IZALA BROTHERHOOD MOVEMENT IN KEFFI AREA OF NASARAWA STATE, 1978–2002

The emergence of the Izala Brotherhood Movement Jamaʿatu Izalatil Bidʿa wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), marked a transformative phase in the religious reconfiguration of Northern Nigeria. Rooted in Salafi reformist ideology, the movement sought to eradicate religious innovations (bidʿa) and restore the original teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his companions. This paper investigates the evolution, reception, and socio-religious impact of the Izala movement in the Keffi area of Nasarawa State between 1978 and 2002. It highlights Izala’s confrontation with entrenched Sufi brotherhoods particularly the Qadiriyya and Tijaniyya its educational initiatives, youth mobilization strategies, and deployment of media tools such as cassettes and radio broadcasts. Relying on archival records, emirate council documents, oral testimonies, and secondary sources, the study employs a historicalanalysis to trace the movement’s antecedent in Keffi. The paper argues that Izala reshaped religious authority in Keffi, facilitated the rise of a new class of Islamic scholars, and reoriented local Islamic discourse around Salafi ideals. Despite resistance from traditional elites and the emirate system, the movement established Qur’anic schools and study circles that challenged prevailing religious norms. By 2002, Izala had become a dominant religious force, significantly influencing identity formation, intergroup relations, and Islamic education in the region.