RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE AND CO-EXISTENCE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper looks at religious violence and its implications for peaceful co-existence in Nigeria. To this end, the discourse begins by investigating the causes and implications of religious violence for a peaceful co-existence among the adherents of different religious beliefs in Nigeria. The possible ways of mitigating religious violence and the prospect of ending this conundrum are equally examined. Applying the narrative and analytical tool, the study depends completely on written sources which comprise of documents, monographs, manuscripts, books and book chapters, journal articles as well as magazines. As deduced from previous studies, the religious violence in Nigeria has claimed many lives and property worth billions of Naira have been lost to this monster called religious violence. It is argued here that proper education, tolerance, religious dialogue and reconciliation, to mention but a few, serve as potent avenues with which to douse the phenomenon of religious violence in Nigeria. The deliberate application of the aforementioned will undoubtedly, ensure peaceful co-existence of Christians, Muslims, Traditionalists and members of other religions as a panacea for peaceful co-existence in Nigeria. Invariably, this paper concludes by stating that peaceful co-existence of all religious adherents in Nigeria would indeed help in the restoration of peace, security, growth and stability of the Nigerian nation.