The Iwaren and Itare Among Nigerian People and How Their Departure Has Caused Mistrust: A Study of the Ribina People of Bauchi State

ILIYA Ayuba Ajang Ph.D; THADDEUS Grace Sofi Ph.D

doi:10.56201/ijrcp.vol.10.no8.2025.pg81.100

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The Iwaren and Itare Among Nigerian People and How Their Departure Has Caused Mistrust: A Study of the Ribina People of Bauchi State

ILIYA Ayuba Ajang Ph.D, THADDEUS Grace Sofi Ph.D

Abstract

Traditional African societies have historically relied on communal institutions as vital mechanisms for maintaining social cohesion, regulating individual and collective behaviour, and fostering both intra- and inter-communal trust. Among the Ribina people of Bauchi State, Nigeria, Itare represents a distinctive inter-tribal institution that establishes structured relationships with the neighbouring Ningi people, functioning as a system of reciprocal obligations, moral guidance, and traditional conflict resolution. Through Itare, the Ribina and Ningi communities-maintained networks of cooperation, facilitated resource sharing, and ensured the peaceful resolution of disputes, thereby reinforcing social solidarity across tribal boundaries. In contrast, the Iwaren practice of the Izere people exemplifies intra- community solidarity, where households routinely share meals with neighbours as a means of reinforcing interpersonal trust, reciprocity, and collective responsibility.This study critically examines the decline of Itare among the Ribina people and explores its implications for inter- tribal trust, social cohesion, and cultural continuity. Employing a qualitative research methodology, the study utilises ethnographic fieldwork, oral interviews with elders and community leaders, focus group discussions, and archival research to provide an in-depth understanding of the historical, social, and cultural dimensions of Itare. The study is theoretically anchored in social capital theory, communalism, and modernisation theory, providing a framework to analyse how the erosion of traditional practices has weakened the social networks and collective obligations that historically underpinned Ribina–Ningi relations. Findings reveal that factors such as urbanisation, formal governance structures, the spread of Christianity and Islam, and economic transformation have significantly contributed to the decline of Itare. This decline has, in turn, led to diminished inter-tribal trust

References

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The Iwaren and Itare Among Nigerian People and How Their Departure Has Caused Mistrust: A Study of the Ribina People of Bauchi State

Abstract

References

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