Chukwuemeka Emmanuel-Dio | University of Ibadan, Ibadan (original) (raw)

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Papers by Chukwuemeka Emmanuel-Dio

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Oct 10, 2023

Nigeria is best described as a country under siege. Almost every geo-political region in its terr... more Nigeria is best described as a country under siege. Almost every geo-political region in its territory has in the past ten years been characterized by one or multiple typologies of violent conflict, most of them happening simultaneously. Often accompanying these conflicts are attendant health challenges, many of which remain vaguely or under-reported. From a public health perspective, this paper explores the Boko Haram insurgency in North-East Nigeria. In examining the mental health problems affecting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), it also puts the spotlight on the link between human rights violations and Combat Stress Reaction (CSR) among security operatives, a perspective hardly taken into account in cognate literature. Data from interviews, focus groups and secondary sources were used to support the postulations of this paper. Major findings reveal that incidents of abductions, targeted killings, and sexual abuse have resulted in severe cases of PTSD among IDPs, while the military contend mostly with occupational hazards and deplorable working conditions. Projections from this study point to elevated health security threat levels for the region should less priority be given to the provision of commensurate, psycho-social support for all the actors in the theater of armed conflict.Projections from this study point to elevated health security threat levels for the region should less priority be given to the provision of commensurate, psycho-social support for all the actors in the theater of armed conflict.

REVISITING BOKO HARAM: THE UNHEEDED EARLY WARNINING SIGNALS, 2021

Every conflict is preceded by early warning signs. These are simple indicators that point towards... more Every conflict is preceded by early warning signs. These are simple indicators that point towards the likely outbreak of disagreements, dissensions, feuds, and in extreme cases, violence. Sadly, Nigeria ignored, if not trivialized this basic safety protocol guarantying human security and survival, and hence birthed its biggest monster in the 21st century, the group – Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, notoriously known as, Boko Haram.

T e x t o A b e r t o , 2023

Human rights violations are synonymous with most combat military operations all over the world. A... more Human rights violations are synonymous with most combat military operations all over the world. Although the welfare of civilians tend to get the most humanitarian attention, very little is known, or considered when it comes to the affairs of the soldier who is tasked with protecting the civilian. This paper finds relevance within this context as it attempts to engage the discourse from a mental health perspective - a health condition that is increasingly proving to be a requisite functional tool for wellness and productive living among the civilians and soldiers in Nigeria’s North-East theatre of military operations. A positive mental health is the fundamental human right of both civilians and soldiers. Laying credence to this argument, the paper explores what appears to be a dysfunctional humanitarian sector triumvirate of civilians, soldiers, and mental health problems, caught-up in a decade-long bloody conflict that was originally sparked by clashes between Northern politicians and jihadist ideologues in the North-East region.

The Psychology of Peace Promotion, 2019

Most African societies are predominantly collectivist in nature with social relations forming the... more Most African societies are predominantly collectivist in nature with social relations forming their core basis of group identity. The affinity for that which protects the interests and identity of the group has come to be not just the source of strength for these societies, but also their bane, especially in the context of the development of the African child. This chapter begins with a consideration of the vitiated forms of the almajiri discipleship system and the persistence of female genital mutilation (FGM) in parts of Africa today, including the cultural and historical context in which these practices emerged and changed. The chapter next presents three major psychological theories providing insight into the persistence of these practices—Albert Bandura’s theory of moral disengagement, perspectives on non-violence in sociocultural practices from the field of Community Psychology, and Johan Galtung’s theories of cultural violence, positive and negative peace—and illustrates the applicability of these constructs in case study analyses of interviews with eight Nigerian respondents. The chapter concludes with perspectives on intervention and prevention strategies in regard to cultural violence, with a particular focus on the corrupted forms of the almajiri discipleship system and the persistence of FGM. Although most of the child-debasing practices are imbedded in long-standing cultural traditions, Africa also has people-friendly traditions to counter them. Priority should be given to encouraging conflict transformation, peace education, balancing between individual and cultural needs, instilling moral values, and advocating practices such as social cohesion, dialogue, truth-telling, and empathy.

Conference Presentations by Chukwuemeka Emmanuel-Dio

From the North to the East and West-African sub-regions, the proliferation of extremist behavior ... more From the North to the East and West-African sub-regions, the proliferation of extremist behavior amongst religious groups appears to be the greatest existential security threat of our time. Aided by common socio-cultural backgrounds and geographic proximities, but mostly propelled by their political objectives, these radical groups are able to move swiftly and mostly undetected across regional borders. Among their first converts are usually the uneducated and unemployed, followed by the marginalized in the society. These categories mostly feature young people as the most affected and bulk of the disillusioned. In Africa, the reasons for the attraction towards radicalization remains largely undiscerned and this has only led to further complications in the development of an appropriate response mechanism to insurgency and terrorism in the region. Worse still, the lack of cooperation amongst the respective Regional Economic Communities (RECs) has resulted in a regional refugee crisis, further complicated by issues of forced and undocumented migration.

From a subjective view point, the most productive approach to studying these problems is a descriptive, case study research design. Qualitative sources like interviews, focus group discussions, and reports from relevant security agencies and civil society groups were utilised. Also, secondary sources of data from books and internet sources were analyzed. This study focuses on cross-border activities across Nigeria, Niger Republic and Cameroon.

So far, the lack of commitment by African leaders to implement the core mandates of the African Union Border Program (AUBP) has proven to be a major impediment to border security in the region. Furthermore, the rivalry that formerly characterized relations between West Africa’s two major colonial super-powers, Britain and France, can still be seen playing out amongst their former colonies. Thus it is difficult to get the Anglophone and Francophone countries to agree on matters requiring their mutual cooperation.

Addressing the challenges presented by the cross-border radicalization of youths will require paying urgent attention to the basic infrastructural and social security needs of young people. These efforts can further be complimented by putting in check, the agents of globalisation used for the importation of radical jihadist ideologies. In addition, it is important for the international community to intervene timely and appropriately in regional affairs that threaten global peace.

Books by Chukwuemeka Emmanuel-Dio