After a successful military campaign where over 700 armed Boko Haram kingpins’ and hardened members were killed during recent confrontations, the National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki has rolled out the soft approach to countering terrorism in Nigeria.
The comprehensive multi layer approach include religious, educational, reorientation and economic approaches to be pursued simultaneously with the military campaign against the insurgents that have killed thousands in the last five years.
Dasuki addressed home and international press at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja in the presence of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Muhammed Adoke, senior military personnel, members of the diplomatic corps and members of nongovernmental as well as civil society organisations
Enumerating the strategic communication approach, Dasuki whose office has the statutory duty to coordinate counter terrorism in the country insisted “terrorism is un-Islamic as terrorists twist and pervert the true meaning and spirit of religions to win support for their cause.
The Economic Confidential learnt that part of the strategy would be to encourage mainstream Islamic scholars to write books, articles and issue Fatwas, where necessary, that directly dismantles the ideology of suicide bombing and misconception of jihad.
The Office of the NSA will also enlist and build capacity for counter-terrorism cooperation among Muslims by exposing the true intent and form of government that the terrorist groups seek to impose.
Again, government is also working to de-radicalisation of convicted terrorists, suspects awaiting trial and those who might be released through court orders or other government decision arising from ongoing engagement and dialogue with repentant suspects.
The prison-based initiative will be driven by the Ministry of Interior and requires substantial capacity building of prison staff in psychology, sport and art therapy including faith-based instructors and vocational training experts that will engage the beneficiaries.
“Already, I have refurbished two prisons for this purpose and we are currently working with international development partners to provide appropriate structures for this programme within prisons. I shall equally be providing training for 60 prison psychologists and training for prison guards in handling of terror suspects”
Insisting that the fight against terrorism is apolitical, Dasuki explained that Government will build inter-party collaboration for counterterrorism to ensure party affiliations do not hinder stakeholders from contributing to efforts targeted at countering extremism.
In addition, concerted efforts would be made to counter terrorism from the economic angle. Towards this end, the Federal Government is working with Governors of the six north eastern states to design an economic revitalisation programme targeted towards the states most impacted by terrorism.
Working with various stakeholders, the NSA is currently designing a regional economic revitalisation plan which will serve as a foundation for a federal-state partnership to revitalise the region’s economy in the areas of agric, power, finance, works, water resources, health, education, transport, communication, culture and tourism, trade and investment, solid minerals, science and tech and others.
FG convicts 40 terrorists in 2 years- Adoke
Meanwhile the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Muhammed Bello Adoke has disclosed that 40 captured terrorists have been convicted in the last two years.Sambo disclosed during the question and answer session that he was not aware of the number of suspected terrorists currently detained.
He however, warned that terrorism must be combated within the confines of rules of engagement and that those currently being detained must be quickly taken to court.
Adoke spoke at the International Press Conference organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre when Sambo Dasuki rolled out Nigeria’s soft approach to countering terrorism.
He warned that those without sufficient evidence to warrant prosecution should be promptly released but added that terrorism cases were now being concluded within a period of eight months.
Some members of the audience also took up Dasuki on what they termed economic terrorism which was a major root cause of Islamist insurgency in the country.
They urged Dasuki to consult with President Goodluck Jonathan on how to curb unbridled corruption and stealing from treasury going on in the country and these must be curbed to remove a sense of despondency in the land.
Source: economicconfidential
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