I know Wealthy Nigerians Joining Terrorism – Osinbajo

The Vice President stated this when he played host to the United States’ Special Envoy on Counter-terrorism Communication, Rashad Hussain at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, late on Tuesday, the Vice President was quoted as saying that the development was a clear departure from the case of those who were lured into terrorism for money.

“I have seen people who are well-to-do being recruited into terrorism,” Osinbajo said but did not name the individuals involved.

While expressing surprise at why people from privileged backgrounds will enlist with terrorist groups, made up of completely mindless and almost insane people, he added that it would have been understandable if the terrorists had been preaching better life, equity and such other lofty ideas.

As part of measures to address the issue of insurgency in the North East, the Vice President disclosed that a crisis communication centre that would be providing information countering violent extremist ideology especially in the North-East would be set up by the present administration.

Also, a campaign involving civil societies, young people and Non-Governmental Organisations, Osinbajo stated were part of the plans to provide positive counter- narratives against violent groups such as the Boko Haram sect.

Speaking earlier, the U.S envoy said based on the American experience and the happenings in other parts of the world, Boko Haram had a strong propaganda in the media that must be countered.

He observed that majority of the people had already rejected Boko Haram but the voices of the minority was being played and re-played in the media causing a content-imbalance.