Introduction

Nigeria’s federal arrangement brings together about four hundred ethnic groups. Each of these has different historical, cultural and social backgrounds. Such an arrangement is not, however, peculiar to Nigeria’s political milieu; countries such as Canada and Australia adopt the same system. But while countries with such arrangements are typically more susceptible to ethnic agitation and conflict, Nigeria’s case, in recent times, has become quite profound. The objective of this paper is to focus on ethnic agitation and conflicts in Nigeria between 1999 to 2001 by highlighting the issues involved in those conflicts and the scale of violence involved. This is with a view to finding solutions to the perennial ethnic problems in Nigeria.

Democratic Rule and Ethnic Conflicts

The year 1999 ushered in democratic rule to Nigeria; that is, the Fourth Republic came into being after almost 15 years of military rule (1984-1999). Military rule in Nigeria instilled fear into the minds of the people and this in turn did not give room for ethnic violence, as all agitation was suppressed by the military. The military was able to do this because of its possession of coercive power, made manifest in different forms. These included the issuing of obnoxious decrees, arbitrary arrests and detentions, closure of schools and newspaper,  and the frequent banning and unbanning of members of the political elite.

However, the quitting of the stage by the military was followed by a number of ethnic agitations, including the Shagamu riot, Ketu/Mile 12 riot, Bodija riot, Ajegunle riot, and the Kano riot. We shall briefly discuss these agitations in turn.

Shagamu Riot

Sagamu is a metropolitan city in the Ijebu-Remo Local Government area of Ogun State. The city in July 1999 experienced a rupture when violence broke out between the Yorubas and the Hausas, who had been living together harmoniously at Sagamu for several years. The violence erupted as a result of a disagreement over the observance of the rituals of a traditional festival of the Yoruba people in the area, the Oro Festival. However, there were several other remote causes of the conflict as well. The first was the long-standing political rivalry between the two groups. There had been political competition between the leadership of the two ethnic groups, Yoruba and Hausa, and this negatively affected the harmonious relationship that hitherto existed between the two groups, not only in Sagamu but also in Nigeria as a whole.  Also, there was bitterness arising from the claims of ownership over land, called Sabo Sagamu, where the Hausa community resides. The Hausas were regarded as settlers, who should not claim land ownership in their host communities. The Hausas no doubt viewed the situation, leading to increased tension and hostility between the two groups.

Ketu Mile 12 Riot

Although the Ketu Mile 12 riots took place in1999, the fracas dated back to 1992. This was not unconnected with the leadership tussle between the Hausa and the Yoruba communities over the market union (Edema –Sillo, 1999:1), which the Yoruba complained had been dominated over the years by the Hausas. The alleged cheated party (the Yorubas) was bent on gaining control of the market, which it regarded as being traditionally its own. The Hausas, on the other hand, resisted this move. It was this that resulted in ethnic violence between the two groups. In the mayhem, lives were lost and properties destroyed.

Bodija Riot

The Bodija riot took place at Ibadan in the Bodija market. The riot took place on June 23, 1999 and was caused by the hot argument that ensured between an Hausa cattle rearer and a Yoruba man who was allegedly knocked down by the cattle being reared by the former. This later resulted into an intense quarrel between the Hausa-Fulani cattle rearers and the Yoruba traders.Conflicting figures of causalities were given. The police stated seven persons died, while twenty-four vehicles and thirty shops were burnt; however, eye witness accounts put the casualties at ten people dead and one hundred and thirty shops burnt.

Kano Riot

The Kano ethnic violence was purposely planned to avenge the loses incurred at the Sagamu riot by the Hausas. The Kano riot was caused as a result of one Alhaji Aliko Dangote, a prominent Lagos businessman who brought the survivors of the Sagamu riot in trailers back to Kano. On getting to Kano, the returnees reportedly recounted a gory picture of their kith and kin. This was said to have infuriated the people of Kano, who then descended upon the Yourbas in Kano, resulting in the destruction of lives and properties.

With the emergence of ethnicity in Nigeria’s federal system, feelings of ethnic belonging and rejection became the basis of distinguishing individuals in the city and at the national level (Nnoli, 1980:14). Members of ethnic groups in Nigeria have come to believe that they can receive help only from members of their own ethnic group. In the face of this widespread disharmony among the ethnic groups in Nigeria, what are the necessary steps that government can put in place to cement the diverse ethnic groups together? We shall turn to this presently.

Recommendations/Policy Options

1. The government should embark on a thorough political education on the need for peaceful co-existence among ethnic groups.

2. That discrimination of whatever type should not be practiced by any ethnic group against another ethnic group.

3. That intermarriages should be massively encouraged.

4. That party formation should reflect a national outlook.

Conclusion

Ethnic agitation and conflicts have accompanied the emergence of democratic rule in Nigeria. This is  a result of the open space provided by the democratic system for the people to express themselves and because past agitations have been suppressed by long years of military rule. The government should take practical steps to ensure that these conflicts are well managed and do not derail the fragile, emerging democratic system in Nigeria.

References

Edema –Sillo, L.A. “The Ketu Riot,” a term paper submitted to Lagos State University for Pol 211 Nigerian Government and Politics II, 1999.

Nnoli, O. Ethnic Politics in Nigeria  Fourth Dimension Publishers, 1980.

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