RELIGION AND SECURITY CHALLENGES: THE NIGERIAN SITUATION (1999 - 2019)

Abstract

Most countries of the world are presently on red alert with regards to the issue of the security of their citizenry both locally and globally. What is more disturbing is that this security challenge and emergency is emanating from a sector which should ordinarily and otherwise be regarded as a low security risk area and that sector is religion. A cursory survey of various parts of the world, Nigeria inclusive, reveals a convulsive atmosphere of insecurity, violence, insurgency and terrorism, fueled by religious extremists and fundamentalists. This state of affairs have prompted most nations of the world to institute very strict immigration policies and also adopt more stringent security measures in their airports and other key sectors of their economy and infrastructure. In the midst of these ugly developments and the misuse of religion for selfish and mischievous activities, how then can religion be rescued from such negative connotations and be seen in its true light and nature, not as a security threat but as a harbinger of peace? The methodology employed in this research is historical phenomenology. Findings show that although religion is seen to be playing ambivalent roles with regards to either threatening or promoting security depending on how it is applied, however other mitigating factors such as political, economic, ethnic or territorial ones can take advantage of religion or use it as a cover to perpetrate mayhem and cause security breaches. Recommendations include advising governments and religious leaders and practitioners to practice the ethics of inclusiveness among others.