By Abdulkareem Haruna


Maiduguri – The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, today called upon the youth of Nigeria’s North-East region to embrace their crucial role as stakeholders in national security and actively combat violent extremism.

Speaking at a multi-sector conference in Maiduguri, General Musa emphasized that young people, particularly students, are vital in the non-kinetic battle against insurgency and terrorism that has plagued the region.
The one-day conference, titled “Countering Violent Extremism: The Role of Educational Institutions and Students,”  was organized by the Kaltum Foundation for Peace, the Network of Civil Society Organisations (NECSOB), and the Borno State Youth Parliament.

The conference brought together students from Borno and Yobe States, traditional leaders, clergymen, and security officials to discuss strategies for fostering peace and deradicalization.


In his remarks, General Musa, who has a long history of service in the North-East, including commanding positions during Operations LAST HOLD, LAFIYA DOLE, and HADIN KAI, described his presence as a “profound homecoming.” He highlighted the enduring scars of violence in the region but also lauded its remarkable resilience.


“This sensitisation programme could not have come at a better time,” General Musa stated, emphasizing the need to raise awareness and stimulate positive action at the grassroots. He warned against adversaries exploiting vulnerabilities such as illiteracy, poverty, and the fault lines of ethnicity and religion, which he identified as critical elements in the broader framework of national security.


The CDS particularly stressed the defining role students play in shaping the future. He urged them to use peaceful advocacy, peer influence, research, and collaboration with security agencies to shield their communities from indoctrination and radicalism. “You are the torchbearers of new values and you must choose paths that build rather than break our national unity,” he asserted.


General Musa also cautioned against the misuse of social media, acknowledging its subtle yet profound power to influence behavior and identity. He lamented the shift in values that has led to phenomena like suicide bombing in Nigeria, urging students to use digital platforms responsibly for knowledge acquisition, promoting peace, supporting security forces, and condemning terrorism.


“The battle against violent extremism is largely non-kinetic and heavily reliant on civic awareness, media influence and social responsibility,” General Musa said. He underscored the imperative of public vigilance and support, stating, “Silence is no longer an option. The evil ignored today may haunt us tomorrow.” He called upon citizens to speak out against suspicious activities, emphasizing that intelligence gathering from the populace is critical.


A highlight of the event was the inauguration of the Student Against Violent Extremism (SAVE 1 and 2) Task Forces by the CDS. With over 70 percent of the North-East’s population being youth, General Musa expressed confidence in their powerful impact for good. He charged the SAVE teams to be “ambassadors of peace,” leading by integrity, commitment, and courage to “reclaim their communities from violence.”


Ummul Khaltum Mohammed, Executive Director of the Kaltum Foundation for Peace, welcomed guests, stating the event aimed to secure the partnership of youth, who are most vulnerable to radical indoctrination. Comrade Bulama Abiso, Executive Director of NECSOB, echoed this, noting that youth “stand a good chance of saving the future by standing against violence.”


The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly emphasized the youth-centric nature of the engagement as critical to peacebuilding. A representative of the Commissioner of Police reiterated that a society without peace is unsafe for youth, urging them to appreciate the consequences of violence on their future. The Chief Imam of Al-Ansar Mosque, Shettima Jafar Imam, called for youth loyalty and obedience, commending General Musa’s commitment to peace.


The conference also featured a review of General Musa’s book, “Taking Stand Against Insurgency, Terrorism and Banditry: Admonition to Nigerian Youth.” The book presenter recommended its deployment to school libraries and the extraction of relevant sections for counter-terrorism classes, noting its direct address to the age bracket actively involved in acts of terrorism and banditry.


General Musa concluded by extending his sympathies to the government and people of Borno State for recent suicide attacks, urging them not to despair but to strengthen their resolve. He expressed gratitude to the governors of Borno and Yobe States for their unwavering support and to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose “Renewed Hope Agenda is restoring normalcy, rebuilding lives and rekindling the future of this region.”