Beyond the Silence of Guns: Violence Normalisation and Conflict Recurrence in Rivers State, Nigeria 62 28
Keywords:
Violence Normalisation, Conflict recurrence, Cultism, Peace-building, Rivers StateAbstract
This study explored how violence has become normalised and repeatedly reproduced across communities in Rivers State, Nigeria. Despite years of military operations, peace accords, and security interventions, many communities continue to experience cycles of cult violence, militancy, kidnapping, communal clashes, and politically motivated attacks. This research examined whether repeated exposure to these forms of violence has made conflict appear normal, predictable, and socially acceptable within everyday life. A survey research design was adopted. A sample of 550 subjects was drawn from the population via simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire titled Violence Normalisation and Conflict Recurrence Questionnaire (VNCRQ). The instrument was validated through face and content validity procedures by two experts from Measurement and Evaluation and Criminology Godwin Sunday Ojomuyide, Prof. Ekwuore Monday Ushie, Doris Emmanuel Ushie & Ighorojeh Peace Departments, while reliability was established using the Cronbach Alpha method. With reliability coefficient of 0.88, Descriptive statistics such as simple percentages were used to answer the research questions and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient and multiple linear regression analysis were applied to test the hypotheses. The findings showed that cult related violence, political thuggery, militancy, youth unemployment, weak institutional responses and recurring communal conflicts significantly contribute to the normalisation of violence and the recurrence of conflict in Rivers State. Violence has become deeply rooted in social, political and economic structures, where it is increasingly viewed as a means of survival, protection and dispute resolution. The study concluded that violence in Rivers State is cyclical rather than isolated and recommended sustained peace-building, institutional reform, youth empowerment and community-based conflict transformation initiatives.Downloads
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