Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies (JAIS): ISSN 2523-6725 (online) January 2019 Vol. 3, No. 1 Citation: Awoniyi, S. (2019). Historical and Religio-Ethical Enquiry into Terrorism in Nigeria. Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies. 3(1), 20-33. 19 Copyright © 2019 Centre for Democracy, Research and Development (CEDRED), Nairobi, Kenya. http://cedred.org/jais/index.php/issues Historical and Religio-Ethical Enquiry into Terrorism in Nigeria By Awoniyi Sunday Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba- Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria E-mail: Awosunday4you@gmail.Com Abstract Previous studies have revealed that terrorism has a long history across the world. However, despite the fact that frantic efforts had been made by various successive governments, terrorism continues to spread the more across the modern world most especially within African countries. This article investigates the rise of terrorism in Africa with particular reference to Nigeria. The article explores different types of terrorism, nature of terrorism, goals, causes, effects and consequences of terrorism. This study illuminates, through some case studies of terrorism as experienced at various times in Nigeria. The role of the Church in terms of mission statements, innovations and initiative measures were identified and discussed. The article raised the consciousness of religious adherents and the populace to their responsibility in order to create a better and a well-ordered society. This article recommends sustainable path-ways in resolving the problems posed by terrorism in Nigeria. Keywords: Terrorism, Nigeria, Church, Social-Ethics, Historical Enquiry Introduction Osisioma (2005) opines that in the last three or four decades terrorism has not been an object of serious focus by most African governments, unlike several of their European Latin American and Asian counterparts. It is heartrending to note that Osisioma informs that there is no doubt that the phenomenon of terrorism will continue to increase with increasing contemporary struggles over issues of justice, democratic sustainability, public accountability, national resources distribution and power sharing, ethnic tolerance, religious tolerance, unemployment, poverty, hunger among others. Besides, he also submits that different religious and socio-political extremists are now increasing, especially those with suicide tendencies, and other patriots who can no longer bear the hunger, retrogression and agony of the country in the midst of plenty. Presently, the symbols of the Talliban are showing themselves in the North Eastern part of Nigeria. Yet, there exist a pool of millions of hungry and angry unemployed youths in this country, from which terrorists can be recruited easily. These categories of people then emerge to form terrorist groups that usually terrorize citizens or government officials (Osisima, 2005: 3-28). More importantly, world politics is equally fast coming under the yoke of terrorism today (Falola, 2006:16-20). For instance, there may be an attempt to force Third World Countries to reverse her decisions or avoid taking any decision over some crucial issues or make decisions which they cannot normally make like the issue of homosexuality. In Nigeria today nobody is safe because terrorists can strike at any time, targeting children, women, travelers at Motor Park, worshippers both in the Churches and Mosques. Although despite all these insinuations on the increase of the phenomenon about terrorism in the modern world there are still indications that offer grounds to a silver optimism through the Role of the Church in Nigeria. These make it necessary and urgent for Nigeria and other African states to begin to think and plan more seriously about terrorism. The thrust of this article is to investigate and examine the phenomenon of terrorism, highlighting among others, conceptual issues on the subject, different types of terrorism such as its nature. In addition to its