Paper Management of Conflicts and Preventing Terrorism: A Case Study of Islamic Movement in Nigeria

Abstract

Proper management of conflict provide avenue for peaceful co-existence between parties such as religious groups and the state particularly in multi-ethnic/religious societies like Nigeria requires multi-faceted approaches with sincere political will from the state to tackle insecurity and terrorism. This study ‘Managing Conflicts and Preventing Terrorism: A case study of Islamic Movement in Nigeria’ was undertaken to provide insight on the conflicting situation characterising the relationship between Nigerian government and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) with the view to proffer solution to the present standoff. The study adopts Content Analysis approach to explore data and used Frustration Aggression Theory for framework analysis. The study concludes that the phenomenon of the IMN will remain in the foreseeable future as the group’s rigidity may linger for a while and fundamental difference between IMN and other Shiites groups in Nigeria is also likely to deepen as these groups have now resolved to take the fight to the doorsteps of the IMN upon which it does not have the intellectual wherewithal to withstand. Therefore, in order to successfully manage the growing threats of the IMN, it’s imperative for the government to adopt a multi-pronged approach or carrot and stick policy by consciously encouraging the likes of RAF, ATF and SHIMA in their ideological rivalries with the IMN. The use of excessive force might be counter-productive because it risks given the IMN a pristine of martyrdom that could force some to go either underground or deploy terrorist measures.

Keywords: Conflict, Group, Islam, Religion, Shi’ism, Terrorism, Violence.