The Nigerian government has announced plans to expand its deradicalization program, Operation Safe Corridor, to the North West region of the country in an effort to address growing insecurity. This zone, comprising the states of Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara, has been plagued by criminal gangs, known as bandits, who have been involved in a decade-long conflict characterized by raids on villages and a thriving kidnapping industry.

Chief of Defence Operations Emeka Onumajuru, representing General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, emphasized the importance of the deradicalization program in breaking the cycle of terrorism and banditry. The program, which has been effective in rehabilitating former Boko Haram fighters in the North East, aims to provide a structured pathway for the rehabilitation and reintegration of bandits. However, there are concerns regarding the program’s effectiveness in the North West, where criminal activities are often driven by financial incentives rather than ideology.

Despite these challenges, analysts like Samuel Malik from Good Governance Africa believe that replicating the program is not inherently flawed, but success depends on proper structuring, monitoring, and adaptation to local realities. Oluwole Ojewale, an analyst with the Dakar-based Institute for Security Studies, suggested that while the program could work for demobilization, simply copying the model from the North East to the North West would not be appropriate.

Critics of Operation Safe Corridor argue that the program is focused on the perpetrators and risks being viewed as a reward system for terrorists. Dengiyefa Angalapu, a counterterrorism and peacebuilding researcher, countered that the program can be implemented in the North West as there are multiple actors in the region, including ideological terror groups, which are often classified under the term “banditry”. He also noted the deep-rooted grievances among herders in the region, making the program suitable.

Analysts agree that for the program to succeed in the North West, it must involve local peacebuilding mechanisms and economic empowerment to prevent relapse. The government should prioritize economic reintegration, conflict resolution, and mechanisms that prevent re-engagement in criminal activities.

Overall, while Operation Safe Corridor has been successful in the North East, its expansion to the North West faces significant challenges due to the nature of the conflict in the region. Addressing the financial incentives behind criminal activities and adapting the program to local contexts will be crucial to its success.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/nigeria-bets-on-deradicalization-program-in-north-west/a-71811067?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf