The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has identified youth vulnerability, particularly among those lacking access to education, opportunities, family support, and social stability, as a major factor fueling recruitment into banditry and terrorism across northern Nigeria.
Speaking on Monday at an EU/BUK Workshop in Kano, Ribadu, who was represented by the Director of State Liaison in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Lamy Chinode, said extremist groups often exploit disadvantaged young people by offering them a sense of identity, belonging, purpose, and ideological direction.
He stressed that addressing insecurity requires more than military operations, noting that many of the social and economic conditions that encourage recruitment into violent groups remain unresolved despite ongoing security interventions.
According to him, insecurity has become a global challenge that transcends national boundaries, requiring governments, institutions, communities, and development partners to work together in developing effective and sustainable solutions.
Ribadu warned that the consequences of failing to address the root causes of insecurity could be severe, particularly in northern Nigeria, where communities continue to face multiple security threats.
He emphasized the importance of education in preventing radicalization and criminal recruitment, stating that children who are disconnected from formal education are more vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation by extremist groups.
“We cannot secure our nation if our children remain on the streets. A child disconnected from education becomes more vulnerable to recruitment and exploitation, while a child in school is far less likely to be drawn into criminal or extremist activities,” he said.
The NSA acknowledged the sacrifices being made by Nigeria’s armed forces and security agencies in combating insecurity but maintained that military efforts alone cannot deliver lasting peace if underlying social issues are left unaddressed.
He advocated for a balanced approach that combines security operations with non-kinetic strategies such as education, community engagement, dialogue, social inclusion, resilience building, economic opportunities, and trust-building initiatives.
Ribadu further noted that traditional institutions, religious leaders, communal support systems, and strong social values have historically contributed to peace and stability in northern communities and should be strengthened as part of broader efforts to combat insecurity.
He also warned that local disputes and tensions are increasingly being amplified through ethnic, religious, political, and social narratives, creating deeper divisions and escalating instability.
The NSA called for more holistic, preventive, and community-centered strategies to address modern security challenges, adding that sustainable peace can only be achieved when governments tackle both the security threats and the underlying factors that drive violence and extremism.
He concluded by reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to pursuing both kinetic and non-kinetic measures aimed at strengthening national security, promoting social cohesion, and creating opportunities for vulnerable populations across the country.
