Violent Conflicts in Nigeria: Causes and Possible Solutions

History’s account of man’s progress in the world show that it has not been a bed of roses for him. His rare moment of peace and tranquility have often been shattered by deadly strokes of violence. Nigeria since independence has had her own share of violent conflicts. The violent conflict which has bedeviled Nigeria include ethnic, religious, economic, political and many other forms of violence. This paper aims at evaluating the causes of violent conflicts in Nigeria, its effect and how mitigation can be effected to avert it completely, or reduce it to minimal. This study has adopted descriptive analytical method with emphasis on the reported cases of violent conflicts in Nigeria and how to mitigate such. Relevant published texts such as books, articles, journals, and reports provided the leverage for the study. It was discovered in the course of this study that gross unemployment, political, social and economic inequality, poverty, ignorance, intolerance, selfishness, exclusion, religious fanatism, tribalism, bad governance, injustice among other evils in the country, predisposes violent conflicts. As a result, the citizens have suffered displacement, untimely death for many, kidnaping and Ransom payment, abject poverty, rape, widowhood and above all high level of insecurity etc. The researcher therefore, recommends that Restructuring the country, good governance, trust building programs, convocation of sovereign national conference, peace education, public enlightenment, making political offices less lucrative, accountability, education for all, fear of God, equity, equality and a true democratic order could provide a bed-rock of unity and peaceful co-existence.