Impact of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts on Women and Children in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of ethno-religious conflicts on women and children in  Nigeria with Kaduna State as a case study from1999-2007. The issue of ethno-religious  conflicts in Nigeria has been a reoccurring phenomenon and is characterized with high  degree of casualty in both human and material resources with reinforced prejudice and  animosity for group over the other. The research problem therefore is, considering the  patriarchal nature of Nigeria and Kaduna State in particular and the manifestation of  these into conflicts in ethnic and religious forms; how are women and children impacted  by these conflicts. The paper adopted the case study approach as its methodological  template. Analysis and interpretation of data for this study was established at both  theoretical and empirical levels. Theoretically, the social conflict theory served as guide  in our analysis of the problem. The paper revealed that, ethno-religious conflicts in  Kaduna State are as a result of historically established structural imbalances and  prejudices between different social groups. Also, the paper shows that, compared to other  social categories, especially men, women and children experience severe economic  deprivation, abandonment, sexual violence, rape, forced labour, slavery and other social  ills as a result of their vulnerability occasioned by ethno-religious conflicts in the State.  Finally, the study revealed that, government intervention has been a failure on policy  framework. This is because government is seen as part of the problem. Based on these  findings the paper recommends that, government needs to do more and support conflict  resolution mechanisms foisted at preventing identity related violence, by ensuring that  the state government adopts the reports of the various commissions of inquiries  established in the past, arresting and bringing to justice those responsible for supporting  these conflicts. Further, it recommends that government should ensure that, women and  youth should be involved in conflict resolution and peace building process as they are an  integral part of the society, and are frequently heavily impacted during and after  conflicts.