Social Cost of Group Conflicts and Their Management in Plateau and Nasarawa States, Nigeria, 1994 - 2011
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SOCIAL COST OF GROUP CONFLICTS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT IN PLATEAU AND NASARAWA STATES, NIGERIA, 1994 - 2011 BY Martinluther Maduawuchi NWANERI B.A. (IMO), M.A. (IBADAN) MATRIC. NO.: 129598 A Thesis in the Peace and Conflict Studies Program, submitted to the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Of the UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN JANUARY, 2016 ABSTRACT Group conflicts and their attendant social costs bordering on living conditions and rights violation are prominent challenges in heterogeneous societies. Attempts at managing these costs as part of conflict transformation have been problematic in Nigeria. Existing studies in conflict management have largely focused on conflict termination, while conflict costs have been given little attention. This study, therefore, investigated the social cost of group conflicts in Plateau and Nasarawa states and their management from 1994 to 2011. Human needs and systems theories were used as analytical tools, while case study design was adopted. Primary and secondary data were collected. Nine focus group discussions were held: six in Jos with the Afizere and the Igbo/Yoruba as clusters, and three in Toto with the Bassa as a cluster. Twenty nine in-depth interviews were conducted with six ethnic group leaders, two traditional rulers, two market leaders, 10 secondary school principals and nine primary school heads in Jos and Toto. Secondary data included the peace policy documents, journals and periodicals. Data were content analysed. The dwindling income of households in Jos and Toto was traced to the destruction of income generating infrastructures such as markets between 1994 – 2010 (Katoko, Bassa, Farin gada, Dilimi, Filing ball, Bukuru and Kwarafa, Ugya and Jos modern market); farms in Toto (Andafwo/Ugya in 1997 - 1998) and Jos (Riyom, Barkin ladi, Bassa, Bukuru and Dogo na Hauwa, 2003 - 2011). Food insecurity in Jos and Toto was also a consequence of these protracted conflicts and sub conflicts such as between Bassa farmers and Fulani herders (1997 – 2011) and Berom farmers and Fulani herders (2003 – 2011) in farming communities like Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Bukuru and Dogo na Hauwa, which led to the desertion of ancestral farming lands by the Afizere and Berom in Dutse Uku, Tina junction and Andafwo; and cattle rustling in Jos. Other costs included breaching of human rights (financial and sexual exploitation, domestic interference, extra-judicial killings, selective security provision and aiding of crime) by security agents. The costs on basic education included: increased number of school dropouts, death of teachers and students, destruction of learning infrastructures, disruption of calendars and disillusionment of students. Destroyed schools had been rebuilt except one in Toto. There had been interventions at the farming villages by the Special Joint Task Force and vigilantes but this had not fully addressed the security issues. The National Human Rights Commission indicated interest in addressing human rights violations in Jos but had not commenced. The management approaches included: deployment of security agents and distributions of relief materials during emergencies; others like payment of financial compensation, rebuilding of schools, interventions in the farms and rebuilding of income infrastructures were done arbitrarily without a policy framework. Group conflicts created enormous social costs in Plateau and Nasarawa states. Governments’ management of these conflicts contained the violence but lacked coordination in addressing the consequent social costs. Conflict cost management body and framework are required to work with impacted communities. Keywords: Social cost, Government intervention, Conflict management, Human rights abuse, Group conflicts Word Count: 495 ii CERTIFICATION This is to certify that this work was carried out by NWANERI MADUAWUCHI MARTINLUTHER, in the Peace and Conflict Studies Program, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. ……………………………………………………… Supervisor Dr. R.O. Olaniyi Department of History, University of Ibadan iii DEDICATION This work in its entirety is dedicated to the Holy Spirit of God, who is my unfailing helper from beginning to end. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My academic sojourn including this work has been like a building, and as is well known, every building is a product of many inputs. First, I am most grateful to God Almighty who gave me wisdom, strength, perseverance, health, protection and the resources to complete this quest. Without you Lord, this task would not have even started. My gratitude to the academics and staff of the Peace and Conflict Studies Program of the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies of the University of Ibadan, for the painstaking drilling and moulding which I received while there. It was the sweetest part of my academic life and I would everly cherish it. To Professor Albert Olawale Isaac, Dr Danjibo, Dr Ishola, Dr Faleti, Dr Aluko and Dr Eselebor, I remain grateful. Can I forget the grinding, discipline and professionalism of my supervisor, Dr Rasheed Olaniyi; who was emphatic ab initio: “If you want to work with me you have to be very serious?” I must say sir; being supervised by you has made me a better student. Now I can face the world with confidence. The maxim that behind every successful man is a woman is apt in describing the overwhelming support of my dearest wife, who selflessly stood with me through this challenging period. Mrs Chika Elizabeth Nwaneri, I could not have married a better person. For my lovely kids: Somtochukwu and Kosisochukwu Nwaneri, I appreciate those beautiful distractions and babblings on study days. I am also grateful to my mother Mrs Christiana Nwaneri for nurturing me into adulthood with the fear of God. Which gift is better than that? Mama I am short of words. My brother Nnaemeka Nwaneri, you became a man and fathered us all as a boy when your mates were busy parasiting on their parents. God would never forget you at the harvest. For Chiazo, Kasarachi, Ngozi, Ugochi, Victoria; and the entire Nwaneris, thanks for being there. I appreciate Dr Austin Onuoha and other colleagues in ACCR: Ishmael, Goodie, Chinwe and Naphtali for their friendship, assistance and collaboration. My association with ACCR opened my eyes to the intrigues and dynamics of the practical aspect of peace and conflict studies. For my brother and good friend Christopher Nkwocha, his wife and family; I can never thank you enough for always cheerfully offering me your house as accommodation in v Ibadan. Sometimes, you have done this at the shortest notice even to my pleasant surprise. It is my prayer that God would also accommodate you in the days of need. Many thanks to Mrs Ejamai Anuoluwapo of ABC transport and family, for also offering me her home as accommodation in Ibadan, I remain indebted. I am grateful to Dr Arthur Martins Aginam and all the staff of Kukah Centre Abuja, for their support, friendship and accommodation. For Constant Ngozi Ozurumba, who helped with the proofreading, I am indebted beyond words. God will reward you. However, I am solely responsible for every observed shortcoming in the work. vi TABLE OF CONTENT Title page i Abstract ii Certification iii Dedication iv Acknowledgement v Table of contents vii List of Abbreviation ix List of Table xi CHAPTER ONE 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem 10 1.3 Research Aim 19 1.4Specific Objectives 19 1.5 Research Questions 19 1.6 Scope of the Study 20 1.7 Research Justification 20 1.8 Conceptual clarification 22 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Historical background of the north central 26 2.2 The Jos conflict 28 2.2.1. The state’s management of the Jos conflict 39 2.3 Bassa/Egbura conflict 46 2.3.1. The state’s management of the Bassa/Egbura conflict 50 2.4 Conflict Transformation 50 2.5 Group Conflicts 65 2.6 Theoretical Framework of Analysis 67 2.6.1. System theory 68 2.6.2. Human need theory 72 vii CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY 3.1 Study Areas 85 3.2 Research Design 85 3.3 Sample Frame 86 3.3.1 Sample 87 3.4 Instrument of Data Collection 87 3.5 Method of Data Analysis 89 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS SOCIAL COSTS OF GROUP CONFLICT AND THEIR MANAGEMENT IN JOS AND TOTO 4.1 Violent conflict and family income in Jos metropolis 90 4.2 Violent conflict and family income in Toto 103 4.3 Violent conflict, food insecurity and high cost of living in Jos 109 4.4 Violent conflict, food insecurity and high cost of living inToto 113 4.5 Violent conflict, violation of human rights and security of citizens in Jos 116 4.6 Violent conflict, violation of human rights and security of citizens in Toto 134 4.7 Violent conflict and basic education in Jos 137 4.8 Violent conflict and basic education in Toto 139 4.9 Prospects for managing the social cost of conflict in Jos and Toto 158 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Summary 161 Conclusions 163 Recommendations 164 References 170 Appendices 189 viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS HIV Human-Immuno Deficiency Virus AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS WHO World Health Organization IDP’s Internally Displaced Persons IPCR Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution IDMC Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre NEMA National Emergency Management Authority GDP Gross Domestic Product HRVIC Nigerian Human Rights Violation Commission UNESCO United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation ACCDA Afizere Cultural Community