UN reveals how government actions are making Nigerian and other African youths find terrorism attractive

Wide spread marginalisation and deprivation which resulted from government actions served as the main push for youths in joining these extremist groups.

These findings were contained in the study report titled“” released on Thursday, September 7, 2017.

“In a majority of cases, paradoxically, state action appears to be the primary factor finally pushing individuals into violent extremism in Africa,” the report said.

Mr Abdoulaye Mar Dieye - Africa Director of United Nations Development Programme (NUDP), said during the launch of the report that this is a wake-up call for African governments.

“This study sounds the alarm that as a region, Africa’s vulnerability to violent extremism is deepening,” Abdoulay remarked.

Governments ineffectiveness in catering for social needs of the people was noted as a factor encouraging joining an extremist group in Africa.

“It emerges strongly that the journey to extremism is significantly marked by a fractured relationship between the state and citizens."

The findings suggest that beyond simply holding elections, wider commitment to building an inclusive social contract between government and citizens is a critical means of establishing resilience to violent extremism in Africa.”

Other major findings of the report in examining the role of religion, childhood experience, unemployment, need for social safety among others is listed below.

• Most of the recruits lived in Borderlands or peripheral areas grossly ignored by the government.

• Unemployment is the single major economic factor driving troop of these youths to join the group. On this, the report stated that: “... The fact that employment was highlighted as an important issue by reference group respondents indicates the threat of future violent extremist expansion in Africa.”

• About eighty percent (80%) of recruits joined the extremist group less than a year ago, while half of these are just one month.

• Low knowledge of other people’s religion and culture is high among those joining the extremist group.

• Poor childhood experience is a common indicator among those interviewed.

• There is a wide and significant disaffection for the government. These disaffections were noted to have stemmed from “belief that government only looks after the interests of a few. Low level of trust in government authorities; and experience, or willingness to report experience, of bribe-paying."

UN reveals how government actions are making Nigerian and other African youths find terrorism attractive

The United Nations stated that African youths are being pushed to join a terrorist group by government actions.

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