Ethnic Politics and Conflicts in Nigeria’s First Republic: The Misuse of Native Administrative Police Forces (NAPFS) and the Tiv Riots of Central Nigeria,1960-1964

Abstract

This study examines the explosion of violent ethno-political conflicts in Central Nigeria in 1960. At the attainment of independence, Nigeria comprised three loosely amalgamated regions which later metamorphosed into three ethnic based political parties namely; the Northern People’s Congress(NPC), National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (N.C.N.C) in the East, and the Action Group (AG) in the West. With this political structure, the seed of minority domination was already sown. The main thrust of this paper is the resistance of the Tiv to the despotic leadership of the Hausa/Fulani with their instrument of coercion, the Native Administrative Police Forces (NAPFS).Drawing inferences from this study, lessons can be learnt from the British colonial political culture of regionalism which fosters crisis of nation building in Nigeria. Key words: Ethnic Politics; Conflicts; Central Nigeria; Tiv Riots Resume: Cette etude examine l'explosion des conflits ethno-politiques violents dans le centre du Nigeria des annees 60. A la conquete de l'independance, le Nigeria se composait de trois regions vaguement fusionnees qui sont plus tard metamorphosees en trois pouvoirs politiques bases sur l'ethnie, a savoir: le congres du peuple du Nord (CPN), le Conseil national du Nigeria et du Cameroun (CNNC) a l'Est, et le Groupe d'action (GA) a l'Ouest. Avec cette structure politique, la semence de la domination de la minorite etait deja seme. L'objectif principal de cet article est d'etudier la resistance des Tivs a la direction despotique de l'ethnie Haousa / Fulani avec leur instrument de coercition, les Forces policieres administratives autochtones (FSPAA). A partir de cette etude, on peut tirer des lecons sur la culture du regionalisme coloniale britannique qui favorise la crise de la construction nationale au Nigeria. Mots-cles: Politiques ethniques; Conflits; Centre du Nigeria; Emeutes des Tivs