Beyond Insurgency: The Impact of Political and Ethno-Religious Tensions on National Security in Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates how political and ethno-religious tensions undermine Nigeria’s national security beyond insurgency, using Human Security and Social Identity Theory as analytical frameworks. Adopting a qualitative approach, a total of twenty-three (23) respondents were purposively selected to ensure diversity across key stakeholder groups, including security personnel, community leaders, religious leaders, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and members of the public. In-depth interviews captured varied perspectives on the multidimensional nature of insecurity, and thematic analysis was conducted across four domains: physical safety, economic consequences, social cohesion, and the performance of security institutions. Findings reveal that political and ethno-religious tensions have severely eroded human security, with recurrent attacks, kidnappings, and killings causing mass displacement and widespread fear in conflict-prone regions. Economically, insecurity has disrupted businesses, destroyed infrastructure, and limited agricultural productivity, resulting in unemployment, poverty, and capital flight. Socially, rising mistrust and polarization along ethnic and religious lines, compounded by divisive political rhetoric and exclusionary governance, have deepened national fragmentation. Security agencies face operational constraints including corruption, resource inadequacy, poor coordination, and perceived bias which undermine public confidence and limit effectiveness. Emerging threats, such as Boko Haram and ISWAP recruitment, communal clashes, banditry, religious extremism, and politically motivated violence, illustrate the systemic and interconnected nature of Nigeria’s insecurity, rooted in governance failures, elite rivalry, and political exclusion. The study concludes that sustainable security requires holistic, human- centered strategies that combine inclusive governance, economic resilience, interfaith dialogue, and community-driven peacebuilding, addressing both structural inequalities and identity-based divisions to stabilize Nigeria and safeguard national unity.