General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CSD), has launched a student group aimed at countering violent extremist and insurgency ideologies. This initiative is part of a non-kinetic strategy to address ideological-based terrorism in the North-East region.
At a one-day multi-sector conference in Maiduguri, Borno State, the CDS urged students, youths, and civilians to leverage social media platforms to challenge and counter ideologies that promote terrorism and criminal activities which threaten the nation's unity.
He emphasized the significant influence of social media, stating that modern digital platforms not only shape opinions but also affect behavior and identity. This impact can alter values and belief systems, often resulting in conflicting identities and unfamiliar values within our societies.
"Who would have imagined, decades ago, that Nigerians might become suicide bombers? Today, this reality confronts us directly, and we must take action to stop it."
Thus, it's essential to use social media responsibly as a means for gaining knowledge and skills, fostering peace, supporting security forces, and denouncing terrorism along with all forms of violent crime.
The one-day conference serves as a continuation of an earlier meeting where the Students Against Violent Extremism (SAVE 1&2) project was introduced for secondary school students, those in higher education institutions, and youths in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States.
This year's meeting, themed "Countering Extremist Ideology, Insurgency and Terrorism in the Northeast," marks the inauguration of a students' group as well as the launch of a book authored by the CDS titled "Taking A Stand Against Insurgency and Terrorism Among Others."
Praising the contributions of stakeholders in documenting the achievements in counterinsurgency efforts in the northeast, the Chief of Defence Staff highlighted the importance of recruiting youths and students early on to promote counter-insurgency ideologies as part of a non-kinetic security strategy.
General Musa encouraged the youth to act as non-combatant soldiers by engaging with Nigerian armed forces through intelligence-driven methods. He emphasized utilizing social media to promote peace and advocate for counterinsurgency efforts.
He urged people to become advocates for truth and combat disinformation and misinformation, emphasizing that the fight against violent extremism is mostly non-kinetic and heavily depends on civic awareness, media influence, and social responsibilities.
Nigeria's armed forces and other agencies cannot be everywhere at once, nor can they tackle the challenges alone; we need your collaboration. This reality highlights the importance of anticipation, vigilance, and support from citizens—not as combatants but as crucial contributors to our shared security efforts in non-combative roles.
Now is the moment for each citizen to voice their concerns about any suspicious activity. Remaining silent is no longer an option.
Critical stakeholders in intelligence gathering might not wear uniforms or carry weapons, but the information they possess and their vigilance can make all the difference.
Earlier, Ummukaltum Mohammed, the Founder and Convener of the conference, discussed the SAVE 1&2 project and emphasized the importance of a multifaceted strategy to counteract Boko Haram's ideologies as well as those of other extremist groups.
Following comments from stakeholders, civil society groups, and representatives of the Borno and Yobe state governments, the military chief inaugurated the group and launched the book.
Subsequently, General Musa paid a visit to the injured soldiers at Maimalari military hospital. During his visit, a philanthropist contributed donations to these brave individuals and committed to constructing homes for them.
Representatives of students and youth groups from Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States were officially inducted into the SAVE teams 1 and 2. They were encouraged to act as ambassadors of peace throughout their respective states.
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