The Director-General of National Orientation Agency, NOA, Garba Abari, has identified a lack of rule of law, violation of human rights, political exclusion, social, economic marginalization, and lack of good Governance, as leading causes of violent extremism.
Speaking at a one-day session on community participation in preventing and countering violent extremism in Kaduna, Abari said that the action of states and the law enforcement agencies are also critical in promoting the narratives of injustice.
According to the World Bank, out of the 23 countries identified to be experiencing conflicts, 17 of them are also suffering from the highest level of terrorism.
With Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, and Plateau, targeted as crime emerging states, the stakeholders at the forum, organised by the NOA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and the Office of the National Security Adviser, is engaging communities on preventing violent extremism.
Speakers at the event said that the menace of violent extremism is expanding globally and in Nigeria, it is said to be the root cause of Boko Haram in the North-East, hence the need for all hands to be on deck to facilitate peace and stability of the country.
The forum said that violent extremism is counter-productive and is against national progress and unity.
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It, therefore, called on the communities to embrace dialogue in order to curb violent extremism.
Edior: Tunde Orebiyi
