In a renewed push to combat violent extremism and rebuild community trust in conflict-torn Borno State, the Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development (ALFOPED) has brought together 30 women-led peace groups for a one-day dialogue aimed at uncovering and addressing the root causes of violent extremism in the region.
The event, supported by the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN), was held at the Hajja Mangal Memorial Hall in Maiduguri.
It focused on identifying social, political, and economic drivers of violent extremism and developing community-based strategies to counter them.
Speaking at the opening of the session, the Executive Director of ALFOPED, Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, highlighted the devastating impact of the Boko Haram insurgency on women and girls in Borno over the past 15 years.
She noted that thousands of women and girls have been victims of displacement, violence, and exploitation but have also shown resilience through reintegration and empowerment programs.
> “The survivors and victims of Boko Haram insurgency who were de-radicalized, rehabilitated, and empowered—with the support of our partners—now number over 3,000 registered women and about 1,700 girls,” Allamin said. “As mothers and peace builders, women must continue to play a central role in identifying and addressing the factors that fuel violent extremism in our communities.”
During the interactive session, participants discussed multiple dimensions of extremism—ranging from political instability and economic hardship to religious intolerance and external influences.
> “We need to understand what drives violent extremism in Borno State better,” Hajiya Allamin emphasized. “Poor governance, unemployment, and lack of education all play major roles. Extremist groups exploit these vulnerabilities, while ethnic and religious tensions deepen existing grievances.”
She added that tackling extremism would require a holistic approach involving security reforms, education, economic opportunities, and community engagement.
The session’s facilitator, Dr. Mohammed Abdullahi of the Department of Political Science, University of Maiduguri, presented a paper outlining the conceptual understanding of violence, extremism, and conflict.
He discussed both the social and psychological factors that perpetuate extremism in communities.
Dr. Abdullahi listed key drivers such as poverty, unemployment, drug abuse, religious manipulation, and misinformation, noting that “stigma, ignorance, lack of peace education, and land disputes” often compound these challenges.
He also underscored the importance of collaboration between security agencies, traditional institutions, and civil society groups to identify early warning signs and prevent the spread of extremist ideologies.
> “Human rights abuses, excessive use of force, and lack of trust in security agencies can also fuel radicalization,” he warned. “We need stronger partnerships, better public awareness, and effective community engagement to address these issues.”
The dialogue ended with participants committing to continue advocacy, grassroots peace education, and interfaith collaboration as part of broader efforts to promote sustainable peace and security in Borno State.
