The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has organised a high-level capacity-building workshop against violent extremism for community stakeholders in Kebbi South Senatorial District.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop is part of Senator Garba Musa Maidoki's constituency outreach initiatives.
NAN reports that the intensive training drew 100 participants from across the constituency's eight local government areas and was held in Zuru.
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Presiding over the training on behalf of the NOA National Headquarters, Zonal Director Mr Hamisu Meyere delivered the opening remarks and told participants the training aimed to alert communities to the strategies and dangers of extremism.
Meyere explained the agency’s unwavering commitment to grassroots sensitisation and underscored that combating insecurity required proactive community engagement, moral reorientation and a united front against all forms of criminality.
During the training, two distinguished scholars and religious leaders, Prof. Abdulkareem Lawal of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, represented by Lawal Garba Sheikh, and Rev. Ayuba Kanta, Bishop of Zuru Missionary Diocese of the Anglican Communion, enlightened the participants on the consequences of extremism.
Speaking on Northern Nigeria’s security realities, Islamic foundations, and moral frameworks, Prof. Lawal emphasised that Islam provides a comprehensive moral, spiritual, legal, and social framework for confronting insecurity.
He noted that the Qur’an established the absolute sanctity of human life, explicitly condemned aggression and corruption, commanded justice, and required believers to cooperate in righteousness.
Citing Surah Al-Ma’idah, Verse 32, the cleric revealed that: “Whoever kills a soul unjustly will be viewed as having killed all of mankind, while saving a life is tantamount to saving all of humanity.”
Lawal explained that the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) established ironclad principles for safeguarding security, protecting private property, fulfilling trusts, exercising strict restraint in the use of force, and upholding collective responsibility.
He warned that wanton destruction, banditry and the dispossession of others under the guise of protecting Islam were entirely un-Islamic and represent a dangerous misinterpretation of sacred texts.
Lawal, however, suggested lawful security cooperation and information sharing, fostering transparent collaboration between communities and public authorities.
He added that extremism would be reduced drastically through active youth empowerment, supporting victims of violence, maintaining accountable public institutions, and intercommunal solidarity to resist external challenges to destroy their collective unity.
Speaking on Christian perspectives and multi-dimensional peacebuilding on interfaith consensus, Rev. Kanta observed that: “Violent extremism does not begin with weapons; rather, it takes root through poisoned minds, wounded hearts, deep-seated grievances, intolerance, and the manipulation of religious or ethnic differences.”
Kanta, also the State CAN Chairman, highlighted that “true peace is multi-dimensional”, while differentiating between “negative peace”, the mere absence of armed conflict, and “positive peace”, the eradication of root causes through justice, trust, dignity, and peaceful coexistence.
Citing scripture, the Bishop reminded participants of the prophetic vision where “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4).
He appealed to the general public to realise that effective religious resilience requires more than spiritual exhortation; it also requires credible leadership and religious literacy, and that eradicating extremist narratives must also go through accurate theological education.
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