Violence in Nigeria
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ASC-075287668-3743-01
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Conclusion<br />
89<br />
Although the media has been accused of fuell<strong>in</strong>g the belief <strong>in</strong> witchcraft and<br />
cults, fatal cases reported by newspapers are as real as the threat associated with<br />
witchcraft <strong>in</strong> the m<strong>in</strong>d of the African. The <strong>Nigeria</strong> Watch database shows that<br />
witchcraft-related violence is more prevalent <strong>in</strong> the southern than <strong>in</strong> the northern<br />
part of <strong>Nigeria</strong>. The ma<strong>in</strong> reason for this can be found <strong>in</strong> the history, traditions,<br />
and culture of these areas, and <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>troduction to a foreign monotheistic religion,<br />
which occurred earlier <strong>in</strong> the North than <strong>in</strong> the South. In the case of cult<br />
kill<strong>in</strong>gs, fatalities and <strong>in</strong>cidents are highest <strong>in</strong> Rivers State. Although cult-related<br />
kill<strong>in</strong>gs are also to be found <strong>in</strong> Nasarawa, Kwara, and Benue states, eight northern<br />
states were totally free of the problem, while <strong>in</strong> the South, all the states recorded<br />
at least one <strong>in</strong>cidence of cult kill<strong>in</strong>g. However, empirical evidence connect<strong>in</strong>g<br />
witchcraft and cult societies to violent deaths is low compared with the<br />
widespread belief <strong>in</strong> occult phenomena.<br />
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