The Nigerian government has announced its plan to extend Operation Safe Corridor, a program aimed at deradicalization, to the North West region as a measure to tackle the growing insecurity in the area. The North West comprises the following states: Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara. For over a decade, criminal groups, referred to as bandits, have been engaging in violent activities including raids on villages, kidnappings for ransom, sexual assaults, and extortion across vast areas of northern Nigeria.
Emeka Onumajuru, representing General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, stated that the expansion of the deradicalization program is essential for effectively addressing the cycle of terrorism and banditry. The initiative has been successful in rehabilitating former Boko Haram fighters in the North East and aims to offer a structured pathway for the rehabilitation and reintegration of bandits.
However, critics have raised concerns about the program’s effectiveness in the North West, where banditry is often driven by financial motives rather than ideology. The initiative, which includes disarmament, demobilization, deradicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration, has faced criticism for the risk of rehabilitated individuals returning to terror groups.
Analysts suggest that the program could be successful if properly adapted to local realities and if it effectively addresses the deep-rooted issues that lead individuals to take up arms. Samuel Malik, a senior researcher at Good Governance Africa, believes that while the concept of deradicalization is not flawed, the program’s success depends heavily on its structure, monitoring, and adaptation to local conditions.
Despite the challenges, there is a consensus among analysts that the program should incorporate local peacebuilding mechanisms and economic opportunities to prevent a return to criminal activities. They emphasize the importance of prioritizing economic reintegration, conflict resolution, and the establishment of mechanisms to prevent re-engagement in criminal behavior. The expansion of Operation Safe Corridor to the North West aims to provide a comprehensive approach to countering terrorism and addressing the region’s insecurity.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/can-deradicalization-program-end-insecurity-in-northwestern-nigeria/a-71811067?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
