From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have reacted to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report that Nigerians paid an alarming N2.2 trillion in ransoms between May 2023 and April 2024, underscoring the escalating crisis of kidnapping and violent crime in the country.
At the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) Knowledge, Innovation, and Resource Hub’s Community of Practice meeting, themed “Reflecting on the Implementation of PF-NAP Framework in Nigeria: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities.”
Jaye Gaskia, Chair Practice, the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) Knowledge, Innovation, and Resource Hub (KIRH) Development and Management Team Development and Management Team, responded to the report by emphasising the challenges faced by communities: “Many say the community are the culprit we have taken the basic power and authority that is required for community to act.”
He noted that traditional leaders lack formal authority, which has led communities to take security matters into their own hands. “If you want to depend on security forces that are miles away… they come after the damage has been done,” he added.
Gaskia explained that communities often negotiate with bandits as a survival strategy: “They pay taxes to these people ,but this creates competition among communities.” He warned that such practices would lead to organized crime becoming a sustainable livelihood: “Yes, on the surface it looks like the communities are culprits, but it’s really because communities themselves have suffered.” He warned that such practices could lead to organised crime becoming a sustainable livelihood.
Gaskia stressed the urgent need for restoring formal governance structures within communities: “We need to think community governance. let them become elected, have constitutional roles.”
He particularly noted that the report highlighted a growing trend of communities negotiating directly with criminal groups due to a lack of trust in security agencies. He added that only 31% of kidnapping cases were reported to authorities, confirms that many believe law enforcement cannot act swiftly enough to secure the safe return of victims.
Gaskia advocated for empowering local associations to manage resources effectively while allowing traditional institutions to play a supervisory role.
Yetunde Adegoke from the Global Community and Reliance Fund expressed concern over the statistics but acknowledged ongoing efforts: “The statistics are quite shocking although we have been keeping track because we get security updates, so we are aware of the growing problems and that is what has informed our scale up. But I believe that government is aware of this and that is why we have been advised to scale up this community reliance.
“This advised means that have seen this problem coming to this stage. So I will say that they are actually being proactive. The gap between federal, states, and the local governments are closing. The local government autonomy will provide opportunities also to bring governance closer to the people”, she said.
Adegoke highlighted that local government autonomy could enhance governance and address security issues more effectively.
“We’ve seen the kinetic with the military approach but it has to be matched by the non-kinetic, the information, the counter narratives governance issues need to be addressed. Because once you even get the Boko Haram surrendering, what do they go back to? What opportunities are there? What can they key into to help develop Nigeria.
“So I have seen that this government is very aware of the situation and is actually trying to put things in place to counter this. We as CSOs are trying to support that effort particularly from the non-kinetic side.”
Suwaiba Muhammad Dankabo, Deputy Country Director at ActionAid Nigeria, pointed out gaps in policy implementation: “This calls for reflection… how is the context changing?” She emphasized that continuous engagement with communities is vital for adapting strategies to combat radicalization and violence effectively.
Speaking at the inaugural community of Community of Practice for the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Knowledge, Innovation, and Resource Hub (KIRH), Director of Policy and Strategy at National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major-General Adamu Laka, emphasised the importance of collaboration in addressing the ongoing threat of terrorism.
“This gathering is both timely and significant,” Laka stated, highlighting the need for a united front against terrorism.
represented by Commodore Ahmed Madaki, he expressed gratitude to stakeholders for their commitment to this initiative, which aims to assess the implementation of Nigeria’s Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PF-NAP).
He noted that since its launch in 2017, PF-NAP has been instrumental in Nigeria’s response to violent extremism, aligning with global initiatives such as the United Nations Plan of Action.
Laka noted that significant progress has been made through partnerships with civil society, religious leaders, and traditional authorities. “Together, we are ensuring the long-term resilience and effectiveness of our criminal justice and security agencies,” he said.
He highlighted initiatives like the Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) Network and Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism programmes that empower communities and counter extremist narratives.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain, Laka acknowledged issues such as resource constraints and socioeconomic inequalities that hinder progress. “The use of digital platforms by extremist groups for recruitment is a pressing concern,” he added.
He stru the need for stronger local ownership and institutional support to sustain grassroots initiatives.
Looking forward, Laka identified opportunities to enhance counter-terrorism efforts through technology and innovation. “Data analytics and AI can significantly improve our ability to counter extremist narratives,” he stated. He urged deeper collaboration among stakeholders, including international organizations and academic institutions, to leverage additional expertise and resources.
He said the upcoming review of PF-NAP offers a unique chance to incorporate lessons learned and address emerging threats. “Adopting local ownership through participatory planning at state and community levels will ensure sustainable progress,” he asserted.
In conclusion, Laka reiterated that the Community of Practice serves as a transformative platform for sharing knowledge and promoting evidence-based approaches. “Achieving a peaceful and secure Nigeria requires our collective commitment,” he said. “I urge all stakeholders to remain steadfast in your efforts to build a resilient future for all.”
As Nigeria grapples with this burgeoning crisis, experts at the meeting urge immediate action to restore governance and empower communities, aiming for a comprehensive approach to tackle insecurity and its underlying causes.