Terrorism fight gets boost as FG crafts disarmament guidelines

The Nigerian Federal Government has put in place a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to guide its Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) initiative. This move is part of a broader strategy to bolster Nigeria's efforts against terrorism, violent extremism, and various other armed conflicts across the nation.

Major-General Adamu Laka, who serves as the National Coordinator for the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser, made this announcement on Monday in Abuja. He spoke at the National Validation Workshop for these DDR Standard Operating Procedures, which are designed for implementation at the federal level and in the pilot states of Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara.

According to Laka, these SOPs were crafted to transform the overarching goals of the National DDR Framework into actionable guidelines for the various institutions involved in its implementation. He emphasised that they would ensure transparency, accountability, and effective coordination. He stated, “Recognising that a policy framework alone is insufficient to guide implementation, the National Counter Terrorism Centre and its partners subsequently developed a comprehensive set of Standard Operating Procedures to translate the strategic objectives of the National DDR Framework into practical guidance for implementing institutions.”

He further elaborated that the development of these procedures involved extensive consultations, drawing insights from Nigeria's own experiences, global best practices, and the distinct security challenges facing the country. The procedures aim to clarify the specific mandates and responsibilities of institutions, enhance collaboration among agencies, standardise operational methods, and ensure that all DDR programmes adhere strictly to human rights principles and the rule of law. Laka reiterated, “These Standard Operating Procedures have been developed through extensive consultations and draw upon national experiences, international best practices, and the unique realities of the Nigerian context. They are intended to clarify institutional mandates and responsibilities, strengthen inter-agency coordination, standardise operational procedures, and ensure that DDR programmes are implemented professionally, effectively, and in full compliance with human rights principles and the rule of law.”

The NCTC coordinator underscored the vital role of disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration as a key element of Nigeria's non-kinetic approach to tackling insecurity. While acknowledging the necessity of military operations in weakening terrorist and criminal factions, he maintained that lasting peace could only be achieved by providing credible avenues for eligible individuals to renounce violence and safely return to society. “While kinetic operations remain indispensable in degrading terrorist and criminal networks, lasting peace can only be achieved when complemented by credible pathways that facilitate the transition of eligible individuals away from violence and support their safe reintegration into society,” Laka explained.

He also mentioned that consultations held across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones revealed strong support for a nationally coordinated DDR framework that is locally driven, respects human rights, and is responsive to the needs of affected communities. These consultations also highlighted the evolving nature of Nigeria's security threats, including terrorism, violent extremism, armed banditry, communal conflicts, farmer-herder clashes, organised crime, and separatist violence, all of which demand harmonised responses. Laka described the validation workshop as a crucial step towards establishing a clear and well-coordinated DDR structure nationwide. He added, “The inclusion of state-specific Standard Operating Procedures is particularly significant. These states continue to face distinct and evolving security challenges that require locally driven and well-coordinated responses.”

Ambassador Abimbola Wońosikou, the Director of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism at the NCTC, also spoke at the event, explaining that the SOPs were developed to offer a unified national response to the increasing threats posed by terrorism, violent extremism, banditry, and other forms of armed violence. She noted that while rehabilitation and reintegration initiatives already exist in various parts of the country, there was a clear need for an integrated approach to ensure consistency and effectiveness. “These efforts culminated in the development of the draft National DDR Framework and Strategy, and subsequently, the Standard Operating Procedures, which have been prepared by a multidisciplinary team of experts and are before us today for review and validation,” Wońosikou stated.

She further disclosed that the NCTC has initiated State DDR Committees, starting with Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara, to oversee implementation at the sub-national level. These committees comprise diverse stakeholders, including representatives from state governments, security agencies, justice institutions, traditional and religious leaders, women and youth groups, civil society organisations, and relevant technical bodies. According to Wońosikou, the SOPs clearly define institutional roles, referral mechanisms, case management processes, information-sharing protocols, human rights safeguards, community engagement strategies, monitoring and evaluation arrangements, and coordination structures. She added, “The validation of these SOPs represents another significant milestone in Nigeria’s DDR journey. It demonstrates the country’s commitment to building a nationally owned, coordinated and accountable DDR system capable of supporting sustainable peace, preventing recidivism, strengthening community resilience and contributing to long-term national stability.”

Wońosikou also stressed that while the DDR programme provides avenues for eligible individuals to disengage from violence and reintegrate into society, those who have committed serious crimes would still be subjected to prosecution through the appropriate legal channels. She called for a coordinated communication strategy to combat misinformation and enhance public understanding of the DDR programme as an integral part of Nigeria’s broader peace and security agenda.

Representing the UN Department of Peace Operations’ DDR Section (now part of the UN Peace Support Office), Mario Nascimento commended the Nigerian government for crafting a framework that accurately reflects the evolving nature of armed conflict within the country. He observed that Nigeria’s strategy has moved beyond programmes solely targeting former combatants to encompass broader initiatives that enhance community resilience and foster shared responsibility for peace. Nascimento emphasised, “No individual can be successfully reintegrated in isolation,” highlighting that sustainable DDR relies on the active involvement of communities, civil society, local authorities, and the private sector.