Youths in the North-east need to be constantly swayed from being weapons in the hands of Boko Haram terrorists. In this report, MUSA UMAR BOLOGI looks at how Nigerian Army strives to win the hearts and minds of youths in the region.
Aside kinetic operation, subtle approach aimed at dismantling terrorists is a fundamental aspect of modern asymmetry warfare. Away from the bombs, military experts have advocated psychological and economic approaches to winning the hearts of youth, who are, perhaps, at the centre stage of any terrorism campaign.
Youths constitute a major tool in the hands of terrorists. Terrorists groups vend their ideologies to unsuspecting youths, thereby swaying them towards their course. The NorTheast Nigeria has been devastated by activities of Boko Haram terrorists, resulting to loss of over 20,000 lives, and displacement of more than two million people, now living in IDP camps across the country, according to United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Nigerian military, according to experts, have lived to its expectations in the nineyear-old fight against the terrorists. It has successfully recaptured all Nigerian territories hitherto occupied by the terrorists. It has also neutralized several of the insurgents and captured many of their commanders. One of the factional leaders, Abubakar Shekau, is now of the run due to the last military onslaught on his strong holds at camp ziaro in the Sambisa forest. The other factional leader, Al-Barnawi is still hiding in its enclave. But has the fi ght continues, the Nigerian Army authorities have continue to pursue other means to dissuading youths in the NorTheast from being victim of terrorists recruitment. Th is they do by talking to them and engaging them in productive ventures.
Counter-extremism campaign Last year, the Nigerian Army organised counter-extremism campaign in the NorTheast. The campaign was spearheaded by the Army Directorate of Civil-Military Affairs in conjunction with Department of Religious Affairs, which comprise Christian (catholic and Protestants) and Islamic affairs.
During a whole month campaign, preachers spoke with the youth on religious stands on sacredness of life, and also made donations to the participants. “The campaign was very successful because we were able to interact with the youth in detail,” says Maj. Gen. Nuhu Angbazo, Chief of Civil-Military Affairs Army Headquarters.
“The programmes are executed in conjunction with the various formations and units. It was not targets only on boys but also females and people living the IDP camps. “Organising the programmes in the IDP camps was deliberate. It is to encourage the IDPs to start picking up their lives after the insurgency that ravaged their communities.
” Putting their hands to work It is said that “an idle mind is the devils workshop”. It is against this backdrop that the army organised various skill acquisition programmes for the youths in the region. “There have been a number of skill acquisition workshops that have been organised for youths in the NorTheast,” Angbazo said.
“Ladies have been taught on hair braiding and making, manicure, pedicure; while males are trained in areas like carpentry and many others, aimed at engaging them positively. “In our own barracks the Chief of Army Staff has initiated the Nigerian Army Barracks Investment Initiative Programme that is aimed at engaging both the residents within the barracks and the host communities. Youths and soldiers wives are very much involved in this.
“Here benefi ciaries are taught many skills in many aspects of agriculture, such as farming, livestock, rabbitry, piggery, and poultry.”
Training the minds and bodies In January this year, the army hosted the grand fi nale of its inter-local government football competition for youths in the NorTheast. The event, which was took place in Monguno, drew participants and spectators from Damasak, Nganzai, and Monguno communities.
The event was parts of the army’s post confl ict stabilisation strategies to engaging the youths, who are potential Boko Haram recruits. Tagged Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai Football Tournament, the competition kicked off September 16, but the final competition was held at Federal Government Girls College Monguno. “There are a lot of other programmes that have been put in place a part of our strategies to win the hearts and mind of youths,” Angbazo said.
“It is important that we use sports as a medium of ensuring that the youths are re-orientated; because while they are at the field playing the games, we also use the opportunity talk to them. To let them know that peace is very important, and the army is ready to partner with them and to support.”
Putting on the uniform “We also made it clear to the youths that they have good opportunity of also joining the military, if they pass the basic requirements,” Angbazo said. “So we encourage them to see the army as a way of life. By the way we conduct ourselves, by the way we are disciplined, by the way we are courteous and by the way we respect human rights. It is a good testimony when they see soldiers behaving courteously, smartly and politely; then they are encouraged to join up.”
The feedbacks According to the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, feedback from the strategic campaign of winning the hearts and minds of the youth has been successful. “Through this we get a lot of intelligent information from these youths,” he said. “Ones you come out and show them a sense of identity, you help and assist them they in turn also off er us with good information about the terrorists.
“For example, the Civilian JTF they we coordinated and relate with them make them very bold. If we don’t touch their lives they may not want to cooperate, but now they cooperate with us. “Another instance was in a settlement in Maiduguri. A young boy whom people knew was a major Boko Haram actor came back to the town. The youths came and inform the military unit, not afraid, and the troops rounded him and arrested him and brought him to the barracks.
“We have also had instances where a weapon or bomb is found somewhere and the youths came and inform the troops. “The youths had also expressed appreciations to the army in several ways. During various radio and television programmes they call in to say they are happy because of what the army has done for them.
“I will say that we are winning the hearts and minds of the youths in the NorTheast. In winning the war against insurgency, we do not only carry out kinetic operations, which are our primary role, we also carry out non-kinetic operations or campaign to complement our kinetic role; and this is why we achieved absolute success in the NorTheast.
Niger youths beg Buhari on Peace Corps Bill
By Aideloje Ojo Minna The National Youth Council of Nigeria, Niger state chapter, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reconsider his opinion and assent to the Peace Corps bill in order to assist the youths of the state realise their dream. Chairman of the council in charge of Niger and the Federal Capital Territory, Comrade Abdullahi Muregi, made this appeal in Minna yesterday while speaking with newsmen in a solidarity rally.
He noted that the refusal of President Buhari to assent to the bill seeking to establish the Peace Corps which was passed by the National Assembly in 2017 has dashed the hope and aspiration of millions of youths who were anxiously waiting for the opportunity to contribute to nation building thorough provision of peace related services and ensuring law and order. According to him, the Nigerian Peace Corps bill if signed will greatly help the country in addressing two of its major problems of unemployment and insecurity.
He said, “The history and operations of the Peace Corps since its off shoot in 1998 are well known as they have been consulting themselves in a lawful, civil, orderly and courteous manner.” Comrade Muregi urged Buhari to consider the advantages, benefits and gains that the establishment of Peace Corps will bring to the country than the much hyped cost of funding the agency. “Presently, the organisation already has the recognition of the United Nations Consultative status which will make it easier to fit in national and international arena,” he said.
He commended the National Assembly members for their steadfastness in passing the bill into law, adding that the youths are watching developments carefully and would use every available means at their disposal to see that the president does the needful.
