The Amalgamation and the Rise of Ethnic Militias in Nigeria

Abstract

The area later named Nigeria had long existed with diverse and autonomous ethnic Nationalities These ethnic groups had its unique culture and political systems The scramble for Africa by the European powers resulted in the British carving out the area later named Nigeria as its area of influence or territory With over two hundred and fifty ethnic groups the area was divided into two parts the protectorate of Northern Nigeria and the protectorate of southern Nigeria this was for the purpose of easy administration of the area Each of the protectorates was made up of diverse ethnic groups The decision to bring together the two protectorates and its diverse ethnic groups was purely that of the British without the consent of the people that constituted the area People still gave their loyalty to their ethnic nationalities instead of loyalty to the federation of Nigeria after the amalgamation The outcome of the amalgamation according to the research has been the agitation by minority ethnic groups and the rise and proliferation of ethnic militias which resulted in some sections attempting to secede This article attempted to analyze the root causes of the proliferation of ethnic militias and insurgency in Nigeria Relying on secondary sources and the historical and descriptive research method the paper examined the amalgamation of Nigeria as the reason for the rise of ethnic militias which has threatened the unity of the country However the paper maintained that the amalgamation can be sustained to enhance development which will take Nigeria to international limelight