Terrorism The Consequence of Religious Bogotry in Nigeria: A Perception of Boko Haram Insurgency in Borno State

Author Baba Gana Kolo
DOI https://ww

Country : Nigeria
Subject : Sociology and Anthropology

Keywords : Terrorism, Religion, Bigotry, Perception, Boko Haram, Insurgency

Abstract

General level of safety is required to guarantee any successful human endeavor. Terrorism is the most fundamental source of insecurity in Nigeria and its main source is religious fanaticism and intolerance. The African Traditional Religion was brutally wiped away by Islam or Christianity. The rigid Islamic sharia advocates over the years created fanatical groups, who orchestrated trouble to de-secularize and rule Nigeria on principles of Islam. Bigot is a person who is intolerantly devoted to be self-centered and holds own prejudiced opinion and treat members of other groups with hatred. Boko Haram is an internationally sponsored religious insurgent group that declared to establish sharia that must inevitably undermine any other form of administration once established. The instrument of administration must be the Quran as law with all opinions and established laws like the Nigerian constitution is made dysfunctional. This is the reason why it is an act of rebellious secessionism that must be punished by death. For example, violent clashes between Yoruba traditional worshippers and Hausa groups in Sagamu, Ondo state on July 1, 1999, brought a reprisal crisis of Kano on 22nd July, 1999. In Kwara State, Muslim fundamentalists attacked and destroyed over 14 churches in Ilorin on December 20, 1999 where properties worth millions of naira were destroyed. In February 2000, there was riot in Kaduna over the introduction of Sharia where about 3000 people lost their lives, with reprisal at Aba, Abia State where over 450 people were killed. To address the problems of bigotry, this paper considers the relevance of the application of two pragmatic approaches. Thus, the implementation of the 1999 Federal republic of Nigeria’s anti-bigotry constitutional provisions, and the adoption of sociological approach dwelling on social works operational ethics, bearing in mind Marxian egalitarianism. Thus, every person is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to change his religion or belief. Culture is basically created by a population in a process of their interaction with the social and other physical environment. There is no spirituality beyond the people themselves that created the religions and their principles. Religion therefore must be a social mistake made in trying to understand the social and physical realities. One of the major prevailing mistakes in religions is the character of bigotry shamelessly reported to have been sourced spiritually from the spiritual force that claimed to have created the religions. There is no doubt the lasting solution to religious bigotry is with educating the people in Marxian perspective that explains religion as illusive. Religion is used against the masses and has never controlled members of the ruling class. To control bigotry and associated bloodsheds, religion must be abolished. Public preaching must be stopped in general and bigot preachers must be punished according to extent laws. Terrorism must be punished with death world-wide.

Download