International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR)

Background: Communal conflicts and violence in Nigeria have deeply affected the country's social fabric, leading to widespread instability and sufferings. These conflicts often arise from a complex interplay of factors, including competition for scarce resources such as land and water, among other factors. Meanwhile, there exists a gap in knowledge on the impact of aggression and political influence in most of these conflicts.
Objective: This study investigated impact of aggression and political influence on communal conflicts in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
Method: The study adopted descriptive cross-sectional survey design targeted at 313 respondents purposively sampled from some conflict flashpoints in Mkpat Enin LGA. The instrument for data collection were copies of the questionnaire, while the data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Result: Findings show that aggressive behaviour of youths did not significantly predict communal conflicts in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area. The results also indicate that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) was effective in curbing aggression and political influence on communal conflicts in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State.
Conclusion: It was concluded that CBT offers a structured approach to help individuals understand and modify their thoughts and behaviours related to aggression, enables response to conflicts in healthier ways. Unique contribution: This study has offered useful insight into the need for collaborative solution in addressing aggression and political influence on communal conflicts in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, as this approach emphasises dialogue and reconciliation. It is hoped that policy makers will find this fresh insight useful in future policy formulation and implementation. Key recommendation: There is need for integration of conflict resolution education into local governance to foster greater literacy in local communities’ peaceful administration and enhanced knowledge on handling community grievances constructively rather than resorting to violence.