Abstract
Conflict is not a new phenomenon in the world, it is traceable to first and second world wars or even earlier, violent conflict is however new and alien to Nigeria as it has not been part of our culture and tradition, people have often live in peace and harmony from time immemorial. However, over the past three decades, Nigeria society has characteristically been plagued into violent conflicts occasioned by insurgence, terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery among others, this is attributable to institutional decay, declining ethical values, break down in the family system and social organizations (clan), cultural infiltration, eroding traditional institutions and values, falling standard of education, politicization of the military institution, radicalization of region and religious institutions and agencies among others. This research work relying on the structural functionalism theory of Emile Durkheim and Talcott Parson, view society as a complex system with interconnected parts that work together to maintain stability and meet societal needs, this work re-examines the falling standard in the roles and responsibilities of societal institutions in the maintenance of societal norms, values and the maintenance of law and order which have led to violent conflicts and breakdown of law and order. The method used in the collection of data is secondary sources such as publications articles, journals, periodicals, textbooks, Newspaper as well as internet material. Findings reveals that the poor state of societal institutions (state and non-state) institutions are responsible for increasing violent conflicts and breakdown of law and order, it is the belief of the researcher that concerted effort need to be made to resuscitate and energize societal institutions beginning from the family level to the state institutions such as the military and civil service. This is the only way to ensure and enhance social stability and ha
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