Since the emergence of the nascent democracy in 1999, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria has become a
permanent flashpoint of violent clashes. The State which had hitherto been one of the most relatively peaceful in
Nigeria has been deeply enmeshed and suffused in political and ethno-religious conflicts characterized by genocidal
attacks, bombing, maiming and killings of several persons, loss of business investments, and properties worth
several billions of Naira. Within the space of eleven years, several violent political ethno-religious conflicts have
been reported in Plateau State and all effort to restore peace have not achieved the desired end. It would seem that
democracy has increased the culture of impunity in some people while political differences are believed to have
fueled some of the violence that have erupted. It was crisis that made Plateau State go down with the unenviable
record as the first state in the Fourth Republic where a state of emergency was declared. Democratic governance
with the underlying emphasis on the activation of the citizenry to realize the ‘common good’ has not taken root in
the popular consciousness of Nigerians. Everyone appears to be for himself. The thrust of this paper therefore, is to
investigate the recurring decimal of flawed political and ethno-religious conflicts with a view to pinpointing its
nature, form, causes and proffering solutions for Nigeria’s democracy to thrive.