Psychosocial Issues of Religious Fanaticism, Insecurity and National Development in Nigeria

Nigeria’s national development striving since her independence in 1960 has been plagued by a plethora of social, religious, political and economic factors and the most challenging of which are religious fanaticism and insecurity. This paper therefore, takes a look at the Nigerian national development portrait since independence; the place of religion in national development; religious fanaticism in Nigeria; security situation in Nigeria since independence, religious fanaticism and insecurity in Nigeria. It also examined causes of religious fanaticism and insecurity in Nigeria; psychosocial issues of religious fanaticism, insecurity and national development. The paper concludes by blaming the current upsurge in the rate of insecurity in various parts of the country on the activities of religious fanatics who make themselves available in the hands of unscrupulous, over-ambitious and power-drunk politicians to achieve selfish political ends. It thus, recommends, among other things that the government should embark on massive industrialization in order to create employment opportunities for the teaming population of unemployed youths which constitute the major victims of religious fanaticism in Nigeria. Key Words: Religious Fanaticism, Insecurity and National Developmen