AJE Tolu Elizabeth Phd
Azabagun Haruna Able
&
Oluwapelumi Clement Oluwagbohunmi
Abstract
From time immemorial, the Yoruba people of Southwestern Nigeria have co-existed with people
from the north, particularly the Hausa-Fulani, many of whom migrated southward in pursuit of
trading and pastoralist businesses. Though there have always been frictions between the two
groups, particularly since Nigeria attained political independence in 1960, there has been an
upsurge in conflicts in recent times, arising from increased inter-ethnic tension between the two.
This tension is usually generated by the rivalry and contest for space and land. This paper examines
the implications of the crisis on ethnic tension and how the trend is affecting the peace and security
of the country within the context of current realities. The most heightened clashes have been
between Yoruba farmers and Fulani pastoralists. Though this sort of conflict is not limited to
Yorubaland, as some other parts of the country also witnessed the same, the situation in the
Southwest was so worrisome to the point at which many Yoruba people started agitating for a
separate nation from the Nigerian state. This notion is premised on the belief that Yoruba interests
can no longer be protected under the Nigerian state. In analyzing the development, this paper made
use of both primary materials, drawn mainly from results of questionnaire administration, as well
as secondary materials that are sourced from textbooks, newspapers, magazines, journals, and the
Internet.
Introduction
Ethnic tension in Nigeria has become a recurring problem even before the nation attained
independence in 1960. Before the creation of the Nigerian state, the lands were occupied by
different ethnic groups and nationalities, which led Mimiko and Adeyemi (2005: 57) to describe
the country as…