A POLICY BRIEF ON EMERGING ISSUES AND THE DYNAMICS OF VIOLENT EXTREMISM IN NIGERIA AND THE SAHEL

Violent extremism in Nigeria and the Sahel region manifests in several forms, including armed insurgencies, terrorism, and local militancy. The causes of VE are multifaceted, encompassing political, socio-economic, religious, and environmental factors. While Nigeria has been severely impacted by groups like Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa (ISWAP), countries in the Sahel, such as Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad, have also experienced escalating violence linked to local and transnational extremist groups like al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS).

The dynamics of VE are evolving, with extremist groups increasingly using sophisticated technologies and tactics, including cyber-attacks, media manipulation, and complex insurgent warfare. These shifts require urgent attention from policymakers to prevent further deterioration of security and social stability in the region.