From Hapless Victims to Collaborators: Exploring the Janus Voices of Women in the Aguleri-Umueri Conflict in Igboland, Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

This article explores the Janus-faced voices of women in the Aguleri-Umueri communal conflicts, highlighting the contradictions inherent in their roles, not merely as victims but also as perpetrators and collaborators. While existing literature has predominantly examined the role of women in conflict resolution, less attention has been paid to their ambivalent positions as both victims and active participants in conflict dynamics. This duality represents a paradigm shift in understanding the narratives surrounding the Aguleri-Umueri communal conflicts. The article challenges conventional portrayals of women solely as passive victims of war and violence, instead investigating the complex roles they played. These included being inadvertent victims, active collaborators, and instigators of violence, as well as peacebuilders who engaged with traditional conflict resolution mechanisms during the post-conflict period. The central argument is that the multifaceted involvement of women in this protracted conflict remains underexplored in scholarly discourse. By addressing this gap, the article contributes to a more nuanced understanding of gendered experiences in communal violence and post-conflict peacebuilding.