Religious Fanaticism and Changing Patterns of Violent Crime in Nigeria

Authors

  • Olisa Anthony Enweonwu Humanities Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria
  • Ikenga Patrick Ugwu Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
  • Dominic Chukwuemeka Onyejegbu Social Sciences Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria
  • Chinwe Edith Areh Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Nigeria
  • Benjamin Okorie Ajah Social Sciences Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2021.10.158

Keywords:

Christianity, Crime, Islam, Religious fanaticism, Religious violence

Abstract

Fanaticism has brewed into different forms in the Nigerian context – and the gravest is religious fanaticism. It has taken hold of most clans, religions, and ethnic groups across Nigeria. Religion has always existed in Nigerian societies and also has fanaticism but the level of violence precipitated by this fanaticism is apparently unprecedented. This paper journeys into the beginning of religious fanaticism in Nigeria and its changing patterns of violence. It highlights the root causes of religious violence in Nigeria and visible patterns in this violence. The paper adopted structural-functionalism theoretical formation and gathered data from textbooks, e-books, journals, online articles, newspapers, and magazines. At the end, the paper recommends that Nigerian governments initiate comprehensive programs to reconcile the religious differences that have evolved over time between Christianity, Islam, and African Traditional Religions.

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Published

2021-10-01

How to Cite

Enweonwu, O. A., Ugwu, I. P., Onyejegbu, D. C., Areh, C. E., & Ajah, B. O. (2021). Religious Fanaticism and Changing Patterns of Violent Crime in Nigeria . International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 10, 1378–1389. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2021.10.158

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