Conflicts between tribes in Southern Kaduna: A Comparison to East Ukraine

Abstract

Eastern Ukraine and Southern Kaduna are both diverse ethnically. Christian groups make up the majority of both sides' populations. Southern Kaduna is home to indigenous tribes like the Kataf, Adara, Takad, Fantswam, Ikulu, Chawai, and Ham, as well as Muslim Hausa/Fulani, whom they frequently refer to as "settlers." In 1987, tensions between the indigenous population and their Hausa Fulani neighbours reached their height. In recent conflicts that have claimed thousands of lives and compelled many to flee their homes, the issue of land ownership appears to have come back into focus. According to the indigenous associations in Southern Kaduna, the Hausa and Fulani settlers are attempting to drive people from their ancestral homes by repeatedly targeting native residents. On the other hand, this research reveals how Yanukovych's 2013 decision to prioritise the Russian language in Donbass was what initially sparked the conflict, as well as how state actors in Nigeria were unable to start a genuine peace process to put an end to the bloodshed in Southern Kaduna. Due to the uniqueness of the study, we adopted premordialism theory as a working guide and suggested a long-term resolution rather than a temporary cessation of hostilities in these territories.