RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS AND PRACTICES AMONG CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS: IMPLICATION FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

This paper examined the recent trend of escalating explosion of ethno-religious conflicts arising from the problem of religious symbols and practices among Christians and Muslims in Northern Nigeria with special focus on Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State and Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State. In an attempt to discover the underlying factors that causes mistrust and conflicts among the two predominant religions in Northern Nigeria. The paper observes that the occurrence of conflicts in any in the study areas as a result of misunderstanding arising from the use of religious and cultural symbols could be more violent, leading to wanton destruction of lives and property. It notes that poor understanding and the improper use of religious symbols and practices in Northern Nigeria has hinder peaceful coexistence in some selected communities. This paper observes that there is a negative relationship between Christian and Muslims with regards to the understanding and usage of religious symbols and practices in Northern Nigeria. This has great implications for peace and reconciliation; hence recommends that the religious and traditional leaders should take the business of addressing issues of religious and cultural symbols as priority one on the agenda to help their adherent towards achieving a peaceful society. Mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative), methodology has been used in the research with writer's observations and semi-structured interview as instrument of data collection.