How Tribal War Started in Nigeria

Tribal conflicts have eaten deep into Nigeria’s roots, and many of the tensions stem from ethnic, religious, political, and economic differences that predate colonial times. 

Before the arrival of colonial powers, present-day Nigeria was made up of various ethnic groups, each with its own distinct culture, system of governance, and economy.

These groups included the Yoruba in the southwest, the Igbo in the southeast, the Hausa-Fulani in the north, and numerous smaller groups in the Middle Belt and Niger Delta. While there were occasional clashes, most conflicts were localized and did not take the form of sustained tribal wars.

However, several key factors led to the escalation of these tensions into violent conflicts. Here’s an overview of how tribal wars started in Nigeria:

The colonial rule and its divide-and-rule strategy

The colonial period in Nigeria began in the 15th century with the Portuguese starting the slave trade, using Nigerian slaves for trade in exchange for goods like spices and weapons. Nigerians themselves provided the slaves due to tensions between ethnic groups. 

By the 18th century, the British replaced the Portuguese and began colonizing Nigeria from the late 19th century to 1960, initially focusing on trade and converting the population to Christianity. They established the Protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria and ruled through local leaders, profiting from exports like palm oil and cacao.

During British colonization in Nigeria, the “divide and rule” policy was a key strategy used to maintain control. The British deepened divisions among Nigeria’s ethnic groups by governing differently in the north and south. 

In the north, they ruled through traditional authorities, which helped Islam resist the spread of Christianity. In the south, they favored a political hierarchy, spreading Christianity and increasing religious and political tensions.

By keeping the different groups separated and focusing on their own interests, the British were able to maintain control while exploiting the country’s resources. This strategy left a legacy of division that contributed to post-independence struggles.

Post-Independence political competition

After gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria’s political system was divided along ethnic and regional lines. The major ethnic groups—the Hausa-Fulani in the north, the Yoruba in the west, and the Igbo in the east—competed for control of the federal government and its resources.

This competition often led to tribal and ethnic conflicts, particularly during elections. Political parties were often formed along ethnic lines, further fueling mistrust and conflict. The 1964 general elections were marred by violence as political elites from different regions fought for dominance.

Military coups and the Nigerian civil war (Biafra War)

The first military coup in 1966, led by mostly Igbo officers, overthrew the Nigerian government and resulted in the killing of many northern leaders. This coup was perceived by the Hausa-Fulani in the north as an Igbo attempt to dominate the country. 

A counter-coup later that year, which saw the assassination of the Igbo military leader, General Aguiyi-Ironsi, deepened the ethnic divide.

In 1967, following growing ethnic tensions and the massacre of Igbos in the north, the eastern region, led by Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, declared itself an independent state called Biafra. This led to the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), which was one of the most significant tribal conflicts in Nigeria’s history. The war, which pitted the Igbo-dominated southeast against the rest of Nigeria, resulted in over a million deaths, primarily due to starvation.

Post-civil war ethnic and regional tensions

Although the civil war officially ended in 1970, ethnic tensions persisted. The competition for political power, control over oil resources, and disputes over land ownership continued to fuel conflicts between Nigeria’s major ethnic groups and smaller tribes.

In the post-civil war period, conflicts between tribes such as the Tiv, Jukun, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo, and others, particularly in the Middle Belt and Niger Delta, became common. 

The Niger Delta region has seen recurrent violence due to the exploitation of oil resources, with indigenous communities often clashing with both the government and oil companies.

Religious and ethnic clashes in modern Nigeria

In recent years, tribal wars in Nigeria have often been exacerbated by religious differences. Northern Nigeria, predominantly Muslim, has seen clashes between Hausa-Fulani herdsmen and Christian farmers in the Middle Belt, as well as periodic violence between Christian Igbo, Yoruba, and Muslim communities. 

The Boko Haram insurgency, while primarily driven by radical Islamist ideology, has also inflamed ethnic and religious tensions in the country.