Christianity and Islam.
Sometimes the battle could be between Christians and adherents of African traditional religion. Whenever this happens, Christians attack the adherents of traditional religion. African traditionalists are peace-loving people who never attack others except retaliating attacks from others. Lending credence to this, Captain Rattray, a foreigner in Onyeidu (1998) had admitted this attribute of the traditional religion when he observed that 'the west African's spirit of toleration always seems to me something which African religion could teach the warring sects of Christendom'.
The conflicts usually take place in the northern part of the country. Islamism in northern Nigeria is a multifaceted monster. A large proportion of Muslims are simple honest human beings who follow the moderate teachings of Prophet Mohammed. However, at the slightest provocation, they, without finding out the root of the problem, take sides with their Muslim brothers and are ready to do anything to retaliate and instantly pull out their sharp daggers and knives to fight their common enemy. Although fanatical sects of Islam are in minority in the north, they are extremely dangerous and volatile. When these fanatical Muslims strike, they generally elicit support and sympathy from Muslim brothers (Ugochukwu n.d.).  (Okwueze 1995).

Maitatsine religious riots of
Some years later, another Maitastsine religious riot occurred in 1990. This, according to Adukwu (2007), was triggered by an Igbo Christian, Gideon Akaluka, who was alleged to have defecated the Muslim Holy Book (the Holy Quor'an). Gideon paid with his life as riotous Muslim youths publicly beheaded him. The riot that followed the incident was wanton, thousands died and victims' property was destroyed with abandon.
The organisation of Islamic conference of 1986 conflict: This has to do with the attempt by former head of state General Babangida to register Nigeria as a member of Islamic State, which was seriously resisted by Christians, and this was called Babangida's 'acid test' (Ekwunife 1992). According to Yahaya (2011), incursion of military into Nigeria's sociopolitical landscape also heighten ethno-religious tensions and conflicts in the country, particularly through the use and manipulation of religion as it happened on the issue of the organisation of Islamic conference (OIC) during the Babangida administration. According to Sani (2007) in Yahaya (2011:29), the Buhari-Idiagbon administration (1984)(1985) took Nigeria to the OIC, whilst Sani Abacha (1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998) ensured that Nigeria attended the OIC as a full member and went as far as consolidating the membership by introducing the non-profit Islamic banking system. The Abubakar Abdulsalami (1998-1999) regime adopted Babangida and Abacha's draft constitution on the Sharia appeal courts in the state in the 1999 constitution. The net consequences of these manipulations saw Nigeria on both sides of religious divide, getting alienated and polarised against the very ethics which the military represented and which was not ensuring national unity and integrity.

Riots of 14 October 1991 (Reinhard Bonnke):
This time it was the case of a German evangelist Reinhard Bonnke who visited Kano in 1991 for a crusade. There was a peaceful procession initiated by Islamic sect to stop Reinhard Bonnke from having crusade in Kano. The peaceful protest later culminated into violent clashes in spite of all appeals by the Emir and members of his council not to do so and this eventually led to loss of lives and property worth millions of naira. As in the past, the rioters targeted mostly southerners and Christian northerners as they moved from street to street killing people, setting vehicles and houses on fire (Chigozie & Murtala 2009;Ibenwa 2012).

Zamfara and Kaduna Sharia riots of 21 February 2000:
The governors of these states introduced Islamic laws, but at a point Christians revolted. Consequently, this led to wanton destruction of lives and property. When the violence broke out, thousands of people were allegedly killed within the first 2 days. The violence soon spread to other places, and Kafanchan became a refuge town with over 40 000 displaced persons (Yahaya 2011).

Kaduna Sharia riots of 21-24 February 2000, reprisal attacks:
Following the unprecedented number of southerners massacred in this riot, reprisal attacks took place in Lagos, Aba and Umuahia against northerners, in which thousands of people were killed and property worth millions of naira was destroyed. Based on police reports, 700 people were said to have lost their lives in this conflict, whilst hundreds of people were injured and over 1950 buildings, 746 vehicles, 55 mosques and 123 churches were razed. Sophisticated weapons such as military rocket launchers, bombs, grenades and locally made pistols were used freely (Yahaya 2011

Suggestions
Based on the above-mentioned attacks and destruction, the following recommendations are provided. If these are followed strictly by individuals, groups and governments, the frequent religious and communal conflicts would be reduced to its barest minimum: 1. Dialogue is paramount in conflict management. This is because, by far, it is the most effective means of not only making peace but also managing conflicts. It is also the method by which the contending parties are given the opportunity to air their grievances and chart a course of peaceful settlement. Mutual and unbiased dialogue creates long-term understanding and resolution of conflict. In this case, constructive dialogue between the Christians and Muslims and between communities. 2. Capital punishment must be enshrined into the Nigerian legal system to take care of perpetrators and serve as a deterrent to others. 3. Potential conflicts should be nipped in the bud instead of waiting for these to escalate into crisis. Nigerian leaders must wake up to their responsibilities in being able to observe early warnings and respond proactively, instead of being parochial in handling delicate national issues. 4. Government of Nigeria has to be prudent in its administration, especially in giving people what is due to them. 5. Nigerian traditional rulers and elders are not living up to expectations. They should be prompt to locate these problem areas and devise a proactive means to settle problems using the power of their offices. After all, they are paid for it by the government. They are paid to maintain tranquility and a peaceful environment in the country.
There should be proper orientation of people, particularly the religious sects. Time has changed and it would be archaic to think of evangelising people through a campaign of calumny. Converts are made through persuasion and conviction and not the use of force, which exhibits crude and uncivilised culture. Tolerance and accommodation are the keys.

Summary and conclusion
The present study has found out that for a long time now the twin phenomena of religion and communal conflicts have taken a large toll of human and material resources, which would have contributed to improving the standard of living and overall national development. These phenomena has taken Nigeria's development pace backwards in comparison to other progressive African countries recording up to 18% -20% development pace. Conclusively, realising the enormous harm communal and religious crises have inflicted on the progress of people and the development of nation, it becomes imperative that all hands must be on deck, the government, the communities, the religious organisations and the citizens, in finding a solution to this deadly monster of communalism. Again, if we have to remain one nation with federal government, we have to refrain from the notions and practices that infringe the principles of federalism, in the same vein as we refrain from the habits that negate the cardinal values of national integration. Peace is the beacon of development and progress capped with the popular adage of 'united we stand and divided we fall'. The findings of the study validate the fact that most of the communal crises taking place at present could be traced to colonial legacy which created artificial boundaries that did not take cognisance of kith and kin, linguistic identity and other pluralistic indices competing for interest in a heterogeneous Nigerian nationhood.