1. 0 INTRODUCTION Since late 1999, barely 6 months from the inauguration of the 3rd Republic, the nation has been under the grip of a wide range of security challenges . In November 1999, the Nigerian military leveled the normally peaceful riverside town of Odi, as reprisal for the killing of 12 policemen by unknown persons, presumed to be Niger Delta militants, who had gone there to hold a meeting.
Since then, the cycle of violence has worsened in intensity, geographic spread, and complexity to a point where, even the staging of national events in an open unrestricted environment is no longer a given. The same goes for religious activities, which now require heavy security protection, even for regular worship on appointed days.
The cumulative loss of lives is now counted in the thousands, which in itself, signifies the colossal wastage of valuable human capital. This is compounded by economic loss, of huge proportions, both actual and in opportunity terms.
Even more regrettable, some would say disturbing, is the loss of mutual trust, mutual acceptance, and brotherliness across geo-cultural, geo-political and inter-faith demarcations, which Nigerians once enjoyed. The result is an Page 1 of 66
