Beyond Martyrdom and Militancy: Reimagining Pacifism as a Framework for Conflict Resolution in Nigeria’s Ethno Religious Crises

Abstract

Nigeria’s ethno-religious crises have persisted as a major challenge to national cohesion.It has resulted to violent conflicts across regions in the country. Traditional responses have largely oscillated between militant resistance and religious martyrdom, both of which often perpetuate cycles of violence rather than resolve them. This paper critically reimaginespacifism as a viable and transformative framework for conflict resolution in Nigeria.It Moves beyond its conventional perception as passive submission to an active and strategic approach rooted in dialogue, restorative justice and nonviolent resistance.The study argues that pacifism offers a sustainable pathway for addressing ethnoreligious tensions in Nigeria. The study adopts conflict transformation theory. The study finds that indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms align with pacifist principles and that pacifist strategies such as interfaith dialogue, community mediation and nonviolent civil resistance have demonstrated significant potential in reducing tensions and encouraging reconciliation.