Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

The Growing Inter-Ethnic Conflicts In Contemporary Nigeria: Is Ethnic Security Dilemma A Root Cause?, Ali Simon Yusufu Bagaji

Ali Simon Yusufu Bagaji

Nigeria is ethnically a diverse nation-state. Its ethnic diversity, like that of the United State of America ideally is a source of strength. However on the contrary, analysis of post independence inter-ethnic relations in Nigeria indicates surge from ‘ethnic accommodation to ethnic agitation’. Consequently, due to frequent inter-ethnic conflict, the task ‘to keep Nigeria one’ is therefore more than ever becoming an uphill task. This article explores the root causes of the growing inter-ethnic conflicts in contemporary Nigeria from the perspective of the ethnic security dilemma prism and concludes that it is a relevant explanatory tool for understanding it.