Abstract:
Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multicultural society, and therefore, Nigeria’s religious
inclinations differ broadly. There are currently three religions dominant in Nigeria, namely
Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religion (ATR). These three religions, especially
the first two, have demonstrated varying levels of fanaticism in the past leading to many
recounted crises and jungle justice incidents in Nigeria. Because of Nigerian politics, we
have witnessed the use of armed thugs by politicians to harass and even kill party opponents
and displace their families. These two factors have caused many young, highly skilled
persons to flee Nigeria for a safer haven. This study therefore tries to review current religious
fanaticism and electioneering thuggery leading to loss of lives and property, which
consequently sees to the fall of the Nigerian economy and the subsequent enthronement of
insecurity in the country. It suggests that these factors are foundational problems consequent
to the amalgamation of 1914 and are leading causes for the rapid rate of migration of
Nigerian experts out of the country.
CONTRIBUTION : At a time when Nigeria is in dire need of great brains to help in its developmental
struggle, politicians and religious bigots have constituted a serious blockade to this ambition.
This article is a review of recent political and religious turmoil in Nigeria with a view to call
the attention of all warring religious and political stakeholders to the damage their extremism
has already caused and to also bring the attention of Nigerians to the foundation of these
problems, namely the amalgamation and the need to address it.
