A HISTORY OF RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA: GROUNDS FOR A MUTUAL CO-EXISTENCE BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Religious Studies University of the West In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Bede E. Inekwere Spring 2015 APPROVAL PAGE FOR GRADUATE Approved and recommended for acceptance as a dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies. Bede E. Inekwere, Candidate 5/15/2015 A HISTORY OF RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA: GROUNDS FOR A MUTUAL CO-EXISTENCE BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS APPROVED: Jane Naomi Iwamura, Chair 5/15/2015 Zayn Kassam, Committee Member 5/15/2015 Joshua Capitanio, Committee 5/15/2015 Member I hereby declare that this dissertation has not been submitted as an exercise for a degree at any other institution, and that it is entirely my own work. © 2015 Bede E. Inekwere ALL RIGHTS RESERVE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The completion of this work is of tremendous joy to me. I am grateful to God who made it possible. I wish to express my unreserved thanks to the many scholars and people who in various ways contributed to the successful completion of this dissertation. Top on the list are Drs. Jane Naomi Iwamura, Zayn Kassam (Pomona University) and Joshua Capitanio erudite scholars who painstakingly supervised the project. I am particularly grateful to professors in the Religious Studies Department at the University of the West who contributed in diverse ways towards my formation as a religious studies scholar. I remain indebted to Dr. Bruce Long, Dr. Darui Long, and especially Dr. Kenneth Locke and Dr. Ananda Guruge, for their contributions to the success of my research. I remain grateful to the staff and students, who provided a nurturing learning environment where I always felt welcomed, challenged and supported. With grateful heart, I thank the International Buddhist Education Foundation (IBEF) for their financial support that helped to lighten the burden. I thank in a special way my local ordinary Most Rev. Dr. Solomon A. Amatu for his fatherly care. My late parents Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Theresa Inekwere remain ever blessed. My brothers and sisters especially Patrick, Martha, Angela, Cyril, and Jude, God bless you. I very much appreciate the co-operation and support from all my treasured venerables at UWest. To Dr. Martin Uche Onwu, thanks for proofreading this work. And my gratitude to my Ventura family friends: Michael/Zenaida and Alan Kuntzman for their care and to Sir Thaddeus and Lady Rosecatherine Onwu for allowing me under their roof for research. To so many others that I have not mentioned please know that I cherish and value your love. ii ABSTRACT In the last decades, religious clashes in Nigeria have caused a worrisome social disorder that has made co-existence and collaboration between Nigerian Christians and Muslims difficult. Nigeria has had to contend with challenging obstacles that seem to defy all available solutions. This dissertation centers on the role that the faith traditions of Islam and Christianity can play in ameliorating the situations by drawing upon theological models that encourage a more peaceful co-existence among religious groups in Nigeria. As a step towards facilitating a culture of dialogue and peace, the aims of the present research include: (1) To understand the history of recent conflicts in Nigeria; (2) to analyze the factors that influence the Christian-Muslim antiparthy; (3) to examine the Vatican II declaration regarding the Church and its relation to non-Christian religions (Nostrae Aetate) as a possible model, and; (4) to investigate a new undersanding of the Islamic religion and society as articulated by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Nostrae Aetate and Khan’s theological vision, although expressions of Catholic and Islamic faith, respectively, offer valuable resources for Nigerian Christians and Muslims who are working towards greater peace and understanding amidst the conflict. The dissertation concludes with the presentation of practical measures that encourage interfaith harmony and cooperation among Nigerians. While religion has been a source of conflict in recent times in Nigeria, it can also serve as a more positive guide and influence. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................. ii ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................... iv GENERAL INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1 i. Preamble: A Personal Experience............................................................................... 1 ii. Research motivation ................................................................................................... 2 iii. Back ground of the Study .......................................................................................... 4 iv. The Aim of the Research ........................................................................................... 7 v. The Research Methodology ........................................................................................ 8 vi. The Research Structure .............................................................................................. 8 vii. The Research Statement ......................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER ONE: HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF THE CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM CO- EXISTENCE AND COMPETITIVE RIVALRY SINCE 1980 ....................................... 12 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 12 1.1. BACKGROUND OF ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY IN NIGERIA .................. 13 1.1.1. Nigeria and its geographical location ............................................................. 13 1.1.2. Government of Nigeria ................................................................................... 15 1.1.2.1. Diverse Culture ........................................................................................ 15 1.1.2.2. Ethnic Groups .......................................................................................... 17 1.1.2.3. The Social Structure ................................................................................. 18 1.1.2.4. Multi-Religious Ethnic Group ................................................................. 19 1.1.2.5. Advent and spread of Islam in Nigeria .................................................... 20 1.1.2.6. Advent and spread of Christianity in Nigeria .......................................... 24 iv 1.2. CO-EXISTENCE AND CONFLICTUAL RELATIONS ................................... 28 1.2.1. Peaceful Co-existence ..................................................................................... 29 1.2.1.1. Peace-spoiling Elements in Christian-Muslim relations ........................ 32 1.2.1.2. The Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) ................................................... 33 1.2.1.3. The Missionary Factor ........................................................................... 35 1.2.1.4. Nigerian Political Factor .......................................................................... 37 1.2.1.5. The Socio-Cultural Factor........................................................................ 40 1.1.2.6. The Nigerian Oil Factor ........................................................................... 41 1.2.1.7. The Socio-Economic Factor .................................................................. 43 1.2.1.8. Ethnic-Religious Politics. ..................................................................... 43 1.2.1.9. Educational Gap between North and South .......................................... 45 1.2.1.10. The External Sponsored Influence ....................................................... 47 1.2.1.11. The Religious Dimension .................................................................... 48 1.2.1. 11.1. Major Christian Organizations ....................................................... 50 1.2.1.11.1.1. Mainline Christian Organizations ............................................ 50 1.2.1.11.1.2. Evangelical Movements ........................................................... 52 1.2.1.11.1.2.1. Major Muslim Organizations: ........................................... 52 1.2.1.11.1.2.2. The Sufi orders .................................................................. 55 1.2.1.11.1.2.3. The Puritan Izala Movement ............................................. 56 1.2.1.11.1.2.4. The Maitatsina Movement ................................................ 56 1.2.1.11.1.2.5. The Jama’atu Nasril Islam ................................................ 57 1.2.1.11.1.2.6. The Muslim Student Society ............................................. 57 1.2.1.11.1.2.7. The Nigerian Muslim Brotherhood ................................... 58 1.3. THE BEGINNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA ...................................................................................................................... 60 1.3.1. Introduction of OIC and Sharia Law ............................................................ 60 1.3.2. The Colonial Period and Sharia Law ..........................................................