Ethnic Agitation and Conflicts in Nigeria, 1999-2000

Ethnic Agitation and Conflicts in Nigeria, 1999-
2000
By Bamgbose J. Adele and Amos Oloruntele
In : Development Policy Management Network Bulletin
Vol. XIII, N.3, September 2001
pp.35-36
Introduction
Nigeria' s federal arrangement brings together about four hundred ethnic groups.
each of the se bas different historical, cultural and social background. Such
arrangement is not however peculiar alone to Nigeria' s political milieu; countries
such as Canada and Australia adopt the same system. But where countries with
such arrangements are more susceptible to ethnic agitation and conflict.
However, 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
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 democratic role in Nigeria, that is, the Fourth Republic
after almost 15 years of military role (1 ~84-1999). Military rule in Nigeria instilled
fears into the minds of the people and this in turn did not give room for ethnic
violence as all agitation were suppressed by the military. The military was able to
do this because of its possessions of coercive power. Such coercive powers
manifest in different forms. These include issuing of obnoxious decrees, arbitrary
arrests and detentions, closure of schools and newspapers houses as well as
frequent banning and unbanning of political elite.
However, the quitting of the stage by the military was followed by a number of
ethnic agitations. The numerous ethnic violence that rocked the country includes
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
Sagarnu is a metropolitan city in 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 have been living at sagamu for
several years. However, violence erupted as a result disagreement of the
observance of the rituals of a traditional festival of the Yoruba people in the area -
the Oro Festival. However, there are several remote causes of the conflict. The
first is the long-standing political rivalry between the two groups. There has 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
where the Hausa community resides called Sabo Sagarnu. The Hausas were
regarded as settlers, who should not claim land ownership in their host
communities..The Hausas probably saw it differently. This led to increased
tension and hostility between the two groups.
Ketu Mile 12 Riot
Although the ketu mile 12 riots took place in 1999, the fracas dated back to 1992.
This was not unconnected with the leadership tussle between the Hausa and the
Yoruba communities in the market over the market union (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 they regarded as being traditionally theirs. The Hausas on the other band
resisted this move. It was this that resulted in ethnic violence between the two
ethnic groups. In the mayhem lives, and properties were lost.
Bodija Riot
The Bodija riot took place at lbadan in a market called Bodija market. The riot
took place on June 23, 1999 and was caused by the hot argument that ensured
between an Hausa man who was a 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. Thus while the
police stated seven persons died, twenty-four vehicles burnt while thirty shops
Were burnt, eye witness accounts put the casualties at ten people who lost their
lives while one hundred and thirty shops were 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 kiths and kin. This was said to have
infuriated the people of Kano who descended on the Yourbas in Kano and
started killing them. This resulted 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, 1976:.14). Members of ethnic groups in Nigeria
have come to realize that they can receive help from members of their ethnic
group alone. 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 by ethnic groups.
2. That discrimination of whatever type should not be practiced by any ethnic
group against the any ethnic group
3. That inter- marriages 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 as a result of the open space provided by the democratic
system for the people to express themselves and also because those agitations
have been suppressed by long years of military rule. The government should
take practical steps to ensure that those conflict are well managed and do not
derail the fragile democratic system in Nigeria.
References
Edema -Sillo L.A "The Ketu Riot" Being a Term Paper Submitted to Lagos State
University on Pol 211 Nigerian Government and Politics II. 1999
Nnoli . 0, Ethnic Politics in Nigeria (Fourth Dimension Publishers 1980)
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