The Effects of Communal Clashes on Socio-Economic Development: A Study of Erin-Ile and Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Erin-Ile and Offa are two adjoining towns in Kwara State, Nigeria These two communities used to live peacefully together until 1970 when boundary issues, arising out of the expansionist needs of the two towns created clashes between these two-former peaceful neighbours. These clashes have become regular phenomena between these two towns with grave implications for socio-economic development. The study employed the convergent parallel design with a structured questionnaire as the main research instrument. The questionnaire was administered on 1,102 respondents purposively selected from the total population of 129, 731 people residing in Erin-Ile and Offa. The study found that much lives and property had been lost to these communal clashes between these two towns with adverse effects on their socio-economic development. This study, among other recommendations, called for government's takeover of the disputed area between these two to prevent further conflicts between them in the future.