SOCIAL IDENTITY CONFLICTS, SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND BIOCULTURAL IMPLICATIONS IN WUKARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF TARABA STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

Social identity conflict in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State Nigeria significantly undermine socioeconomic development and consequently enhances bio-cultural implications that further negates development within and around the study area. This study critically examines the relationship between social identity conflicts, socioeconomic development outcomes and physiological stress responses basically through secondary sources and relied on the use of Social Identity Theory and Stress Diathesis Model to clearly establish cause and effects of social identity conflict particular in Wukari Local Government Area of Southern Senatorial District of Taraba State. The Study’s theoretical positioning revealed that social identity conflicts are responsible for the poor state of development within Wukari and that it also accounts for heightened cases of stress among indigents and settlers within the study Area. Secondary findings from the study in consonance with the claim above, showed that, social conflict disrupts markets, schools, and health centers. Thus, creating a "development boundary" that prevents investment and service delivery, that there is a nexus between biology, culture, and environment. In Wukari cultural practices around marriage, diet, traditional medicine, and burial intersect with health outcomes and that, conflict-induced displacement and environmental stress alter diets, increase disease exposure, and erode indigenous knowledge systems etc. The paper therefore recommends among many that: Government and non-governmental organizations should design targeted youth empowerment schemes to reduce unemployment, idleness, and susceptibility to violent mobilization. That, Policy documents should be reviewed to ensure fairness in the allocation of political offices, educational opportunities and access to farmland, so as to reduce perceptions of marginalization. That Traditional rulers and faith base leaders and clerics should be empowered through capacity building to play stronger roles in early conflict detection, dialogue and peace education and That Stress management and mental health support should be integrated in conflict resolution.