The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has said that bandits and terrorists operating in Nigeria are targeting young people, especially those who lack access to education, opportunities, family support and social stability in northern parts of the country.
Ribadu made the statement on Monday during an EU/BUK workshop in Kano. He was represented at the event by Lamy Chinode, Director of State Liaison in the Office of the National Security Adviser.
According to the NSA, extremist groups often attract vulnerable youths by offering them a sense of identity, belonging, purpose and ideology.
He stressed the need to address insecurity in northern Nigeria and tackle the factors that make young people susceptible to recruitment by criminal and extremist groups.
Ribadu warned that the consequences of failing to address these challenges could be severe. He noted that insecurity is a global problem and that governments must respond through coordinated and strategic efforts.
“We meet at a time when the consequences of insecurity, violent extremism, and social fragmentation are increasingly interconnected across borders and societies.
“We cannot secure our nation if our children remain on the streets. A child disconnected from education too easily becomes vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation. A child in school is significantly less likely to be recruited into these organisations.
“Yet we also gather with a shared conviction that through collective resolve, inclusive partnerships, and sustained community engagement, these challenges can be confronted and overcome.”
He said northern Nigeria continues to face multiple security challenges despite the huge resources committed by the government and the sacrifices made by security personnel.
“Instability increasingly transcends borders. What ultimately distinguishes nations is the capacity of governments, institutions, communities, and partners to respond effectively, strategically, and collectively, but unfortunately, northern Nigeria continues to face multidimensional and overlapping security pressures.
“And for many years, our government has committed enormous resources towards confronting these threats, even as our brave and selfless armed forces continue to make immense sacrifices in defence of our nation. However, experience, both in Nigeria and globally, has consistently demonstrated that military operations alone cannot sustainably resolve insecurity where the underlying drivers of violence remain intact.”
The NSA said Nigeria has been tackling insecurity through both military and non-military approaches, but added that more attention must be given to the root causes of violent extremism.
“Our security assessments increasingly point to an important strategic reality, that while the state has deployed significant kinetic capacity, many of the conditions that facilitate recruitment into violent extremism remain insufficiently addressed.”
Ribadu called for a broader strategy that combines security operations with prevention, inclusion, dialogue, community engagement, job creation and social cohesion.
He also praised Nigeria’s security forces for their efforts in protecting citizens and combating criminal activities across the country.
According to him, sustainable peace can only be achieved when military operations are complemented by strong non-kinetic measures focused on resilience, trust-building and opportunities for vulnerable groups.
“Indeed, many of these values have long existed within the social fabric of northern communities, where traditional institutions, communal support systems, religious leadership, collective responsibility, and strong social cohesion have historically served as stabilising forces.
“To effectively confront modern insecurity, we must increasingly think beyond conventional responses and adopt more holistic, preventative, and community-centred approaches.
“This is especially important because localised tensions are now rapidly inflamed through ethnic, religious, political, and social narratives that deepen divides and accelerate instability,” Ribadu added.
