AFRICAN JOURNAL OF CONTEXTUAL THEOLOGY

This study examines the relationship between religion and security challenges in Nigeria, with particular focus on how the practice and politicization of Christianity and Islam have contributed to rising insecurity and its implications for rural and national development. Adopting an expository and analytical method, the study interrogates how religious identities, extremist interpretations, and elite manipulation of faith-based sentiments have been instrumentalized to fuel conflicts such as banditry, insurgency, and communal violence. These dynamics have significantly undermined social cohesion and national stability. The study further explores the developmental consequences of such insecurity, especially in rural areas where livelihoods are predominantly agrarian. It reveals that persistent violence has led to mass displacement, loss of farmlands, disruption of food production systems, and increased dependence on humanitarian aid. These conditions not only undermine economic productivity but also erode human capital development, as displaced populations, especially children, face limited access to quality education and opportunities for self-actualization. The study concludes that religion itself is not the cause of insecurity; rather, its distortion and politicization have contributed significantly to the nation's security challenges. It recommends strengthening interfaith dialogue, promoting responsible religious leadership, enhancing community-based security initiatives, rebuilding conflict-affected communities, and implementing policies that address the socio-economic conditions that fuel violence and extremism.

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