The Growth and Importance of Ethnic Militia in Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine in a critical manner the socio-economic and political importance of ethnic militia in southeastern part of Nigeria. The situation is that ethnic militia has become unquestionably and steadily considerable factor in the nation’s political climate. According to supporters and as could be seen from external literature, their importance range from agitation, threats of secession, neighborhood protection as well as platform for union and development. It is upon these that the researcher adopted primary data collection by making use of interview, questionnaires distribution and observational methods as sources of data collection; while secondary data collection include; internet research, journals, Articles, Newspapers, textbooks and Radio. The content analyses were simple percentage and tables. The theories of deprivation and consequentialism were used which decried the consequences of depriving ones right of justice and equity in sharing the dividends of democracy in the country. Accordingly, some findings were made; in the findings; the researcher observed that the need for security of lives and properties, protection of the Geographical Territory against hoodlums and other forces is paramount. He further observed that marginalization, injustice and domination of the ethnicity by the major power holders from majority ethnic groups have become factors responsible for the emergence of the militia within the southeast of Nigeria. In the recommendations, the researcher recommended the need for sovereign National conference among all ethnic groups, equitable distribution of the dividends of socio-economic and political resources of the nation according to the principle of derivation and there is also the recommendation of the adoption of referendum which is regarded as a panacea for peaceful co-existence in Nigeria.