AL-GHAZZALI’S THEORY OF VIRTUE: AN AGENT FOR ADDRESSING RURAL BANDITRY AND CONFLICT IN NORTH-WEST NIGERIA

Résumé

This study investigates the phenomenon of rural banditry and conflict in Nigeria’s northwestern region against the scenery of its rising incidence over the recent times. One of the greatest problems facing northwest-Nigeria today is banditry. Banditry is a various wicked problems that lead to destruction of life and properties, fear and intimidation, social regression, environmental demoralization, etc. The forms of violence seem to be the result of multiple cracks in the agricultural activities and social norms. The government of Nigeria seems to have lost effective control over the north-western Nigeria with regard to bandits who have become militarised and destructive in their operations. The study posits that the roots of these forms of violence and insecurity can be found in social, economic, and political factors. Thus, Virtue ethics is one of the groundwork prescriptions for the foundation of a virtuous society. It is against this background that this paper sets out to explore Al-Ghazzali’s theory of virtue as an ethical theory to be as basis for challenging banditry confronting northwest-Nigeria of today. This research falls within the realm of ethical thought of Al-Ghazzali which is primarily theoretical in nature and it involve library –based research. The research applies qualitative approach. It uses conceptual analysis and prescriptive method. It is concluded here that this theory can help in the transformation of people mind and thus deter them from this pernicious ideology of banditry and conflict. Finally, the paper has some recommendations.