by CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
In the past decades, Nigeria has witnessed the insurgence of conflicts and acts of terrorism that many scholars have sometimes regarded as a protest against inequitable distribution of resources, corruption. However, due to poor approaches to managing these protests, they escalate into social vices that affect the country negatively. A good example is what we know now as Boko haram, bandits, and other ethnic-based militias that started as protests but the approach of the government helped radicalized them into what they have become today. The 2020 youth-led social movement for good governance in Nigeria spread across the 36 states of the country and other African countries including the United Kingdom. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with approximately 240 million people, the largest African economy, the largest oil producer, and the most ethnically diverse, with over 250 ethnic and 350 linguistic groups.
The End-SARS crisis started as a peaceful protest by some well meaning Nigerian youths but after some days, some hoodlums operating in gangs in some areas of Lagos and other cities began to attack shops, business centers, private and public businesses and establishments. They vandalized, destroyed, burnt and looted both individual and government properties and assets, attacked correctional centres and released prisoners; and at that point the protest was turned into serious disturbances and mayhem that culminated into a national crisis. The End-SARS protests and disturbances took Nigeria and the world at large by surprise and came as a sudden phenomenon particularly because of the present covid-19 pandemic that is ravaging almost every country in the world. Nigerians were further taken aback by the level of organization, magnitude and immediate impacts of the End-SARS protestations by Nigerian youths. Many people wondered how it all started, and consequently snowballed into a well masterminded youth demonstrations in Lagos, before spreading to other cities and states. Alamu (2020) quoted in The Nation (2020) highlights on the protests, and states that, “the administration appears to have forgotten that the End-SARS imbroglio stole completely upon it, like a creeping coup to which it has no answers. The protest completely outsmarted the combined forces of the entire security apparatus”. It was an uprising that made many Nigerians to rekindle their belief in the audacity and courage of the youths in Nigeria to stand up to power in the face of devastating challenges. It was a new generation movement that may never be forgotten in the annals of Nigeria’s twenty-first century narratives, being the first of its kind in which organized mass protests were conceived, planned and executed by youths (males and females) who were roughly between the ages of fifteen and forty years; who conducted themselves in a way and manner that has never been seen before in the country. In Nigerian history, it may be likened to the famous Aba Women riot of 1929 which raised great awareness about the tax issues and concerns of women traders(Echeta,2018). Sobowale (2020), in his remarks on the End-SARS protests declares that “#End-SARS has opened a new chapter in Nigerian history and has partly exposed our thinly-covered acclaimed unity”. Although gone, October 2020, will be remembered as the month and year when Nigerian youths showed that they have come of age in terms of social mobilization and activism. The Nation(2020) expressly states that,” October 2020 is one month that would maintain a remarkable chapter in the Nigerian history book for long. It was a month when the young ones got tired of the rot in the governance system and flew into a rage nationwide”. For a fragile economy already heavily beaten by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has cost thousands of citizens their livelihoods, forced many to commit suicide, and landed millions in untold hardship, the hijack of the peaceful #End-SARS protests by hoodlums, and the unprecedented anarchy, destruction and wanton killings that reigned supreme across the country, leaves so much to panic about (Agbonkhese, 2020). The End-SARS protests, basically, aimed at putting an end to all forms of police, and by extension, military institutions’ brutality, harassment, intimidation, extortion, use of force, extra-judicial killings, etc., in Nigeria. It was a great opportunity that Nigerian youths employed to show in clear and practical terms how aggrieved and disenchanted they were with the attitude and treatment of policemen, particularly members of the SARS (Special Anti- Robbery Squad) teams towards many Nigerians over the years. Sobowale (2020) summarized the above scenario with these words, “SARS officers, as well as some regular police officers, have committed grievous crimes against fellow Nigerians”. Some of the actions of these ruthless police officers left many individuals and families bereaved, heart-broken, depressed, disabled, impoverished and full of ugly memories. The crisis generated mixed feelings and reactions among many Nigerians. However, most of the reports on newspapers and other media indicated that a majority of Nigerians felt good with the development, even though as it lingered, some Nigerians began to lose interest and wished it ended. The occurrence of some cases of police maltreatment while the protests were ongoing encouraged its widespread across many states, particularly the southern states of Edo, Rivers, Imo, Osun, Anambra, Bayelsa, etc. (Sunday Vanguard, 2020).
Statement of the Problem
Interpersonal conflict is conflict that occurs between two or more individuals that work together in groups or teams. This is a conflict that occurs between two or more individuals. Many individual differences lead to interpersonal conflict, including personalities, culture, attitudes, values, perceptions, and the other differences.
Conflict arises due to a variety of factors. Individual differences in goals, expectations, values, proposed courses of action, and suggestions about how to best handle a situation are unavoidable. This can happen in the society youths and the government. This can cause unemployment to be meted out to youths. It can also cause significant emotional and physical harm and can lead to aggressive behaviours when youth lack the social skills necessary to cope with their frustrations. Therefore, it is important to identify students who engage in interpersonal conflict and employ some positive conflict resolution skills training for them in order to promote healthy living in the school. Resolution is an act of finding a solution to problems or a conflict.
