Nigeria Loses 35,000 Lives To Violent Extremism – UNDP

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has estimated that Nigeria has lost 35,000 citizens to violent extremism between 2009 and 2023.

The deputy resident representative (Programme), UNDP, Mr Lealem Dinku, stated this yesterday at the inauguration of the Countering Violent Extremism Course 3/2023, organised by the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPCK), in Abuja.

Dinku was represented by the UNDP Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security, Mr Matthew Alao, at the two-week training course.

He said billions of dollars had been lost due to destruction of property, public infrastructures, disruption of socio-economic activities including livelihoods and displacement of the mass population.

Dinku noted that Nigeria is still grappling with the menace of violent extremism and its attendant socio- economic implications till date.

He also attributed the persistence of violent extremism in some West African States since the 1960s, to economic challenges, effect of climate change, ineffective governance and growing ungoverned spaces. He said the prevalence and persistent violent extremism in the subregion had continued to create a difficult environment for sustenance of human survival, good governance, and widespread impact of raving climate change. “It was estimated that between 2009 and 2023, Nigeria has suffered no less than 35,000 casualties while billions of dollars have been lost due to destruction of property, public infrastructures, disruption of socio economic activities including livelihoods and displacement of mass population. “Nigeria is still grappling with the menace of VE and its attendant socio-economic implications till this moment,” he said.