SUMMARY
The northern states of Nigeria are home to 53 million people, and over 160 ethnicities. Northern Nigeria, namely Kano and Kaduna states are home to a majority of Nigeria’s Muslim population. The issue of religion has on several occasions been problematic, especially concerning the minority-majority relationships between the Muslim and the Christian population, inter-religious conflicts are also known to occur. Fear of domination has led to a situation where mistrust and suspicion between the different groups run high. Religious beliefs are often unanimous within ethnic groups; the clashes between Christians and Muslims can therefore often be seen and reported as clashes between the different ethnicities. Given the divided and sometimes even suspicious mindset of the different groups the animosities between the groups tend to accumulate and erupt, often in relation to what is perhaps a trivial argument. It should however be understood that the ethnic and religious differences are present in concert with various divides and perceived injustices making even the smallest issue a potential conflict.
The other dyads that belong to the same northern Nigeria cluster of non-state conflicts are; Hausa – Igbo, Hausa – Kataf and Hausa – Igbo, Yoruba.
The inter-religious conflict between the two Muslim groups Hausa and Ninzam took place in late May 1999 and had its roots in the appointment of a new emir. Even though a majority of the violence in northern Nigeria has been played out between groups of different religious affiliations this is an example of a non-state conflict between two groups adhering to the same religion.
The violent phase of the conflict was confined to one single event, when youths from the Ninzam community clashed with ethnic Hausa. Both groups are of Muslim faith and the conflict arose when deciding upon who should be appointed Emir, the traditional religious and political ruler in the area. The Ninzam community, especially the youths, felt that the manner in which the new Emir was selected was not compatible with their traditions and beliefs. In addition they did not approve of the selected Emir. This led to protests and Ninzam youths arranged roadblocks in order to keep the newly instated Emir from reaching his residence. The situation then deteriorated quickly, riots began, and a great number of people were killed in the chaos that followed. Given the chaotic and turbulent nature of these riots it is difficult to elaborate upon tactics, or specific patterns of the fighting.
The violence did not subside until special security personnel were deployed in the area. On the day following the violent clash order was restored and the state administrator Col. Umar Faruk Ahmed visited Kafanchan to ensure that the situation was under control.
The fighting in this conflict was confined to the town of Kafanchan located in Kaduna state, in the northern parts of Nigeria.
The Hausa - Ninzam conflict must also be viewed in the broader spectrum of the ethnic and religious non-state conflicts that have ravaged Nigeria in the past and intensified with the end of military rule, from 1999 and onwards. The conflicts throughout Nigeria have ethnic, political, economic, and religious components, which have become inextricably linked over time, pitting various groups and alliances of groups against each other along different dividing lines.
The non-state conflict between Hausa and Ninzam is first included in UCDP data in 1999. In late May of that year clashes erupted bringing the death toll well over the 25 battle-related deaths threshold.
