Religious Identity and Intergroup Relations in Jos, Plateau State

Jos, Plateau State, has been the site of recurring inter-religious violence between Christian and Muslim communities, making it a critical case study for understanding how religious identity shapes intergroup relations in Nigeria's North Central zone. This study examines the role of religious identity in intergroup relations in Jos, focusing on attitudes, social distance, and cooperation patterns. A descriptive survey design was employed, with structured questionnaires administered to 400 adult residents, equally sampled from Christian and Muslim households across four residential areas, including both ethnically homogeneous and mixed neighborhoods. The Social Identity Theory of Tajfel and Turner was applied as the theoretical framework. Results reveal that residential segregation along religious lines had intensified since 2010, with 71% of respondents living in predominantly co-religious neighborhoods. Social distance between religious groups was high, with only 27% of respondents reporting close friendships across religious boundaries. Economic cooperation at shared markets was identified as the most resilient domain of intergroup contact, maintained by 64% of respondents even during periods of heightened tension. Negative stereotyping of the out-group was significantly more prevalent among respondents with no cross-religious friendship ties. Youth aged 18 to 25 demonstrated higher social distance scores than older respondents, suggesting generational hardening of divisions. Shared neighborhood infrastructure projects mediated by neutral community organizations produced the most positive attitude change outcomes. Recommendations include investment in interfaith dialogue infrastructure, mixed-faith youth programs, and neutral community-managed infrastructure projects in Jos residential areas. Keywords: religious identity, intergroup relations, Jos, social distance, interfaith conflict.