Religious/ethnic violence in Northern Nigeria: A product of both contemporary religious media and the religious history of Northern Nigeria

The assumption of this research is that religious violence in Northern Nigeria is a product of both contemporary religious media and the religious history of Northern Nigeria. There are many contributing factors to the crises in Northern Nigeria, which include poverty, land allocation, politics, education, Islamic Sharia implementation and many other contributing factors. However, this research focuses on the religious history and media considering the following reasons: a) it is assumed that the history of the colonial administration of Northern Nigeria allowed the spread of a particular religion against the other; b) the colonial administration embraced a particular people identified with a particular religion against the other; c) some nationalities in Northern Nigeria were not recognized in their mother land; d) it is assumed that the media has been used as a medium to incite riots; and e) the media has also been used as a provocative measure.;This research is made on a mixed methods research study that draws upon the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. A questionnaire was developed that asked participants to indicate perceptions about how religion diffuses violence.;It is important to note that the geographical concept of the Middle Belt (which is part of Northern Nigeria) provides a way to locate the majority of the religious violence in the southern rim of Northern Nigeria. It is also observed through this research that there are different principles and goals embraced by members of the same faith. Therefore, it is not reasonable to conclude that everybody in a particular religion has the same belief and practice. Thus, while it is certainly believed that the analyses provided within this research is accurate for the sample studied, the contributions of religion and the media in fomenting ethno-religious violence may not always apply in a broader scope,...