THE BURDEN OF RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE ON NIGERIAN ARMY SINCE 1980

Abstract

Religious violence has been an additional security burden to the Nigerian Army (NA) since 1980, with the Marwa Maitatsine religious uprising. This study aims at showing that since then, the NA has been consistently faced with different cases of religious violence, which it fights with the joint efforts of other Armed Forces of Nigeria. The study leans on structural functionalist theory, which explains how Religion and the Nigerian Military have functional correlation as institutions of society. Thus, the negative activities of religion affect the ideal positive functions and activities of the NA. Using an analytic method and qualitative approach, the study demonstrates in its analysis and synthesis of literature that religious violence has often been masterminded by some political and religious elites. The prevailing hard conditions of the citizenry make them susceptible to elitist religious manipulations and incitement of the masses. The apex of the religious violence suffered and combated by the NAis from the Boko Haram Islamic sect in the northeastern Nigeria. The study concludes that religious violence causes social violence and disorder; claims many lives and property; and compounds NA's shouldered security burdens, as it poses severe threat to internal security, intergroup/interpersonal relations and the overall well-being of Nigeria. It recommends positive reorientation, wide sensitisation, true moral education and operational legislations against those guilty of incitement and perpetration of religious violence.