‘Failure of Governance at Community Level Responsible for Terrorism, Banditry’

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The explosion of terrorism and banditry in the country has been traced to failure of governance especially at the community level, which is the closest to every citizenry.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Community of Practice for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Knowledge, Innovation, and Resources in Abuja, the Chairman of the Partnership Against Violent Extremism Network, Jaye Gaskia, described violent extremism as a “governance challenge” rather security matter.

 Gaskia said: “Governance failures, is not just security issues, but lie at the heart of violent extremism in Nigeria. Extremism doesn’t thrive in places with good governance, inclusion, and representation.”

He lamented that many Nigerian communities are effectively “ungoverned spaces,” relying on informal self-governance structures like community development associations, which lack formal authority. 

He called for the empowerment of these local institutions to bridge governance gaps and drive sustainable solutions.

Gaskia noted that “Communities must be at the forefront of finding and implementing solutions to violent extremism,” adding that addressing governance challenges would mitigate the conditions that allow extremism to thrive.

 Also speaking  at the event, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Major General Adamu Laka, highlighted the importance of youth and women-focused programmes like the Young Peacebuilders Network, which has fostered alternative pathways and strengthened community-driven peace building.

He said: “Capacity-building initiatives have bolstered the skills of law enforcement, community leaders, and other stakeholders.”

However, he noted that persistent challenges, including limited resources, socioeconomic inequalities, and extremists’ exploitation of digital platforms for recruitment and propaganda.

Laka, who was represented by the Director of Policy and Strategy at the Centre, Commodore Ahmed Abubakarr Madaki, emphasised the need for grassroots ownership of counter-extremism initiatives, stating that: “Adopting local ownership through participatory planning and budgeting at state and community levels, alongside strengthened capacity-building for state actors, will ensure sustainable progress.”

He also called for deeper collaboration with international organisations, academia, and the private sector to provide additional resources and expertise.

Reacting to a report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which revealed that N2.3 trillion was paid as ransom in Nigeria in one year, Ms. Yetunde Adegoke, National Coordinator of the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, described the situation as alarming.

She said: “We have been monitoring the growing problem and are aware of the scale.”

She however noted that: “The government is aware and has advised scaling up community resilience programmes.”

Adegoke also underscored the importance of “non-kinetic” approaches to complement military efforts.

“Once insurgents surrender, we must ensure there are opportunities for reintegration and contributions to national development.”

On her part, Deputy Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Suwaiba Dankabo, stressed the importance of consistent evaluation of strategies to ensure progress in peace building.

She said: “We need to reflect on what has worked and what hasn’t to address the issues undermining peace in Nigeria.”

The event is an integral part of a process, aimed at fostering a more strategic and structural approach and relationship between Knowledge and Practice, named  Inaugural Conference Of A Preventing And Countering Violent Extremism Community Of Practice (PCVE CoP), driven by a PCVE Knowledge Innovation And Resource Hub (KIRH); under the Overarching Theme of – Reflecting On The Implementation of The PCVE PFNAP (Policy Framework And National Action Plan).