Alex Enumah in Abuja
As the country continues to groan under the rising wave of militancy in the Niger Delta and other violent extremism occasioned by the herdsmen and farmers’ clashes in parts of the country, the federal government has called for a more coordinated and concerted effort by stakeholders in battling the malaise.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, made the call at a two-day national workshop on ‘Radicalisation, De-radicalisation and Counter-radicalisation’ in Abuja.
The workshop organised by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution in conjunction with Peace Building Development Foundation has as its theme; Preventing Violent Extremism in Nigeria.
The SGF, who noted that the workshop is apt as it would help provide policy direction in tackling violent extremism in the country, disclosed that it was the support of all Nigerians and the efforts of the gallant men of the Nigerian Armed Forces that helped in degrading insurgency in the Northeastern part of the country.
Represented by Suleiman Haliru, a director in the Office of the SGF, Lawal said: “If extremism thrives in the shadows of personal, social, political and economic marginalisation – capitalising on the grievances of those who feel cast aside, left behind, ignored, or repressed, let us call it what it is and suggest policies to counter it with the bright light of education, inclusion, tolerance, good governance and opportunity.”
He stressed that violent extremism does not stop at borders nor distinguishes among its victims and charged participants to come out with propositions that would defeat the monster.
“We are counting on the knowledge you will take away from this workshop to understand and defeat all threat to our nation. This is whether we are soldiers on the battlefield, public officials in office, community leaders, teachers, entrepreneurs, students, etc, all of us have a stake in the peaceful future of Nigeria,” he said.
In his opening remarks, the Director-General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Prof. Oshita Oshita, said the workshop is coming at a time when the nation’s youth population is increasingly being exposed to extremism doctrines from different religious platforms across the country.
The DG, who was represented by the Director, Democracy and Development Studies, Gabriel Jiya, lamented that Nigerians hitherto have had a myopic view of the concept of radicalism and that the workshop would help put in better perspective the concept and the roles expected by the populace.
“In the Nigerian context, dealing with radicalisation, de-radicalisation and counter-radicalisation is seen as an affair for military and security enforcement agencies to the exclusion of civil institutions and agencies.
“My take is that the social factors that influence the process of radicalisation should equally be of priority vis-à-vis the military concerns. It is my opinion that more resources should be dedicated to preventive efforts aimed at countering violent extremism through de-radicalisation,” he said.
