AJAG Article

Abstract

This study investigates the social and environmental injustice nexus as a significant factor
contributing to the unrest in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta region. Employing an
interdisciplinary approach, it draws on frustration-aggression theory, deprivation theory, and
structural strain theory to understand the transformation of social movements into armed militant
groups. The significance of this study lies in its attempt to provide a comprehensive understanding of
the environmental and social (in)justice dimensions of the conflict in the Niger Delta region. Previous
studies have often been limited in scope and have failed to adequately account for the complexity of
the conflict, resulting in sectional arguments being presented as causal factors. By contrast, this study
draws on theories from psychology and sociology to examine the connection between social and
environmental (in)justice and the transformation of social movements into armed militancy groups.
Utilizing secondary data, including reports and documents from government and non-governmental
organizations, the study seeks to provide a more nuanced understanding of the root causes of the
conflict in the Niger Delta and to identify enduring peace-building strategies that can contribute to a
sustainable resolution of the conflict.

From Social Movements to Nonstate Armed Groups (NSAGS): Socio-Environmental (In)Justice and Unrest in the Oil-Producing Region of Nigeria, 2024, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 91-101. PDF