SOURCE:

Faculty: Arts
Department: Religion And Human Relations

CONTRIBUTORS:

Afunugo, K.N;
Uche, O.O.C;

ABSTRACT:

Terrorism is on the increase in Nigeria. Basic socio-political activities in Nigeria feature acts of
terrorism as citizens employ terroristic modes to actualize their goals. Almost all the ethnic
groups in Nigeria have splinter groups that purposes to be agitating for their peculiar ethnic
rights through terroristic means. The government of Nigeria is finding it hard battling the
current eruptions of terrorist cell groups and acts of terrorism in the country as using force has
proved not to be a vital and lasting solution. This work adopts the secondary means of data
collection as it consulted the previous works of both foreign and indigenous scholars that wrote
specially on the relevant issues on terrorism. It equally employed the primary means of data
collection as in personal communication on the subject matter at hand; the necessary
generalisations and conclusions were drawn purely on the analysis and synthesis of the
gathered data made through culture centered approach. The peace process theory projected by
Ibeanu (2006), was employed as a means of building the culture of peace in Nigeria in place of
terrorism which appears to be rife; the Queer Ladder theory posited by Okoli and Agada
(2014), was employed in exposing the reasons for the persistence of terrorism in Nigeria.
Whereas the Rational Action theory posited by Victoroff (2005), was applied in surveying the
rationality and psychological stance of terrorists to put their expertise in proper use and
perspectives. This work scrutinizes previous solutions to terrorism in Nigeria by various
personalities and authors; and then proffers practical solutions to confronting terrorism in
Nigeria, while introducing the imbibing of the culture of peace in place of terrorism in Nigeria.
The Queer Ladder theory, exposed that ignorance created by the lack of proper sensitization
before the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria breeds
bad governance mainly propelled by ethnicity which results in all round bad conditions in
Nigeria, that more often than not triggers acts of terrorism. It was discovered from the Rational
action theory that the ingenuity of terrorists externalized in their ability to build locally made
explosives and in organizing themselves systematically and tactically to carry out terroristic
activities can be employed when they are converted for use in the military and even in the
Nigerian „secret service units‟. Finally, it is realized that as peace studies and talks is woven
into the education system of the country both in the primary and tertiary education; and parents
and guardians through informal modes inculcates peaceful means of living into the lives of
children at homes: peaceful way of life and using non-violent means will become the average
Nigerian medium of seeking redress to unjust treatments and issues.