The Nigerian government is partnering with the United States and the United Kingdom in a new ‘strategic communication initiative’ aimed at checking the activities of terrorists and militants in some parts of Nigeria.
The strategy is to serve as a support to military operations in the fight against terrorism.
It will ensure that narratives that will continue to counter extremist views, the blood on which terrorism thrives, are constantly generated and circulated.
The United Kingdom’s Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Col. John Fletcher, said the idea was not to preach to Nigerians but to use their experiences to put in place a better strategy for Nigeria.
“It is not easy to garner the support of the local population. I hope by using examples of where we, the British army, have got it wrong that we will give you some ideas on how to use this key skill against your own insurgency,” Col. Fletcher said
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Colonel Dasuki Sambo, said that the initiative became necessary since military operations alone could not curb terrorism.
He described the strategy as a ‘robust public diplomacy’ aimed at defeating the ideology of hate by the militants.
The national security adviser gave the position at a workshop held in Abuja on ‘Strategic Communication in Tackling Terrorism’.
“Strategic communication is essential to counter terrorism strategies by the government and it will continue to evolve to accommodate the realities of the times,” Col. Dasuki said in optimism.
The Commandant, Nigeria Difence Academy, Rear Admiral Patrick Ahgoholor, said that the strategic communication plan is focused on creating, strengthening and preserving conditions favourable for the advancement of national interest policies and objectives by understanding and engaging key agencies through the use of coordinated programmes, plans, teams messages and product, synchronised with the actions of all instruments of national power.
For the past two years Nigeria has used its military might and other security forces to fight insurgency in the northern part of the country but the general consensus at the workshop is that the use of force is not enough stamp-out terrorism from Nigeria.
Participants argued that as much as military operations had achieved some results, there was the need to introduce measures that would counter extremism.
