By Racheal Najin Babatunde
The Coalition of Nigerian Youths for Peace and National Unity (CONYPNU) has issued a stark warning: unchecked ethno-religious tensions, exemplified by recent attacks in Bokos (Plateau State) and Enugu farming communities, could plunge Nigeria into a civil conflict reminiscent of the 1960s crisis.
At a press conference in Abuja, the group outlined urgent steps to address systemic divisions, citing the brutal killings of 16 northern youths in Uromi, Edo State, and the 2022 Sokoto lynching of Deborah Samuel as symptoms of deeper national fractures.
The coalition highlighted how violent clashes between herders and farmers, politicized identity conflicts, and historical grievances are fueling distrust between northern and southern communities.
“The extrajudicial killings in Uromi and Sokoto are not isolated incidents—they reflect decades of unresolved inequalities, land disputes, and manipulative politics,” said a CONYPNU representative. “Without intervention, citizens may resort to self-defense, risking a catastrophic breakdown of national unity.
”
The communiqué traced Nigeria’s divisions to systemic issues:
• Indigene-Settler Conflicts: Land rights disputes in Jos, Kaduna, and Benue, amplified by exclusionary policies.
• Sharia Law Polarization: Religious identity politics deepening Muslim-Christian divides.
• Elite Manipulation: Politicians weaponizing ethnicity for electoral gains, or to create divisions, as seen in Benue, Edo, and Delta States.
• Economic Disparities: Poverty and unemployment in marginalized regions creating fertile ground for violence.
The coalition proposed a multi-pronged approach:
- Constitutional Reforms: Address land ownership rights, political representation, and resource distribution to ensure equity.
- Interfaith Dialogue: Strengthen the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) to promote tolerance and isolate extremists.
- Community Mediation: Replicate Kaduna’s Peace Commission model nationwide, empowering local leaders to resolve disputes.
- Economic Revival: Invest in education, infrastructure, and job creation in conflict-prone regions like Niger and Benue.
The CONYPNU urged security agencies including the Police, DSS and the military to:
• Prioritize Intelligence: Deploy grassroots networks to detect threats early, particularly in rural hotspots.
• Adopt Conflict-Sensitive Policing: Train personnel in de-escalation tactics to avoid exacerbating tensions.
• Enhance Community Policing: Collaborate with vigilante groups and traditional leaders to build trust.
• Secure Vulnerable Regions: Increase patrols in Jos, Southern Kaduna, and Enugu while countering extremist narratives.
The coalition appealed to all stakeholders:
• Leaders: “Stop exploiting divisions for political gain; prioritize inclusive governance.”
• Religious Institutions: “Preach tolerance—‘love thy neighbor’ is a universal mandate.”
• Citizens: “Reject stereotypes; see beyond ethnicity and religion.”
Quoting Nelson Mandela, the group emphasized that “safety and security don’t just happen—they require collective effort.”
As Nigeria stands at a crossroads, the coalition’s message is clear: unity through justice, dialogue, and equity is the only path forward. Failure to act, they warn, risks a return to the darkest chapters of the nation’s history.
