Religious Referent Power and Ethnic Militias in Nigeria: The Imperative for Pax Nigeriana

Abstract

The emergence of ethnic militias in Nigeria has been interpreted in different ways. But all interpretations seem to point to the fact that these militias form a powerful political bloc and agitate for political freedom, political representation, defense of particular government policies when they favor them, foment troubles when otherwise, cause mayhem or serve as police, all of which depend on certain national conditions. Although the militias have recourse to traditional religious practices, which are visibly displayed, their goals are not immediately religious. Through the gristmill of interpretive framework, it is argued that militias form the basis for defining disparate nationalities, thus vitiating a cohesive notion of nationalism contrary to the spirit of African Traditional Religion.