- Highlights recruitment tactics of extremist groups
Parental negligence, unemployment, and drug abuse have been identified as major factors driving young people into the ranks of Boko Haram and ISWAP, according to experts. This was discussed during a broadcast on Peace FM 102.5 Maiduguri, sponsored by the Truth Alliance, a coalition of civil society organizations dedicated to exposing recruitment strategies used by extremist groups in Northeast Nigeria.
The program featured Ibrahim Jidda, Executive Director of the African Mental Health Awareness and Care Initiative, and Estisfanus Dauda, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Supervisor with the Neem Foundation. Ahmad Mustapha, spokesperson for the Truth Alliance, highlighted the group’s ‘Time to Tell the Truth Campaign,’ which uses radio dramas, community plays, and talk shows to raise awareness and prevent further recruitment into violent extremism.
Jidda emphasized that fear is a primary tactic employed by these groups, stating, “Boko Haram and ISWAP instill fear as a core strategy, making their activities among the most frightening for the human brain.” He explained that recruitment is driven by both push and pull factors: “Unemployment and economic hardship push individuals towards these groups, while false promises of a better life pull them in. Extremist groups lure individuals with prospects of leadership roles, marriage, and financial rewards.”
Dauda urged parents to be vigilant and proactive in their children’s upbringing, noting, “Charity begins at home. It’s essential to monitor children’s movements and friendships to ensure they grow up to be better persons.” He also stressed the importance of community involvement in prevention, advising that those displaying signs of extremism should be engaged rather than ostracized.
Listeners resonated with the discussion, with Saiyidi Ibrahim from Lowcost Housing Estate describing it as highly educational and Abdulrahman from Bakasi encouraging youth to seek business opportunities and employment. The program underscored the need for collective action from the government, community, and parents to address the root causes of extremism and prevent youth recruitment into violent groups.
Mustapha reiterated the commitment of the Truth Alliance to expose the manipulative tactics of extremist groups and empower communities to resist tyranny and violence, aiming to build a safer, more resilient society through education, outreach, and collaboration.
