The Craniofacial Dimensions of the Three Main Ethnic Groups in Nigeria: A Useful Forensic Normative Guide in Ethno-Nationalist Violence
1,4Ugwu Valentine Ifebuchechukwu; 1,3 Ozor Ignatius Ikemefuna and 2Ebunoha Chukwuka
1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, State University of Medical and Applied sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno, Enugu State, Nigeria.
2Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, State University of Medical and Applied sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno, Enugu State, Nigeria.
3Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, State University of Medical and Applied sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno, Enugu State, Nigeria.
4Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Maduka University, Ekwegbe, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Corresponding author: Ozor, Ignatius Ikemefuna (valentineugwu66@gmail.com, ikemozor@yahoo.com +2348136236747)
ABSTRACT
Background: Craniofacial dimensions could be influenced by climate, age, sex, environment, tribe or race. This knowledge is invaluable in Anthropological Forensic Medicine, clinical medicine and Bioengineering. This study aims at establishing the normative values and various variations in craniofacial dimensions among the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria.
Materials and Method: A cross-sectional prospective study. The parameters of 400 subjects were measured and some of the indices were calculated and the data analyzed using SPSS version 20.
Results: The mean values of cephalic indices of Igbos were significantly higher 64 (47.1%) in mesophilic head than in the Hausas 62 (44.9%). Males had higher value in dolicephalic head and females had higher value in mesocephalic head. The mean facial index was 107.7 and 107.2; 101.2 and 101.6; and 105.8 and 101.9 for the Hausas, Igbos and Yorubas in both males and females respectively. Nasal index of the Hausas and the Igbos had a higher value of 158(98.9%) in platyrrhine nose while that of the Yoruba was 80(20.2%) of hyperplatyrrhine nose. The mean nasal indices were: Yoruba (146.7), Hausa (142.2) and Igbos (150.5).
Conclusion: These three ethnics have different vertical craniofacial morphological dimensions. The findings of this study could be useful in comparative data of facial cephalometry and examinations of biological variability among the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria and by extension Africans and other ethno- nationalities of the world. It is vital in forensic auditing reports especially in our environment with growing incidences of insurgency, militia, and ethno-communal clashes.
Keywords: (craniofacial, orthodontics, forensic, dimorphism, ethnic).
CITE AS: Ugwu Valentine Ifebuchechukwu; Ozor Ignatius Ikemefuna and Ebunoha Chukwuka (2026). The Craniofacial Dimensions of the Three Main Ethnic Groups in Nigeria: A Useful Forensic Normative Guide in Ethno-Nationalist Violence. INOSR Experimental Sciences 16(1):1-17. https://doi.org/10.59298/INOSRES/2026/16111700