1 ETHNICITY AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT* By Mohammed Goni Isah Department of General Studies Education Umar Suleiman College of Education, PMB 02, Gashua, Yobe State, Nigeria Usman Dando Department of General Studies Education Umar Suleiman College of Education, PMB 02, Gashua, Yobe State, Nigeria & Jamilu Ibrahim Mukhtar Department of Sociology, Federal University Dutse, PMB 7156, Jigawa State, Nigeria Correspondence author: jimukhtar01@gmail.com +2347033115873; +2348076590535 *To cite this article: Isah, M. G., Dando, U. & Mukhtar, J. I. (2018). Ethnicity and political violence in Nigeria: Challenges of national development. Dutse Journal of Economics and Development Studies, 5 (2): 120-125 Abstract The aim of this paper is to investigate the role of ethnicity in stirring violent political struggle and confrontation in Nigerian political system, leading to national retrogression in Nigeria. The paper adopted the theory of politicised identity to explain how political violence is justified by some ethnics against other groups in the country. Nigeria is a diverse country; comprising multi- cultural population, religious, linguistic, tribal, as well as regional differences. Despite efforts at stabilising the country’s political structure through federalism, there is evidence of serious political instability and violent political struggle along ethnic lines. From the country’s independence in 1960 till date, ethnicity has been one of the major factors that shape the political system. As a result, inclinations to political parties are influenced by ethnic-nationalism and violent inter-ethnic confrontations are very common. Also, religious bigotry remains a source of conflict in Nigeria. The paper concluded that ethnic-nationalism is causing violent political confrontations between Nigerians and is still playing role in the retrogression of Nigeria’s politics especially with the issue of democratisation process. To overcome the negative effect of ethnicity on the Nigerian politics, political leaders, religious and traditional leaders should serve as role models and call for national unity and patriotism rather ethnic-nationalism. Keywords: Ethnicity, Ethnic conflict, power struggle in Nigeria, Political violence.