Shia Islam clampdown in Nigeria: A recipe for insurgency?

ABSTRACT

This article examines the crackdown on Shia Muslims in Nigeria. It analyses the transition from Sunni to Shia Islam; highlights the operations of the sect; discusses the international dimension of power play; and reflects on the likely implications of the heavy-handed approach of the Nigerian state. Given the number of Shiites and the non-violent posture of its leadership, it could be assumed that the group poses no existential threat to the country. However, this article contends that the organised repression against the Shiites movement may push the group into violent extremism as a survival strategy.

KEYWORDS:

• Shia Islam
• Shiite movement
• military crackdown
• insurgency
• Islamic Movement of Nigeria

Notes on contributor

Uche, Chidiebube Jasper obtained a PhD in Political Science from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2015. He served for ten years in Government in various capacities, including the National Assembly, Abuja, before joining academia. He taught briefly at Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria, and later moved to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2017. He is a member of Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) and Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Victoria Island, Lagos. He has consulted for a number of organizations which include: Centre for Democracy & Development (CDD), CLEEN Foundation, European Union I-WASH Project, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). He is published in a number of peer-reviewed journals. His research interests are: governance, political economy, and conflict/peace studies.

Notes

1 Okakwu, ‘Court Orders Immediate Release of Shi’a Leader, El-Zakzaky’.

2 Adesomoju, Aluko, and Ramon, ‘SERAP Drags Buhari to UN for Disobeying Court Judgments’.

3 Falana, ‘492 Shiites Killed by Nigerian Govt in Four Years’.

4 Thurston, ‘Shi’ism and Anti Shi’ism in Nigeria’.

5 Zenn, ‘The Islamic Movement and Iranian Intelligence Activities in Nigeria’.

6 Hall, ‘Sunni and Shia Muslims: Islam’s 1,400-Year-Old Divide Explained’.

7 Ibid.

8 Zenn, ‘The Islamic Movement and Iranian Intelligence Activities in Nigeria’.

9 Obasi, ‘New Risks on Nigeria’s Shiite Fault-line’.

10 Zenn, ‘The Islamic Movement and Iranian Intelligence Activities in Nigeria’.

11 Thurston, ‘Shi’ism and Anti Shi’ism in Nigeria’.

12 Runsewe, ‘Here’s Some Background on Shiite and Sunni Relations in Nigeria’.

13 Campbell, ‘Nigeria’s Treatment of Shia Minority Recalls that of Boko Haram’.

14 Pew Research Centre, ‘Mapping the Global Muslim Population’.

15 Maina, ‘El-Zakzaky: We’re Very Different from Boko Haram’.

16 Thurston, ‘Shi’ism and Anti Shi’ism in Nigeria’.

17 Amnesty International, ‘Nigeria: Unearthing the Truth’.

18 Ibid.

19 Maina, ‘El-Zakzaky: We’re Very Different from Boko Haram’.

20 Abu-Nasr, ‘As Trump Makes Threats, Iran Makes Friends’.

21 Ibid.

22 Keating, ‘How Hezbollah is Winning in West Africa’.

23 Abu-Nasr, ‘As Trump Makes Threats, Iran Makes Friends’.

24 Zenn, ‘The Islamic Movement and Iranian Intelligence Activities in Nigeria’.

25 Campbell, ‘Nigeria’s Treatment of Shia Minority Recalls that of Boko Haram’.

26 Maina, ‘El-Zakzaky: We’re Very Different from Boko Haram’.