By Ankeli Emmanuel,Sokoto
The Regional Programme Manager of North East Youth Development Initiative (NEYIF), Dr Abu Suraj has given reasons why insecurity continues to linger in the north, despite several efforts to end the menace.
According to Dr Suraj, the disturbing mentality of shielding criminals in the name of kits and kin, religion or creed must be discarded, detest and expose perpetrators as well as encourage genuine civil-military relationship in the region.
Speaking on the topic,”Introduction To P/CVE: Concepts and Context” at a 2 day capacity building training for stakeholders on Civil -Military Relation” organized by the North East Youth Initiative for Development (NEYIF), Dr Suraj reaffirmed that the locals kwows the criminals in their midst but are afraid to speak up for fears of being betrayed by security agencies or deliberately conceal their identities because of family ties.
While frawning that locals also complain of some security agencies with questionable within the cycle frustrating efforts at combating crimes and criminality especially insecurity, Dr Suraj further added that people aduce lots of reasons for violent extremism.
In his warning, Dr Suraj said, ” Harbouring criminals under whatever guise is simply but adding fertilizer to their heinous enterprise”.
On drivers of violent extremism, Dr Suraj listed marginalization, socio-economic deprivation, identifying crisis, lack of belonging, religious, corruption, poverty, withdrawal from family and community amongst many others as possible propellers of radicalism and violent extremism.
The NEYIF Programme Manager, Dr Suraj also reaffirmed that the 2 day capacity building with it’s theme, “Strenghtening Civil-Military Collaboration for Enhanced Community Safety and Effective Counter-banditry Operations and Terrorism” was very apt, hence engaging people for positivity and inclusive development is a sure way of addressing falling prey to those criminals ready to indoctrinate fragile minds.
On drivers of violent extremism, Dr Suraj
listed marginalization, socio-economic deprivation, identifying crisis and lack of belonging, religious, corruption, poverty, withdrawal from family and community.
Ealier in his opening remarks, the Executive Director of NEYIF, Alhaji Dauda Gombe said all hands must be on the deck for us to be able to prevent violent extremism.
Gombe, who pathetically advised that kinetic approach alone cannot end violent extremism, insurgency and banditry, however called for all inclusive, multi sectoral and multi dimensional approach to find lasting solution to i in Nigeria.
