Genocide, International Law, and the Nigerian Conflict: A Contextual Examination

ABSTRACT : Genocide remains one of the most severe crimes under international law due to its deliberate and systematic attempt to destroy protected groups. Rooted in the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the concept continues to frame global legal and humanitarian interventions. This paper examines the significance of genocide within international law and evaluates its applicability to the complex and evolving Nigerian conflict. Although violence in Nigeria— particularly in the Northern and Middle Belt regions—has often been interpreted as Muslim attacks on Christian communities, a closer analysis reveals political, economic, territorial, and ideological drivers that complicate the classification of the conflict as genocide. By situating Nigeria’s situation within the legal framework of the Genocide Convention, this study highlights the importance of intent, group targeting, and evidentiary standards in genocide assessment. The paper concludes that, although mass atrocities and systematic violence are evident, the Nigerian crisis does not neatly fit the strict legal definition of genocide, necessitating a more nuanced approach to conflict interpretation and policy response.

KEYWORDS: Christians, genocide, Jihadists, Nigeria, Muslims