<h1><strong>INTER-ETHNIC RIVALRY AND ISSUES OF SECESSION IN NIGERIA</strong></h1> <p>CONTENT</p> <ol> <li>Inter-Ethnic Rivalry</li> <li>The Nature of Ethnic Conflicts or Rivalry in Nigeria</li> <li>Problems of Secession in Nigeria</li> <li>Measures to Avoid Secession in Nigeria</li> </ol> <p><strong> </strong></p> <h2><strong>Inter-Ethnic Rivalry</strong></h2> <p>Since the inception of Nigeria, there has been rivalry among the different ethnic groups especially the major ethnic groups of Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani. The major problem is the question of leadership in the country. None of them want to concede the leadership of the country to the other.</p> <p> </p> <h2><strong>The Nature of Ethnic Conflicts in Nigeria</strong></h2> <p>The nature of ethnic conflicts in Nigeria is in various forms namely:</p> <ol> <li>Political Disturbances: Some ethnic group may purposely cause problems in the country to destabilize the government.</li> <li>Destruction of Lives and Properties: Some ethnic groups take laws into their hands by killing people and destroying their properties to show their displeasures to the happenings in the society.</li> <li>Holding people as Hostages: Relatives of some important personalities or influential members of the society may be kidnapped and taken to an unknown destination until a ransom is paid. This is done in order to also show their displeasure over an issue or issues happening in the society.</li> <li>Boundary Disputes: Many at times, there are communal clashes over a piece of land or boundaries. This sometimes leads to loss of many lives and properties.</li>