Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has stressed that military operations and law enforcement alone cannot eradicate violent extremism and terrorism in Nigeria’s North-West.
Speaking on Tuesday at the opening of a two-day regional summit on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) in Kaduna, Sani highlighted the deep-rooted social and economic issues fueling insecurity in the region.
He pointed to poverty, inequality, exclusion, poor governance, and limited opportunities for young people as critical drivers of violent extremism.
The summit, organized by the PCVE Knowledge, Innovation and Resource Hub (KIRH) and the PAVE Network in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), brought together security experts, policymakers, and civil society leaders.
Supported by the Nigeria Early Youth Innovation Fund (NEYIF) and funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), the event aimed to address the root causes of insecurity and refine strategies for tackling extremism.
Represented by his Commissioner for Internal Security, Sule Shuaibu, Governor Sani described violent extremism as a major threat to human security and national development, citing its devastating effects on families, livelihoods, education, and public trust.
He emphasized the need for a holistic and coordinated approach to countering terrorism, rooted in inclusivity, justice, and respect for human rights.
“We must adopt a holistic and coordinated response”, he said.
Adamu Laka, the Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, echoed the governor’s sentiments, advocating for a *community-driven, intelligence-led approach* to combating insecurity.
Laka pointed to factors such as porous borders, climate-induced conflicts, and weak governance as enablers of violence in the region.
Jaiye Gaskiya, Chair of the PAVE Steering Committee, added that restoring full autonomy to local governments is critical for addressing insecurity, as grassroots governance is often the most accountable and responsive to citizens’ needs.
He argued that empowering local governments would strengthen their ability to address grievances and reduce the appeal of extremist groups.
The summit also shed light on how terror leaders, such as Bello Turji, have exploited ethnic and social grievances to justify their actions. Groups like the first-generation bandits, Kungiyar Gayu, initially claimed to fight cattle rustling and defend the Fulani community but later devolved into criminal enterprises.
Their clashes with vigilante groups like the outlawed Yansakai often targeted both criminals and innocent Fulani civilians, fueling further resentment and expanding the cycle of violence.
The discussions underscored the complexity of the challenges in the North-West and the urgent need for multi-dimensional solutions that address both immediate security threats and the underlying socio-economic issues driving extremism.