By Atoyebi Nike
The Chairman of the Sokoto State Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) Committee, Muhammad Suraju, has warned that military operations alone are insufficient to end violent extremism in Nigeria’s Northwest, urging authorities to prioritize inclusive governance, economic empowerment and community resilience.
Suraju made the call on Tuesday while addressing a press conference at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, against the backdrop of persistent insecurity in the region.
He said the Northwest faces complex and interconnected security threats, driven not only by banditry and emerging extremist groups but also by long-standing socio-economic challenges.
“The Northwest is dealing with more than armed violence. We are confronting long-term marginalization, youth unemployment, weak governance structures and cultural vulnerabilities that extremist groups continue to exploit,” he said.
According to the PCVE leadership, emerging extremist factions such as Lakurawa have taken advantage of governance gaps, poverty and economic hardship to recruit young people and coerce communities into violent activities, particularly in forested border areas.
Suraju noted that insecurity has worsened poverty, disrupted livelihoods and eroded trust between citizens and public institutions across several local government areas.
Despite these challenges, the PCVE committee reported notable progress in the past week through coordinated preventive efforts across the Northwest.
These include multi-stakeholder workshops involving government officials, security agencies, traditional rulers, women, youth groups and civil society organizations, as well as community-led dialogues aimed at designing local action plans focused on youth education, early warning systems and violence prevention.
The committee also cited growing political commitment, with legislators and security leaders pledging support for PCVE implementation and budgetary backing.
In addition, community resilience campaigns centered on peace education, tolerance, conflict awareness and countering extremist narratives have been rolled out across affected areas.
Suraju said community response has been encouraging, with increasing local ownership of peacebuilding initiatives.
“We are seeing stronger trust, better collaboration and improved early warning mechanisms at the grassroots,” he said.
Key achievements, he added, include the drafting of State and Local Action Plans, the establishment of technical working groups, alignment with the National PCVE Framework, and the integration of PCVE priorities into state budget proposals.
However, the committee acknowledged ongoing obstacles, including the continued presence of armed groups, high youth unemployment, economic hardship, weak intelligence coordination in some local governments, and limited integration of PCVE priorities across government sectors.
“These challenges are real, but they also present opportunities. If we invest in youth, strengthen local governance and build trust, we can break the cycle of violence,” Suraju stressed.
The PCVE committee urged residents to remain vigilant, reject extremist narratives and support peace initiatives, while calling on youth and women’s groups to lead inclusion and resilience campaigns.
Local governments were also encouraged to embed PCVE priorities into their planning and budgeting processes.
“Peace is not the responsibility of government alone. It is the duty of every citizen. Together, we can protect our communities and build a future founded on peace, dignity and opportunity,” Suraju said.
