CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Over
the years, conflicts have been ravaging the black continent of Africa. These
have been associated by violence, civil strife and incessant killings (Afisi
2009 and Afolabi 2009). The most dominant actors in this conflict are usually
youths. These conflicts are usually accompanied with inccessant destruction of
lives and property, huge economic loss, spread of endemic diseases, massive
displacement of people and huge refugee crisis. The proliferation of small arms
and light weapons, human and drug trafficking, illegal exploitation of natural
resources and banditry can be categorised as other issues relating to conflicts
and violence among youths (Afolabi 2009). No wonder Schmidt (2016) postulated
that Africa brings an image of a continent in crisis, embedded with war and
corruption, and imploding from disease and starvation.
In Nigeria,
various violent conflict situations have erupted and the causes or sources have
also been numerous. Take for example, between 1967 and 1970 the ethnic and
cultural diversity of many Nigerians came to manifest into what was known as
the Biafran civil war. Additionally, Nigeria has experienced at least four main
military coups among general socio-political and economic inequalities. Other
sources of conflict in Nigeria include the high level of mass discontent from
the high rate of unemployment among youths, low standard of living, marginalisation
of the masses, emasculation of labour and many other unresolved social ills.
The conflict in the Niger Delta, home
to Nigeria’s oil and gas production, the linchpin of the economy and the
country’s main revenue earner, is one of the conflicts that has become
protracted, vitriolic and assumed an international dimension. The resistance
movements in the Niger Delta started with the Ijaw leader Isaac Boro in the
1960s. This was taken up by Ken Saro-Wiwa’s led Movement for the survival of
the Ogoni People (MOSOP) and continued with the explosive confrontation between
the Abacha military junta and Ijaw groups around the city of Warri in 1997. The
escalation of the conflict in 2006; kidnap of oil workers, attack on soldiers,
destruction of oil pipelines and oil facilities, were accompanied by demands
for resource control and economic development of the region. The fear has thus,
been expressed that democracy must be allowed to flourish in order to avert a
major conflict that could lead to the break up of the country.
From the early
1990s, many of the Niger Delta states have assumed the easily observed roles of
a conflict-rampaging region. There has been a cycle of protests and crises in
the Niger Delta, particularly in Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States. Youth
restiveness has been the major factor in these protests. Communal clashes and
inter-tribal crises have become a common attribute of the Niger Delta most
especially in Delta State. The clashes may be from conflict between oil
communities and oil companies, between communities or ethnic groups and within
communities. In all these conflicts, the main instruments of violence have been
the marginalised and alienated youth groups in the region.
Inter-community
conflict in the Niger Delta can be separated into three classifications: social
interactions amongst Niger Delta Communities: the economic structure of the Niger
Delta region; and inadequate political features to slow down tension coming from
the previous two factors. Be that as it may, the current writing has not had
the option to convincingly connect Niger Delta Communities'' mentalities to
social and eco-political theoretical clarifications; consequently, it has not
had any broad consequences for understanding the causality of between network
struggles in the Niger Delta. Social theoretical clarifications progressed by
the current writing as reasons for between network struggle contend that social
unevenness between ethnic bunches is liable for this contention (Ukiwo, 2007). For
instance, ethnic clash between the Ijaws and Itsekiris is used to clarify the
contention between the two NDCs rising up out of every tribal group. Social
theories can likewise clarify inter-community conflict through social injustice
and inequity in the allocation of scarce resources by government officials and
Multi National Corporations (MNCs) alike, (Aghalino, 2009a).
Economically,
the current writing contends that individual financial interests are a main
consideration in clashes between Niger Delta Communities (Ikelegbe, 2005). For
instance, people seeking after their very own egotistical advantages use community
goals as a pretext, to try and achieve their own aims. In other words, whilst Niger
Delta Communities are deemed to be violently engaging one another over economic
gains, Ikelegbe contended that just a few individuals are responsible for
instigating these fights for selfish gains (2005). Ukoha Ukiwo bought in to the
view that oil continues to lead to ethnic marginalisation, which crumbles into
inter-community conflict. Consequently, socially and economically, Ukiwo
clarified the reasons for the causes of inter-community conflict from the point
of view of inter-ethnic struggle. Like Ikelegbe’s economic argument, the
existing literature argues that inter-community conflict occurs because
individuals attempt to enrich themselves by gaining political power with the
support of their community, which in turn gives them control over oil rents
(Akpan, 2010). This exemplifies that what is viewed as political conflict
between Niger Delta Communities is in fact political conflict between
individuals from different communities who are using inter-community conflict
as a pretext.
No
doubt, conflict and violence have caused more harms than good among the
Nigerian youths. Its possible effects on the youths is so enormous as it has
sent some to their early grave, some to jail, some have been rendered
physically challenged while some are homeless and become nonentities in the
society. Based on these claims, the research seeks to examine inter-tribal
conflict, violence and its effect on youth development; a case study of Warri
Kingdom.
1.2 Problem Statement
Conflict is a
situation in which two or more persons desire goals, that are perceived
obtainable only by either persons but not both (Stagner, 1997). This is shown
by (structure) the parties’ conflict of interest, (behaviour) their
communications and (attitude) inclination to diminish the concern of others
(Galtung, 1996). Conflict is inherent in every human society (Donohue and
Knolt, 1992) as such it is not an avoidable pathological phenomenon but an
essential ingredient in the balance and vitality of group life (Simmel, 1998).
In other words, “conflict is the means to change and means by which social
values of welfare, security, justice and opportunities for personal development
can be achieved” (Burton, 1987). What all of these suggest is that though
conflict is part of any society, it does not necessarily have to be violent.
However, in the opinion of Lewis Coser, conflicts come from goals
incompatibility, struggle over values, status and claims to power and scarce
resource with the aim of the opponent being to neutralise, injure or eliminate
rival (Coser, 1956). Most conflicts in Nigeria are identifiable with Coser’s
variant.
The unimaginable
and numerous crisis, bombings, killings, kidnappings and destruction of lives
and property by aggrieved youths in Nigeria particularly in Warri Kingdom are
chasing away investors and foreigners already in the land and also discouraging
others from outside the land from coming into the environments to invest to
bring about economic growth and development among youths in the locality.
1.3 Research Questions
The followings are some of the
research questions that this study intends to answer:
i)
What are the effects of conflicts and
violence on the social development of youths in Warri Kingdom?
ii)
What are the effects of conflicts and
violence on the economic development of Warri Kingdom?
iii)
What are the causes of inter-tribal,
conflict and violence among the youths in Warri Kingdom?
iv)
What are the possible solutions to the
challenge of inter-tribal, conflict and violence among the youths in Warri
Kingdom?
1.4 Research Objectives
The general objective
of this study is to examine inter-tribal conflict, violence and its effect on
youth development; a case study of Warri Kingdom. The specific objectives are:
i)
To examine the effects of conflicts and
violence on the social development of youths in Warri Kingdom
ii)
To find out the effects of conflicts and
violence on the economic development of Warri Kingdom
iii)
To understand the causes of
inter-tribal, conflict and violence among the youths in Warri Kingdom
iv)
To proffer the possible solutions to the
challenge of inter-tribal, conflict and violence among the youths in Warri
Kingdom
1.5 Significance of the Study
No doubt,
conflict is an inevitable aspect of human interaction and it is capable of
causing serious problems in the human society if not properly managed. It is
sometimes caused by various factors like value, resources, religion etc and
this usually has more impacts on the social, cultural, religious and most importantly
economic lives of the parties or places involved. It is on that basis that this
study seeks to examine inter-tribal conflict, violence and its effect on youth
development; a case study of Warri Kingdom. Therefore, this study will provide
information, data that will help individuals to foster good interpersonal
relationship with one another. It will be useful for researchers that may wish
to research on conflict and its effects. This study will contribute to the
already existing literature in the area of conflictology. The findings of the
study will highlight to political and religious heads of various communities in
the State and even in Nigeria, the economic, political and social reasons for
good interpersonal relationships among individuals in Warri Kingdom of Delta
State, Nigeria and how this will bring unity, harmony and economic development
in the State.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The research work attempts to examine
inter-tribal conflict, violence and its effect on youth development; a case
study of Warri Kingdom. The causes and
effects of these conflicts on the peaceful co-existence of citizens and the
economy are also examined. The focus of this work
is on various violence and inter-tribal conflicts that have occurred in Warri
Kingdom and the effects it has had on the socioeconomic, social system,
economic and the development of the State. The
relationship between conflict and economic growth and development is also
determined.
Various ethnic groups like
the Urhobos, Ijaws, Itshekiri and few of Isoko, Aboh that make up the dominant
ethnic groups in Warri Kingdom were interviewed to understand the root causes
of violence and inter-tribal conflicts in the region and the effects it has had
on them over the years. Lastly, the research work proposes recommendations and
strategies for handling violence and conflicts in Warri Kingdom.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
In the course of this study the
researcher encountered time as one of the challenges to the research work. It
was anticipated that the time for the study may not be enough to carry out
intensive and extensive study since some of the information is not easily and
quickly available. Therefore the researcher used extra time; weekends so as to
be able to obtain information from the respondents. Another limitation to the
study was the issue of information confidentiality most of respondents hesitate
on the provision of sufficient information. Therefore, the researcher had to
assure the respondents that information that would be provided will be used for
research purpose only, and will not be disclosed to anyone not involved in this
study. Lastly, funds provided is not enough to meet all expenses during the
study like transport cost, meal allowance, photocopies and stationeries
expenses. Hence the researcher conducted the study in accordance with the fund
provided by the sponsor and the researcher own fund.
1.8 Conceptual
Clarification
A conceptual framework according to Orodho (2009) is a type
of a model that illustrates the nature of relationships between independent and
dependent variables in the study.
Independent Variables Intervening Variable Dependent Variable
The conceptual framework in the diagram above explains the
relationships between violence, inter-tribal conflict and youth development in
Warri Kingdom, Delta State. It can be deduced from the diagram that absence of
violence, crisis or conflict among individuals, groups or communities as the
case may be, will bring about social development among the people in the
communities as well as economic growth and development in Delta State and vice
versa.