Civilian JTF Could Be The Next Boko Haram, Crisis Group Warns

The International Crisis Group (ICG) has warned that the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), could be the successor to the terrorist group, Boko Haram, in Nigeria’s North-east if the government fails to put in place strategic exit plans.

A press statement by Nnamdi Obasi, Senior, Adviser, ICG, on Nigerian CJTF vigilantes based on a new report: Double-edged Sword in African Counter-insurgencies, based on field research in Nigeria, Uganda, South Sudan and Sierra Leone, observed that by participating in efforts to counter Boko Haram, they ‘‘acted as a bridge between civilians and security forces, helping the state regain a measure of local legitimacy while protecting the local community.”

The report further warned that Nigeria having sub-contracted counter-insurgency security functions to vigilante groups, runs the risks of further conflict if members of the group are not properly catered.

‘‘Nigeria may be left with another angry armed group in the troubled north east’’, some of whose members ‘‘may move further into extortion, drug trafficking and other organised criminal activity,’’ the statement read.

It expresses the fear also that vigilantes could be used for election related violence as it has been observed that ‘‘some CJTF members allegedly now work for state politicians, who are known to employ thugs to attack opponents.’’

The ICG charged the Nigerian and other governments to ‘formulate and implement policies and programmes for returning vigilantes to normal life, as conflicts end.’