This paper x-rays the over a decade intractable conflicts that have ravaged the socio-economic fabric of Jos Plateau State North Central Nigeria and its implications for youth participation in the democratic process. It further lays bare the barriers to national integration among the multifarious nationalities that make up the Nigerian teritory.
Insecurity is a problem common among developed and developing nations that constitute significant threat to peaceful co-existence, interaction, stability and development. It charges people with threats, tensions, anxieties and uncertainties.
At the receiving end of insecurity are sadly youths who are recruited to either fight for a cause not their own or have their educational pursuits abandoned in the wake of these violent conflicts. As a resultant consequence, the supremacy of the constitution which is the ground norm for conduct is interminably jettisoned. Farmers and herdsmen clashes have given a new definition to the dynamics of insecurity on the Plateau. This is manifested in the horrific manner in which villages are razed to rubbles over such disputes. When the constitution fails to hold accountable, perpetrators of heinous crimes owing to favoritism or selective justice, the sanctity of lives are lost. This is the fundamental precursor to youth’s engagement in violent conflicts over the years with the menace of Boko Haram at the zenith of radicalization. As the nature of terrorism assumes an even dangerous dimension owing to significant advancement in technology, the future of our youths leaves a lot to be desired. This is in view of the fact that when youths are not groomed for leadership but rather occupied in destroying the future, the survival of the society beyond this generation becomes bleak and frightening. Arms stockpile and manufactured of IEDs is no longer news as many communities have been devastated by suicide bombings and hundreds of lives lost. One may be tempted to ask whether the government is unaware of these occurrences. When government seemingly tolerates the activities of lawless elements in the society, it inspires other young people to look forward to unleashing mayhem on unsuspecting members of the public with great zeal.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION:
2. YOUTH AND INSECURITY ON THE PLATEAU
3. YOUTHS IN SCRAMBLE OVER SCARCE RESOURCES
4. BREAKING THE CONUNDRUM OF RELIGIOUS IDENTITY
5. YOUTH ORGANISED VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR IN NIGERIA
6. ETHNICITY AS DIVISIVE PHENOMENON
7. CONCLUSION
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the critical role of young people in addressing insecurity in Plateau State, arguing that youth involvement in violence is a result of structural inequalities, poor leadership, and the manipulation of ethnic and religious identities rather than inherent conflict tendencies. It calls for a transition toward sustainable development through good governance and active, positive youth participation.
- The impact of socioeconomic inequality and poor leadership on youth vulnerability.
- The manipulation of religious and ethnic identities in fueling local conflicts.
- The historical context and current manifestations of insecurity in Plateau State.
- Strategies for fostering peaceful coexistence and national integration through dialogue.
- The imperative of social democracy and wealth redistribution for long-term stability.
Excerpt from the Book
YOUTH AND INSECURITY ON THE PLATEAU
The myriad of contestations and bloodbath witnessed over the years on the Plateau are more than religious confrontations between Muslims and Christians or even an ethnic one between the Hausa-Fulani and Berom, Jarawa (Afizere) and Anaguta. It is neither about the fear of a religious/ethnic group seeming to dominate the other. The contradictions which are daily rehearsed across the country in form of ethno-religious conflicts and fratricidal wars are rather the result of wide opportunity gabs between classes, groups and ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. It follows initially from the imposition of an exploitative colonial system, but more perniciously from the ascension of a bankrupt and degenerate indigenous leadership. This leadership has over time has failed to take strong and decisive actions that would reform and transform the colonial political economy into a self-generating and self-sustaining system that would attack inequality, unemployment and poverty. Where individuals have unequal access to resources, services and positions in society; violence, insecurity and uncertainty will be created in this process.
Insecurity is a problem common among developed and developing nations that constitute significant threat to peaceful co-existence, interaction, stability and development. It charges people with threats, tensions, anxieties and uncertainties.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: The author introduces the context of insecurity in Plateau State and emphasizes the critical role of youth as the potential architects of the state's future.
YOUTH AND INSECURITY ON THE PLATEAU: This chapter analyzes the root causes of regional conflicts, attributing them to systemic leadership failures, socioeconomic inequality, and colonial-era structural issues.
YOUTHS IN SCRAMBLE OVER SCARCE RESOURCES: The section explores how competition for scarce resources, masked by religious or ethnic rhetoric, drives violence and radicalization among the youth.
BREAKING THE CONUNDRUM OF RELIGIOUS IDENTITY: This chapter argues against the religious misinterpretation of political and economic conflicts, advocating for secular dialogue to overcome extremism.
YOUTH ORGANISED VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR IN NIGERIA: The author examines the trend of using young men as foot soldiers for armed groups and the subsequent impact on national stability.
ETHNICITY AS DIVISIVE PHENOMENON: This chapter critiques how ethnic boundaries are manipulated to maintain social divisions and impede national integration.
CONCLUSION: The paper concludes by urging a return to social democracy, dialogue, and a renewed commitment to national citizenship to foster unity and progress.
Keywords
Insecurity, Plateau State, Youth, Governance, Ethnicity, Religion, Conflict, Radicalization, Socioeconomic Inequality, Leadership, Social Democracy, National Integration, Terrorism, Violence, Sustainable Development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this publication?
The work focuses on the intersection of youth, insecurity, and governance in Plateau State, Nigeria, analyzing how young people are impacted by and involved in civil unrest.
What are the core themes addressed in the text?
The core themes include the failure of leadership, socioeconomic inequality, the instrumentalization of religious and ethnic identities, and the need for peaceful conflict resolution.
What is the central research question or goal?
The goal is to propose a shift in the narrative regarding youth involvement in violence, moving from blame to identifying structural solutions like better governance and economic reform.
What scientific or analytical approach does the author use?
The author uses a socio-political analysis, drawing on historical context, political science theories regarding pluralism, and contemporary observations of Nigerian social dynamics.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the historical origins of regional conflicts, the role of scarce resources in fueling violence, the misuse of religious identity, and the recruitment of youth into armed movements.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The key terms include Insecurity, Plateau State, Youth, Governance, Ethnicity, Religion, Conflict, and Radicalization.
How does the author characterize the role of the state in resolving these conflicts?
The author suggests the state must act as an unbiased mediator, ensuring fair distribution of resources and upholding the constitution to prevent the marginalization that leads to violence.
What is the significance of the "social democracy" model mentioned in the conclusion?
The author advocates for social democracy as a framework anchored in wealth redistribution, which is necessary to address the root causes of anxiety and conflict among the youth.
- Citation du texte
- Stanley Kavwam (Auteur), 2018, Young People and the Challenge of Insecurity, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/388685
