The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says Nigeria has suffered 35,000 casualties from insurgency between 2009 and 2023.
Deputy Resident Representative (Programme) UNDP Mr. Lealem B. Dinku stated this Monday at the Inauguration ceremony of the Countering Violent Extremism Course 3/2023 organised by the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPCK) at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja.
“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,” he said.
Represented by the Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security UNDP, Mr. Matthew Alao, he said the prevalence and persistence violent extremism in West Africa has continued to create difficult environment for sustenance of human survival, good governance, and widespread impact of raving climate change.
“Violent extremism has resulted significant impacts, such as, mass casualties of inhabitants, displacement of the populations, socio-economic disruptions, and destruction of infrastructures in the region.
You will agree with me that violent extremism has continued to be ingrained in scope and impact since creeping into Nigeria geographical space in 2009 but has been more pronounced since 2013,” he said.
He, however, commended the governments of Nigeria and governments of the West Africa sub-region for its determination in confronting terrorism.
“The governments of Nigeria in collaboration with the governments of the West Africa sub-region and technical and financial assistance from the development partners have determinedly been taking steps to confront violent extremism and address the underlying factors that are propitiating the spread of violent extremism in the region,” he said.
In his remarks, the representative of the Japanese Embassy in Nigeria, Lt Col. Morita Tatsuya, said Japan is committed to improving the world’s ability to fight against violent extremism.
He said it is also important to implement measures to counter violent extremism, which is at the root of terrorism.
According to him, in order to prevent and eradicate terrorism, the international community must unite in its efforts to combat terrorism.
