KIJHUS Volume. 1, Issue 1 (2020)

This paper includes the analysis of religious extremism, youth restiveness and national security in Kaduna northwest Nigeria. The Christian and Islamic radicalism promote religious allegiance, ethnic identity and youth restiveness in the major parts of Kaduna northwest Nigeria. As such, youth without sufficient knowledge and critical information about religion easily finds agitation to answer the thrilling questions of human basic needs. This has led both Christian minority and Muslim majority in the state to open confrontation. This however, endangered Nigerians national security, fundamental human right, peace and unity in many parts of the country. This confrontation has taken ethno-religious dimension in Kaduna state. Indeed, the effort of state to resolve this ethno-religious conflict is challenging; this is because the state has failed in its ability to manage her diversity. The paper examined how religious extremism and youth restiveness threatened peaceful coexistence of different groups in Kaduna state. Data for this paper were drawn from both primary and secondary source, mainly from focus group discussion and relevant literatures that were analyzed via content analysis. Abraham Maslow theory of human needs was utilized, this is predicated on the notion that all humans have basic needs, which they seek to fulfill, and the denial of these needs by other groups will lead to conflict. The paper revealed that religious extremism and youth restiveness are consequence of ignorance, illiteracy, unemployment, poverty, unhealthy communication, among others. These problems create possibility for vulnerability among the warring parties. As such it is recommended that government should initiate social security programs to cushion poverty, unemployment and illiteracy among Nigeria youths.