ISLAMIC MECHANISM FOR PREVENTION OF ETHNO-RELIGIOUS CONFLICT IN LAGOS STATE

Abstract

The rate of inter-ethnic cum religious crises noted among the Lagos residents, such as political violence, communal feuds, and religious cum tribal intolerance to mention but a few are worrisome. The situation had led to not only the destruction of age-long acquired properties but loss of many lives of indigenes and other residents. Being the former capital, this phenomenon according to the study is believed to be the result of the economic prosperity nature of Lagos environment that gave rise to indiscriminate influx of people of diverse languages and sociocultural cum religious backgrounds into the state. Perhaps, because of the 
aforesaid, Lagos state in the recent past has witnessed occasional tensions of serial cases of ethnoreligious crisis arising from religious cum ethnic differences. This study delves into the dynamic challenges of inter-ethnic cum inter-religious cases within the metropolis of Lagos State, with a focus on the efficacy of Islamic mechanisms towards averting the reoccurring cases of ethno-religious mayhem in the state. The study highlights some historical events of the ethnoreligious crisis, its causes, and the negative effects it had on the victims. Further, the impacts of Islamic teachings, principles, and practices in reshaping the attitudes of Lagos residents towards interfaith and tribal relationships that will promote peaceful coexistence of the renew-hope-agenda of Nigeria were examined. The paper employed a survey and meta-analysis of relevant literature, and a historical analysis approach to x-ray the potentials of Islamic mechanisms towards promoting peace and harmony and mitigating the potential conflicts. This paper revealed that among the principal causes of ethnoreligious crises in the state, ethnic/tribal politics and religious bigotry played a pivotal role, which continues to witness changes in both the context and character of the residents with consequences of human disintegration and cohesion. It therefore recommends that establishing Islamic principles is key in conflict prevention, and sustenance of a violence-free society within the complex socio-religious landscape of Lagos State