Mercy Corps trains 40 community members on early signs of violent training

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By Hussaina Yakubu

February 04, 2021

Mercy Corps trains 40 community members on early signs of violent extremism
training

Mercy Corps, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), has commenced the training of 40 community members on identifying early signs of violent Extremisms in their communities.
Speaking at the training on Wednesday in Kaduna, Mr Sani Suleman, Deputy Chief of Party Mercy Corps said the organization is implementing a five year program, the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) with support from USAID across six states in Nigeria.

According to him, the program was part efforts to address violent extremism in Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, Katsina, Benue and Kogi states.

He said that the 40 participants included social welfare officers, religious and youth groups, and were being trained to prevent young persons and children from being attracted into violent extremism.

Suleman noted that though in government and security agencies were making efforts to address violent extremism, it’s important that parents also monitor and guide their children from being attracted to violent extremism.
He explained that the workshop was designed to equip youth influencers with skills to aid prompt identification of violent extremist ideologies.

“It is also to address the risk factors for recruitment by violent extremist groups which will increase the use of positive parenting methods to build resilience to violent extremist ideologies,” he added.
The workshop was flagged off by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan.

It is featuring interreligious experts and facilitators who will teach participants from high-risk environments how to identify key drivers and signs of radicalization, understand motivations behind violent extremism

Mr. Maurice Amollo, CIPP Chief of Party said: “At Mercy Corps, we understand the influence of parents and young role models on impressionable teens and preteens.

“So this training will teach effective strategies for identifying signs and preventing violent extremism in children and young adults.
“The sustainability of this initiative is also critical as trainees are expected to step down these trainings to their peers within their various communities.”

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CIPP is a peace building programme that seeks to improve local capacity and skills to manage disputes, prevent and resolve conflicts in collaboration with communities government agencies, CSOs, and local leaders.
It also seeks to address root causes of conflict
and develop strengthened and more sustainable early warning and early response mechanisms.
Isa Sani, a participant working with the CIPP for Muslim Women of Nigeria said the training was apt in view of the present security situation in the country.

Sani called on parents to revive the old culture of cautioning wrong doing in the society not only on their children.

Another participant, Mrs Abigail James from Zaria urged parents to instil religious values on their children and continue to promote peace in their communities.

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