The Federal Government has partnered local and international organisations to curb violent extremism in correctional facilities.
The initiative is part of efforts to strengthen internal security and the government’s deradicalisation programmes.
It is meant to support reforms in the correctional system and prevent custodial centres from being used as recruitment or coordination hubs by extremist groups.
Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, revealed this at a workshop organised by the centre in partnership with Canada and the Global Centre on Cooperative Security (GCCS), titled Countering Violent Extremism in Custodial Centres in Nigeria.
Laka said custodial centres play an important role in national security, but could become centres for radicalisation if not properly managed.
“We believe that through capacity building, intelligence sharing and community engagement, we can transform these centres into spaces of rehabilitation, reform and reintegration,” he said.
Laka added that the partnership with Canada and the GCCS reflected the need for international cooperation in tackling terrorism and violent extremism.
According to him, the training will equip relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with the tools to detect, prevent and respond to extremist ideologies in correctional facilities.
A senior fellow at the GCCS, Saeida Rouass, said the centre provides technical support and training to correctional personnel to prevent violent extremism.
She noted that the organisation has worked with correctional services in Morocco, Kenya, Indonesia, and Trinidad and Tobago on the management, rehabilitation and reintegration of terrorism-related offenders.
Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Ndidi, said the service has continued to adjust to emerging security threats, including managing inmates linked to violent extremism.
Represented by DCC Jammal Bakare, he said the service introduced a deradicalisation programme in 2016 to strengthen rehabilitation efforts.
“Custodial centres can either disrupt extremist thinking or reinforce it. The difference lies in how prepared we are and how consistently we apply what works,” he said.
