Nathaniel Umukoro | Western Delta University (original) (raw)

Papers by Nathaniel Umukoro

Human Trafficking in Africa, 2021

Increasing inequality in Nigeria has been of growing interest to scholars, international politica... more Increasing inequality in Nigeria has been of growing interest to scholars, international political observers, and the Nigerian public since the creation of the country in 1914 by the British colonial masters. The focus of this article is on the extent to which the practice of democracy in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic has contributed to the reduction of inequality. The article begins with the dimensions of inequality in Nigeria. The study shows that democratic governance has not adequately bridged the inequality gap in country. The article further identifies rea-sons for the failure of democratic governance to address the problem of inequality successfully. It also discusses reactions of Nigerians to widespread inequality.

The relationship between development and security is usually summed up in the maxims ‘no security... more The relationship between development and security is usually summed up in the maxims ‘no security without development’, and ‘no development without security’. At the conceptual level, the first consequence of this insight was the integration of the security-development nexus into basic documents of security and development policy. This book examines the link between development and security using the experience in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria.

International Journal on World Peace, 2015

INTRODUCTIONNigeria is a West African country with a population of about 170 million people. It i... more INTRODUCTIONNigeria is a West African country with a population of about 170 million people. It is a multi-ethnic country with different religious groups. The country is made up of both Muslims and Christians, with an area called the middle belt edging the predominantly Muslim north and Christian south.1 For many decades Nigeria has witnessed various forms of violent conflicts. In recent times the activities of a group known as Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria has become the major source of crisis and fear in the country.2 This group has been designated a terrorist organization.3 About 13,000 people are estimated to have been killed in Boko Haram-related violence,4 making it one of the deadliest terrorist groups in the world. The United Nations and Nigerian officials estimate that more than six million Nigerians have been affected by the conflict between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government, and more than 300,000 have been displaced. It has spread across the mainly Muslim north and ...

Human rights violations during the Nigeria-Biafra War (1967-1970) have elicited interests from sc... more Human rights violations during the Nigeria-Biafra War (1967-1970) have elicited interests from scholars and international agencies. Although these studies provide significant insights into the nature of human rights violations during this period, the issue of transitional justice has not been adequately considered. Consequently, this paper examines the memory of human rights violations during the war, attempts made in the area of transitional justice and the imperative for a holistic transitional justice system. The paper begins with the conceptualization of human rights violation and transitional justice. It then makes a historical contextualization of human rights violations during the war and the sustained memory of such violations especially by the Igbos of Eastern Nigeria. Data for the study were from primary and secondary sources. Primary data were sourced through key informant interviews with men and women who were victims and some perpetrators of human rights violations duri...

INSURGENCY AND COUNTERINSURGENCY IN SOUTH ASIA Moeed Yusuf, editor Washington, DC: United States ... more INSURGENCY AND COUNTERINSURGENCY IN SOUTH ASIA Moeed Yusuf, editor Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace Press, 2014 315 pagesThis book presents a comparative study of the conflict in South Asia. Although the region is characterized by noticeable historical and cultural similarities it is described as the least economically integrated in the world. The book is divided into four parts and nine chapters. The introduction and conclusion sections of the book make it easier for readers to understand the major focus and lessons from the various case studies.Part one is on India and discusses the conflict in Kashmir and India's response to Kashmir's insurgency. Part two focuses on Pakistan and considers the Taliban insurgency in FATA and the response of the state to Pakistani Taliban onslaught. Part three, which focuses on Nepal, examines Nepal's Maoist insurgency and Nepal's response to the armed insurgency including its political settlement. Part four focuses on Sri Lanka and discusses many missed opportunities as a result of post-independence ethnic tensions and insurgency. All the chapters provide useful insights into the dynamics underpinning the progression of conflict in the four cases examined in the book. The contributors studying the causes of insurgency analyzed contexts and factors responsible for tensions that can potentially build up to violent insurgency.The most recurring theme in all the chapters of the book was the absence of a holistic counterinsurgency approach by the states in question. All four states led with a security-centered strategy heavily focused on the use of force, intelligence-driven action plans, and heavy-handed measures in dealing with the local population. Authors of the Kashmir, Pakistani, and Nepalese case studies criticize this approach and emphasize the need for broader methods, including political and economic interventions.The book also indicates that the dilemma for peacebuilders is that the periods without manifest violence are the least likely to get the needed attention of the future antagonists. As is evident from the cases discussed in the book, states are reluctant to acknowledge problems that merit compromise at a time when the marginalized population is not willing or able to threaten violence. In each of the four cases, it is clear that states felt no compulsion to compromise early on. In fact, complacency led to heavyhanded responses, which, in turn, further stimulated the insurgents and their support base. This is exactly why local and external peacebuilders are essential since they can create awareness of the potential repercussions of unyieldingness upon the principal actors long before sustained violence breaks out. …

Journal of Policy Practice, 2013

ABSTRACT This article examines the current debate on the social protection paradigm as a strategy... more ABSTRACT This article examines the current debate on the social protection paradigm as a strategy for development. Many scholars view social protection as useful for achieving development while some disagree, advocating the transformative social policy approach. It also identifies the implication of the contributions of these scholars to social policy in Nigeria. This article argues that attacking poverty and vulnerabilities in Nigeria requires the integration of social protection with other social policies, entrenchment of good governance, diversifying the economy, and formulating effective policies that can help stimulate employment generation.

International Journal of Environmental Studies, 2012

ABSTRACT This paper examines the role of governance in environmental inequality in the Niger Delt... more ABSTRACT This paper examines the role of governance in environmental inequality in the Niger Delta. Fair access to environmental resources could help to guarantee human security and mitigate violence. Root causes of environmental inequality in Nigeria’s Niger Delta can be linked to government policies and laws such as the Land Use Act and the negative impacts of the activities of multinational oil corporations. Environmental inequality and its concomitant effects produce a trend to conflict in the Niger Delta.

Education, Creativity, and Economic Empowerment in Africa, 2014

With only a few years until the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),... more With only a few years until the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon stated in The Millennium Development Goal Report (2010), “Time is short. We must seize this historic moment to act responsibly and decisively for the common good.”1 These well-chosen words strongly urge governments to engage constructively and deci­sively in actions that can help actualize the goals. The Secretary-General also noted, “We have made important progress in this effort, and have many successes on which to build. But we have been mov­ing too slowly to meet our goals.”2 This statement indicates that there are doubts as to whether the MDGs will be achieved in all the developing parts of the world.

African Studies Quarterly, 2015

Abdul Karim Bangura, ed. 2015. Assessing Barack Obama's Africa Policy: Suggestions for Him an... more Abdul Karim Bangura, ed. 2015. Assessing Barack Obama's Africa Policy: Suggestions for Him and African Leaders. Lanham: University Press of America. 362 pp. This book's seventeen chapters make an assessment of President Barack Obama's African foreign policy. It further provides useful suggestions for him and African political leaders. The first chapter, by Peter A. Dumbuya, considers the dynamics of US relations with Africa. He argues that change in the Obama administration's Africa policy depends not so much on substantive policy differences with Bush administration, for there are continuities in some parts of Africa. In chapter two, Ivor Agyeman-Duah focuses on the topic "race and the great expectations," espousing the view that the first success of Obama's presidency was the confidence that it gave to African-American and other children from minority backgrounds. Additionally, the chapter identified various strategies directed towards ameliorating ra...

The sustainable maintenance of rural roads has been a major problem in Nigeria despite the rural ... more The sustainable maintenance of rural roads has been a major problem in Nigeria despite the rural road network comprising a large proportion of the overall road network in the country. This has resulted in significant deterioration in the condition of rural roads and accessibility to road users. Poor condition of rural roads usually has undesirable effects not only on agricultural production but also on the entire socio-economic development of the rural areas. Over the years, both military and democratic regimes have formulated and implemented policies aimed at ensuring the sustainable maintenance of rural roads but have achieved very little results. This paper examines alternative practices that have been adopted to achieve sustainable maintenance of rural roads in Nigeria. The paper shows that the challenges associated with maintenance of rural roads in both military and democratic regimes are similar. This paper identifies these challenges and explores the possibility of ensuring ...

The overall objective of the study is to critically interrogate the amnesty and the political set... more The overall objective of the study is to critically interrogate the amnesty and the political settlement leading to it, in terms of perceptions, discourses and conversations that undergird it; the nature of bargains, understanding and consensus constructed around it; the content and methods of the Amnesty; the nature of inclusiveness, equity, justness and gender sensitivity; the levels of legitimacy and sustainability of the settlement; the challenges of compliance, implementation and accountability, and the impacts on violence mitigation, conflict resolution, peace building and state building. This monograph presents some of the interim findings of a comprehensive study of the Amnesty for Peace programme. The general objective of the research is to assess the impacts, challenges and sustainability of the amnesty programme and the political settlements leading to it, as a strategy of conflict resolution and peace building at the sub-national level. The study attempts to critically interrogate the content and methods of the Amnesty on the basis of issues of inclusiveness, equity, justice, gender sensitivity; legitimacy, management, challenges, sustainability and impacts on violence mitigation, conflict resolution and peace-building, and nation-building and national stability. Beyond a critical investigation of the Amnesty and its DDRR C P E D M o n o g r a p h S e r i e s 2 0 1 6 iv programme against standards, objectives, best practices and comparative experiences, the study investigates the comprehensiveness, participatory and action basis of the Amnesty; the poor focus on the dynamic capture of the socio-political processes which shape the Amnesty; the specific linkages between political settlements, state and peace building; the linkages between amnesty, justice and peace-building and the basis and prospects for sustainable peace and security. We are particularly grateful to the Governance, Security and Justice Program of IDRC and the Carnegie Corporation of New York for the support to CPED which has enabled the Centre to carry out the study and the publication of this policy document.

Epidemics and the Health of African Nations, 2019

Nigeria is one of the African countries that is responding to Western pressures to make its state... more Nigeria is one of the African countries that is responding to Western pressures to make its states acquire a liberal and democratic culture. Over the years, Nigeria has practiced what can be described as fraudulent democracy. This democracy has been characterized by obnoxious acts such as indiscriminately using money and by very powerful and influential members of the elite class, popularly called ‚political godfathers,’ imposing political leaders on the people. This situation has already become a culture in Nigeria because many politicians who want to contest and win elections always look for such persons to support them. This means that they no longer depend on the electorates to win elections, but instead rely on the political godfathers. This political culture was truncated in the 2007 gubernatorial election in Edo state, Nigeria. This paper examines how the problem of money politics and political godfatherism can be eliminated from Nigeria’s politics in order to strengthen demo...

Armed con�' licts have been a major problem in Africa for many decades. Since the be- ginning... more Armed con�' licts have been a major problem in Africa for many decades. Since the be- ginning of the 1990s, the African continent has acquired a dubious honor of being number one in hosting the largest number of armed con�' licts and complex emergencies. This article examines the role of international humanitarian law (IHL) in the amelioration of the plight of victims of armed con�' lict in Africa. The article shows that in spite of the rati�' ication of IHL by most African states, its provisions are often violated during armed con�' licts. In order to improve the current situation, the states must enact national legislation and take practical measures in order for the rules to be fully effective.

The 2019 outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China and its global spread have sever... more The 2019 outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China and its global spread have several negative consequences on human lives. As of August 17, 2020, the Africa Centre for Disease Control (ACDC) recorded 1,120,768 cases of infections with 25,659 deaths in Africa (Africa CDC, 2020). Countries around the world have responded to the pandemic with different public policy measures including total lockdown of cities, border closures, closure of schools, and many others (World Health Organization, 2020).

Nigeria has witnessed various forms of human rights violations such as extrajudicial killings, ra... more Nigeria has witnessed various forms of human rights violations such as extrajudicial killings, rape, and torture during both military and civilian regimes. Amnesty International, the U.S. State Department, and the Political Terror Scale of the Centre for Systemic Peace indicate that Nigeria is a country characterized by generalized human rights violations. Over the years, several scholars have examined the causes, nature, responses of the state, and reasons for the persistence of human rights violations in Nigeria. A careful consideration of these studies indicates that the role of faith-based civil society organizations in the protection of victims of human rights abuses has not been holistically examined. Consequently, this study seeks to answer the following questions:  What are the views of faith-based civil society organizations in Nigeria on human rights and the protection of victims of human rights violations?  Do religious extremism and violent activities create a disposit...

Human Trafficking in Africa, 2021

Increasing inequality in Nigeria has been of growing interest to scholars, international politica... more Increasing inequality in Nigeria has been of growing interest to scholars, international political observers, and the Nigerian public since the creation of the country in 1914 by the British colonial masters. The focus of this article is on the extent to which the practice of democracy in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic has contributed to the reduction of inequality. The article begins with the dimensions of inequality in Nigeria. The study shows that democratic governance has not adequately bridged the inequality gap in country. The article further identifies rea-sons for the failure of democratic governance to address the problem of inequality successfully. It also discusses reactions of Nigerians to widespread inequality.

The relationship between development and security is usually summed up in the maxims ‘no security... more The relationship between development and security is usually summed up in the maxims ‘no security without development’, and ‘no development without security’. At the conceptual level, the first consequence of this insight was the integration of the security-development nexus into basic documents of security and development policy. This book examines the link between development and security using the experience in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria.

International Journal on World Peace, 2015

INTRODUCTIONNigeria is a West African country with a population of about 170 million people. It i... more INTRODUCTIONNigeria is a West African country with a population of about 170 million people. It is a multi-ethnic country with different religious groups. The country is made up of both Muslims and Christians, with an area called the middle belt edging the predominantly Muslim north and Christian south.1 For many decades Nigeria has witnessed various forms of violent conflicts. In recent times the activities of a group known as Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria has become the major source of crisis and fear in the country.2 This group has been designated a terrorist organization.3 About 13,000 people are estimated to have been killed in Boko Haram-related violence,4 making it one of the deadliest terrorist groups in the world. The United Nations and Nigerian officials estimate that more than six million Nigerians have been affected by the conflict between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government, and more than 300,000 have been displaced. It has spread across the mainly Muslim north and ...

Human rights violations during the Nigeria-Biafra War (1967-1970) have elicited interests from sc... more Human rights violations during the Nigeria-Biafra War (1967-1970) have elicited interests from scholars and international agencies. Although these studies provide significant insights into the nature of human rights violations during this period, the issue of transitional justice has not been adequately considered. Consequently, this paper examines the memory of human rights violations during the war, attempts made in the area of transitional justice and the imperative for a holistic transitional justice system. The paper begins with the conceptualization of human rights violation and transitional justice. It then makes a historical contextualization of human rights violations during the war and the sustained memory of such violations especially by the Igbos of Eastern Nigeria. Data for the study were from primary and secondary sources. Primary data were sourced through key informant interviews with men and women who were victims and some perpetrators of human rights violations duri...

INSURGENCY AND COUNTERINSURGENCY IN SOUTH ASIA Moeed Yusuf, editor Washington, DC: United States ... more INSURGENCY AND COUNTERINSURGENCY IN SOUTH ASIA Moeed Yusuf, editor Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace Press, 2014 315 pagesThis book presents a comparative study of the conflict in South Asia. Although the region is characterized by noticeable historical and cultural similarities it is described as the least economically integrated in the world. The book is divided into four parts and nine chapters. The introduction and conclusion sections of the book make it easier for readers to understand the major focus and lessons from the various case studies.Part one is on India and discusses the conflict in Kashmir and India's response to Kashmir's insurgency. Part two focuses on Pakistan and considers the Taliban insurgency in FATA and the response of the state to Pakistani Taliban onslaught. Part three, which focuses on Nepal, examines Nepal's Maoist insurgency and Nepal's response to the armed insurgency including its political settlement. Part four focuses on Sri Lanka and discusses many missed opportunities as a result of post-independence ethnic tensions and insurgency. All the chapters provide useful insights into the dynamics underpinning the progression of conflict in the four cases examined in the book. The contributors studying the causes of insurgency analyzed contexts and factors responsible for tensions that can potentially build up to violent insurgency.The most recurring theme in all the chapters of the book was the absence of a holistic counterinsurgency approach by the states in question. All four states led with a security-centered strategy heavily focused on the use of force, intelligence-driven action plans, and heavy-handed measures in dealing with the local population. Authors of the Kashmir, Pakistani, and Nepalese case studies criticize this approach and emphasize the need for broader methods, including political and economic interventions.The book also indicates that the dilemma for peacebuilders is that the periods without manifest violence are the least likely to get the needed attention of the future antagonists. As is evident from the cases discussed in the book, states are reluctant to acknowledge problems that merit compromise at a time when the marginalized population is not willing or able to threaten violence. In each of the four cases, it is clear that states felt no compulsion to compromise early on. In fact, complacency led to heavyhanded responses, which, in turn, further stimulated the insurgents and their support base. This is exactly why local and external peacebuilders are essential since they can create awareness of the potential repercussions of unyieldingness upon the principal actors long before sustained violence breaks out. …

Journal of Policy Practice, 2013

ABSTRACT This article examines the current debate on the social protection paradigm as a strategy... more ABSTRACT This article examines the current debate on the social protection paradigm as a strategy for development. Many scholars view social protection as useful for achieving development while some disagree, advocating the transformative social policy approach. It also identifies the implication of the contributions of these scholars to social policy in Nigeria. This article argues that attacking poverty and vulnerabilities in Nigeria requires the integration of social protection with other social policies, entrenchment of good governance, diversifying the economy, and formulating effective policies that can help stimulate employment generation.

International Journal of Environmental Studies, 2012

ABSTRACT This paper examines the role of governance in environmental inequality in the Niger Delt... more ABSTRACT This paper examines the role of governance in environmental inequality in the Niger Delta. Fair access to environmental resources could help to guarantee human security and mitigate violence. Root causes of environmental inequality in Nigeria’s Niger Delta can be linked to government policies and laws such as the Land Use Act and the negative impacts of the activities of multinational oil corporations. Environmental inequality and its concomitant effects produce a trend to conflict in the Niger Delta.

Education, Creativity, and Economic Empowerment in Africa, 2014

With only a few years until the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),... more With only a few years until the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon stated in The Millennium Development Goal Report (2010), “Time is short. We must seize this historic moment to act responsibly and decisively for the common good.”1 These well-chosen words strongly urge governments to engage constructively and deci­sively in actions that can help actualize the goals. The Secretary-General also noted, “We have made important progress in this effort, and have many successes on which to build. But we have been mov­ing too slowly to meet our goals.”2 This statement indicates that there are doubts as to whether the MDGs will be achieved in all the developing parts of the world.

African Studies Quarterly, 2015

Abdul Karim Bangura, ed. 2015. Assessing Barack Obama's Africa Policy: Suggestions for Him an... more Abdul Karim Bangura, ed. 2015. Assessing Barack Obama's Africa Policy: Suggestions for Him and African Leaders. Lanham: University Press of America. 362 pp. This book's seventeen chapters make an assessment of President Barack Obama's African foreign policy. It further provides useful suggestions for him and African political leaders. The first chapter, by Peter A. Dumbuya, considers the dynamics of US relations with Africa. He argues that change in the Obama administration's Africa policy depends not so much on substantive policy differences with Bush administration, for there are continuities in some parts of Africa. In chapter two, Ivor Agyeman-Duah focuses on the topic "race and the great expectations," espousing the view that the first success of Obama's presidency was the confidence that it gave to African-American and other children from minority backgrounds. Additionally, the chapter identified various strategies directed towards ameliorating ra...

The sustainable maintenance of rural roads has been a major problem in Nigeria despite the rural ... more The sustainable maintenance of rural roads has been a major problem in Nigeria despite the rural road network comprising a large proportion of the overall road network in the country. This has resulted in significant deterioration in the condition of rural roads and accessibility to road users. Poor condition of rural roads usually has undesirable effects not only on agricultural production but also on the entire socio-economic development of the rural areas. Over the years, both military and democratic regimes have formulated and implemented policies aimed at ensuring the sustainable maintenance of rural roads but have achieved very little results. This paper examines alternative practices that have been adopted to achieve sustainable maintenance of rural roads in Nigeria. The paper shows that the challenges associated with maintenance of rural roads in both military and democratic regimes are similar. This paper identifies these challenges and explores the possibility of ensuring ...

The overall objective of the study is to critically interrogate the amnesty and the political set... more The overall objective of the study is to critically interrogate the amnesty and the political settlement leading to it, in terms of perceptions, discourses and conversations that undergird it; the nature of bargains, understanding and consensus constructed around it; the content and methods of the Amnesty; the nature of inclusiveness, equity, justness and gender sensitivity; the levels of legitimacy and sustainability of the settlement; the challenges of compliance, implementation and accountability, and the impacts on violence mitigation, conflict resolution, peace building and state building. This monograph presents some of the interim findings of a comprehensive study of the Amnesty for Peace programme. The general objective of the research is to assess the impacts, challenges and sustainability of the amnesty programme and the political settlements leading to it, as a strategy of conflict resolution and peace building at the sub-national level. The study attempts to critically interrogate the content and methods of the Amnesty on the basis of issues of inclusiveness, equity, justice, gender sensitivity; legitimacy, management, challenges, sustainability and impacts on violence mitigation, conflict resolution and peace-building, and nation-building and national stability. Beyond a critical investigation of the Amnesty and its DDRR C P E D M o n o g r a p h S e r i e s 2 0 1 6 iv programme against standards, objectives, best practices and comparative experiences, the study investigates the comprehensiveness, participatory and action basis of the Amnesty; the poor focus on the dynamic capture of the socio-political processes which shape the Amnesty; the specific linkages between political settlements, state and peace building; the linkages between amnesty, justice and peace-building and the basis and prospects for sustainable peace and security. We are particularly grateful to the Governance, Security and Justice Program of IDRC and the Carnegie Corporation of New York for the support to CPED which has enabled the Centre to carry out the study and the publication of this policy document.

Epidemics and the Health of African Nations, 2019

Nigeria is one of the African countries that is responding to Western pressures to make its state... more Nigeria is one of the African countries that is responding to Western pressures to make its states acquire a liberal and democratic culture. Over the years, Nigeria has practiced what can be described as fraudulent democracy. This democracy has been characterized by obnoxious acts such as indiscriminately using money and by very powerful and influential members of the elite class, popularly called ‚political godfathers,’ imposing political leaders on the people. This situation has already become a culture in Nigeria because many politicians who want to contest and win elections always look for such persons to support them. This means that they no longer depend on the electorates to win elections, but instead rely on the political godfathers. This political culture was truncated in the 2007 gubernatorial election in Edo state, Nigeria. This paper examines how the problem of money politics and political godfatherism can be eliminated from Nigeria’s politics in order to strengthen demo...

Armed con�' licts have been a major problem in Africa for many decades. Since the be- ginning... more Armed con�' licts have been a major problem in Africa for many decades. Since the be- ginning of the 1990s, the African continent has acquired a dubious honor of being number one in hosting the largest number of armed con�' licts and complex emergencies. This article examines the role of international humanitarian law (IHL) in the amelioration of the plight of victims of armed con�' lict in Africa. The article shows that in spite of the rati�' ication of IHL by most African states, its provisions are often violated during armed con�' licts. In order to improve the current situation, the states must enact national legislation and take practical measures in order for the rules to be fully effective.

The 2019 outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China and its global spread have sever... more The 2019 outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China and its global spread have several negative consequences on human lives. As of August 17, 2020, the Africa Centre for Disease Control (ACDC) recorded 1,120,768 cases of infections with 25,659 deaths in Africa (Africa CDC, 2020). Countries around the world have responded to the pandemic with different public policy measures including total lockdown of cities, border closures, closure of schools, and many others (World Health Organization, 2020).

Nigeria has witnessed various forms of human rights violations such as extrajudicial killings, ra... more Nigeria has witnessed various forms of human rights violations such as extrajudicial killings, rape, and torture during both military and civilian regimes. Amnesty International, the U.S. State Department, and the Political Terror Scale of the Centre for Systemic Peace indicate that Nigeria is a country characterized by generalized human rights violations. Over the years, several scholars have examined the causes, nature, responses of the state, and reasons for the persistence of human rights violations in Nigeria. A careful consideration of these studies indicates that the role of faith-based civil society organizations in the protection of victims of human rights abuses has not been holistically examined. Consequently, this study seeks to answer the following questions:  What are the views of faith-based civil society organizations in Nigeria on human rights and the protection of victims of human rights violations?  Do religious extremism and violent activities create a disposit...