FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR GROWTH AND CONSEQUENCES OF TERRORISM AND MILITIA ACTIVITIES IN SOUTHERN KADUNA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Southern Kaduna, a region in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, predominantly inhabited by Christian communities, has witnessed decades of recurrence of violent attacks as well as intercommunal conflicts linked to terrorism and militia activities; this is often attributed to tensions between local farmers and Fulani herders. Over time, the situation within the Southern Kaduna region has evolved from the usual tension between local farmers and Fulani herders to now encompassing organised criminal activities, ethnic militancy, and extremist insurgency. This periodic violence in the region is multifaceted, known to be driven by a complex interplay of historical, political, religious, ethnic, socio-economic, and security factors. This paper examined the factors responsible for the growth of terrorism and militia activities in Southern Kaduna, as well as their consequences. The paper adopted the Sociological Theory of Terrorism, which suggests that terrorism arises in response to social conditions that create grievances and frustration among certain groups of people. These grievances can be political, economic, or social, and can be exacerbated by factors such as poverty, discrimination, and inequality. The study also used the Discourse Analysis Method to examine the language and narratives used by terrorist groups to understand their ideologies and justifications; particularly, the researcher used both primary and secondary sources for data collection. Findings reveal that there are frequent intercommunal conflicts and attacks within southern Kaduna communities. These grave attacks have led to the massive loss of lives and the wanton destruction of properties in the region. Several counterterrorism measures by both international terrorist organizations and local bodies have been put in place to combat the rapid increase in terrorism and militia activities, and have yielded positive results. However, more effort is needed to put in place to eradicate the syndrome.