REASONS AND DRIVERS OF THE CONFLICTS: • Political weakness and mismanagement of the state • Corruption • Struggle for power, political and economic interests • Fight for natural resources • Social injustice • Shortage of land, due to climatic reasons and population growth • Economic precariousness of the vast majority of the popu- lation • Poor social, cultural and educational condition of a large part of the population To a certain extent, more present in some conflicts that in others: • Jihadist message and desire to impose a stricter version of Islam • Ethnic disputes and tribalism - partly stemming from the imbalance caused by colonization
It is difficult to strictly categorize conflicts because while they have different roots, almost all combine a mixture of elements in their development, with tribalism and religiosity being two that are difficult to ignore. This applies to Africa in general and to Nigeria in particular. In an attempt to classify the conflicts, they can be sum- marized as follows, with geographical location often being one of the major factors to take into account: 3.1. Militant Islamists 3.2. Violence related to armed bandits and crime 3.3. Conflict between farmers and herders 3.4. Communal and ethnic clashes 3.5. Biafra separatists 3.6. Niger delta militants 3.7. Cultism and ritual killings
STORY
Boko Haram fighters, bandits or Fulani? “We look to God for safety, hoping he will fight for us”
Emmanuel Joseph says that Kaduna state has not been peaceful sin- ce the introduction of Sharia law in 2000. “There has been a series of attacks, especially on Catholic priests, Catholic worshippers, and Christians in general, and the government is doing nothing to help. Due to Fulani terrorist attacks, we sleep with one eye open.” However, the people have not lost their faith. “With all that has been happening in the state, including constant attacks on the Christian faithful in the Rubuh community, we are weak and tired, and we are beginning to be scared too. We are only focused on how to stay alive, looking upon God for safety in the belief that He will fight back for us.”
A group of armed men attacked a Catholic and a Baptist Church in Rubuh, in Kaduna State. Local Catholic catechist Emmanuel Joseph witnessed the whole thing. “Mass had just started when we heard guns firing. Parishioners started running everywhere, chairs were broken in the process, and some were hurt trying to get away. Coming into the church compound, they shot three members who had left the church: a married couple, who left seven children behind, and a young man, who left a wife and three children. They also attacked the local Baptist church, and abducted 36 members of the congrega- tion, mostly women, and killed a man there also.” According to some of the hostages who were released, the attac- kers were members of the mostly Muslim Fulani tribe, a nomadic group that often attacks farmers over land disputes. However, the same witnesses say that they dressed just like Boko Haram, which indicates that the terrorist group may be influencing them and aggravating the age-old land dispute.
Original article: https://acninternational.org/nigeria-we-are-weak- tired-and-scared-we-hope-god-will-fight-for-us/
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