EFFECTS OF IJAW/ILAJE INTER-ETHNIC VIOLENCE ON PEACE AND SECURITY IN OIL BEARING COMMUNITIES OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Violence, remains a major challenge to the world. From the 1994 genocide in Rwanda to the 1996 Ijaw/ Itsekiri inter ethnic violence in Nigeria, the world remains a theatre of violence. The Ijaw and the Ilaje ethnic groups that were hitherto good neighbours had their own share of inter- ethnic violence between 1998 and 1999. The Ijaws and the Ilajes are the two major ethnic groups inhabiting the riverside Southern Senatorial District of Ondo State, Nigeria. The area is rich in oil and fishing remains the major occupation of the people. This study evaluated the Ijaw/Ilaje inter-ethnic violence and the effects on peace and security in the oil bearing communities. The study adopted field survey and historical/descriptive method. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. One hundred and twenty copies of questionnaire were distributed to elicit response from stakeholders, like youth groups, militant groups, opinion leaders and traditional rulers. The study affirmed that the Ijaw/ Ilaje inter-ethnic violence was a product of improperly managed conflict. The study establishes that disagreement over land ownership, age long animosity, ethnocentric attitude, economic, social and political factors as causes of the inter -ethnic violence in the areas of study. The study made some recommendations like: instituting peace building process, massive infrastructural development of the areas, transparency and accountability in the award of contract, job creation and many others as ways to avert inter-ethnic violence in the area, Nigeria and the world at large.