Approaching Security in a Religiously-Divided Nation The Current Nigerian Situation

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to assess the security situation in Nigerian socio-political atmosphere within religious lines. The method used in this research paper is purely philosophical which comprises phenomenological, analytical and evaluative methods. The data used are gathered from journals, books, newspapers and the internet. It seems true to hold that one of the main threats to the nation’s unity and development is insecurity of lives and properties. Almost every part of the nation, especially in the North, is being ravaged by insecurity in an unimaginable proportion. There are unprecedented occasions of wanton killings and kidnappings across the country allegedly orchestrated by bandits and terrorists. But there is high level of intelligent speculation that this gory situation seems to be spurred by religion and religious sentiments. The government who should be at the vanguards of the fight against insecurity seems inert or insensitive. This could be explained by the fact that those who are the victims of this mayhem seem to come from a certain region of religious profession—and so seem outside the care of the government. The paper concludes that for there to an improved security situation, the nation has to adopt a perspective which should accommodate every religion. When there is a religious inclusivistic approach across the nation with an air of secularism, then the security problem fueled by diversity in religion shall be arrested.