In a quiet but stirring moment at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja, the weight of Nigeria’s long battle against violent extremism met the hope of international solidarity.
On a warm morning, against a backdrop of national flags and firm handshakes, the Nigerian government- through the Office of the National Security Adviser- opened a landmark Policy Dialogue and Training on Victims’ Assistance and Violent Extremism Prevention, in collaboration with Colombia’s internationally respected Unit for the Attention and Integral Reparation of Victims.
But this was not just another policy talk. It was a gathering of hearts and minds, heavy with lived experiences of conflict, displacement, trauma- and the difficult but essential journey toward healing.
“Nigeria is not just responding with force,” the National Coordinator said in an address that blended candour with compassion. “We are listening. We are learning. And above all, we are standing with the victims.”
Across the hall sat officials from security agencies, civil society, MDAs, and delegates from Colombia- whose nation once bore the burden of a brutal armed conflict but is now helping others walk the path of post-conflict recovery.
The dialogue is part of a broader South-South Cooperation mission, aimed at empowering Nigeria’s Steering Committee on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE). The objective? Sharpen local capacity on peacebuilding, trauma healing, and community resilience.
For over a decade, Nigeria has faced a medley of security challenges: from Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast to separatist agitations, kidnapping epidemics, and deadly clashes between herders and farmers. These conflicts have left thousands dead, millions displaced, and communities torn apart.
But inside this policy hall, the narrative was shifting-from one of endurance to one of intentional recovery.
“Behind every headline is a human story,” the Coordinator said. “A mother still searching for her child. A community forever altered. These are not numbers- they are lives. And this is why our policies must speak to people, not just processes.”
The Coordinator emphasized Nigeria’s strategic pivot from purely military solutions to holistic, victim-centred responses. “Kinetic measures may stop the bullet. But only inclusive policies and empathy can stop the bleeding.”
The country’s evolving framework now revolves around a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach-mobilising state actors, traditional rulers, religious leaders, educators, and social workers to build a tapestry of peace across all layers of society.
Colombia’s peace journey wasn’t perfect-but it was honest. Years of armed conflict taught them that real peace cannot be dictated from a war room. It must be built-painstakingly, and with the victims at the centre.
The presence of Colombia’s victim support unit in Abuja symbolised more than technical support-it was a hand extended across oceans, saying: You’re not alone.
“Colombia taught us that peace begins when victims are no longer afterthoughts,” a Colombian delegate shared. “It begins when justice is not just retributive, but restorative.”
As the dialogue continues, participants are expected to co-develop actionable recommendations to improve Nigeria’s victim assistance framework, strengthen community-based interventions, and address the root causes of violent extremism.
There is hope that this South-South collaboration will be more than a diplomatic courtesy. It must birth policies that work-and lives that heal.
In closing, the National Coordinator offered a reflection that hung in the air long after the microphones were off:
“We do not want a peace that silences gunfire but leaves the soul wounded. We want a peace that touches the heart, rebuilds the home, and restores the human spirit.”