The Relevance of Sports to Preventing and Countering Youth Radicalisation and Violent Extremism in Nigeria’s Northeast

Abstract

Abstract The Nigerian government has relied on a kinetic approach to counter the threat of Boko Haram extremism, registering very little appreciable successes. This has underscored the need for use of soft approaches such as sports as a tool for preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) in Nigeria’s northeast. This article examines two cases of community-based interventions involving sports in Borno and Adamawa states to highlight the potential relevance of sporting activities to P/CVE in Nigeria. Drawing from the initiatives, the article demonstrates that sporting activities have proven useful in promoting peacebuilding, community reconciliation, social cohesion and a sense of inclusivity and belonging among marginalised groups. It concludes that the mainstreaming of youth-focused sports-based initiatives into community development through a multi-stakeholder approach will contribute to fostering peace, social cohesion and community resilience. This, in turn, will help diminish the conditions that are conducive to youth vulnerability to recruitment and radicalisation by Violent Extremist Organisations (VEOS).