Boko Haram: Centre trains clerics, others to counter radical messages

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) says it has commenced the training of stakeholders comprising Islamic clerics, youths and women on how to counter radical messages and propaganda by Boko Haram.

Speaking with our reporter on the development Thursday in Yola, the Programme Manager of the centre, Mr Ikponwese Omoigiade, said the training, sponsored by Japanese Government through UNDP, was in its second phase involving over 400 stakeholders.

Omoigiade said that the first phase was conducted last year for 200 clerics in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

“This time around, we included women and youths in view of the fact that they are being used by Boko Haram as fighters and suicide bombers.

‘’We want to equip them to reach out to fellow youths and women on how to counter radical narratives,” Omoigiade said.

Also speaking, an official of CDD, Mr Steve Amuda, lauded the enthusiasm shown by the stakeholders, adding that the trainees were prominent clerics and community leaders.

He said they were selected with the support of Ministry of Religious Affairs in various states.

Malam Abdulkadir Ahmed, the Imam of ATV Jummaat mosque, who is also participating in the two-day training, described the exercise as a welcome development.

The cleric expressed optimism that the training would further boost the clerics’ commitment to contain Boko Haram’s misrepresentation of Islam.