The experiences of people living in conflict-affected communities must play a central role in shaping counter-terrorism policies and security interventions, according to Dr. Akinyemi Oyawale, Assistant Professor of International Politics at the University of Warwick, UK.
Akinyemi made the call during a roundtable discussion titled “Lived Reality of (Counter-)Terrorism in North-East Nigeria: Co-creating an Everyday Security Toolkit,” held in Abuja and attended by researchers, security practitioners, policymakers, development partners and civil society actors.
Speaking on the rationale behind the initiative, Akinyemi said his research in North-East Nigeria revealed a disconnect between the realities experienced by communities affected by insurgency and the assumptions that often inform official counter-terrorism strategies.
He explained that while terrorism is widely understood as a threat to communities, people’s experiences of both insurgent violence and state-led counter-terrorism operations are often complex and varied.
According to him, some residents have recounted traumatic experiences at the hands of insurgent groups, while others have described encounters that challenge conventional perceptions of the conflict.
Similarly, some community members have expressed concerns over aspects of counter-terrorism operations, including allegations of mistreatment and abuses.
“These experiences demonstrate that security policies cannot be effective if they are developed without listening to the people most affected by conflict”, he said.
Akinyemi noted that the Abuja roundtable was designed to provide a platform where community perspectives, research findings and policy discussions could intersect. He added that the initiative seeks to move beyond academic debates by co-creating practical tools that can assist practitioners and institutions working in the security sector.
A major objective of the project is the development of an Everyday Security Toolkit, a resource that will be co-created with stakeholders to help security actors better understand and respond to the realities faced by communities in conflict-affected areas.
Beyond the discussions, participants were divided into breakout sessions where they engaged in in-depth conversations on the drivers of insecurity, the impact of terrorism and counter-terrorism measures on local communities, and practical approaches to improving security outcomes.
The breakout groups examined existing challenges and proposed a range of solutions aimed at strengthening security and enhancing community resilience. Participants also developed recommendations on how insecurity can be more effectively tackled through improved collaboration between government institutions, security agencies, local communities, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
The recommendations emphasised the need for community-centred approaches, greater trust-building between citizens and security actors, improved communication channels, inclusive policymaking and sustained engagement with affected populations to address the root causes of insecurity.
The project will also generate a report capturing the insights, recommendations and outcomes from the discussions.
The report is expected to be shared with stakeholders in Nigeria, across West Africa, Cameroon and international organisations, including the United Nations.
Participants stressed that addressing insecurity requires not only military and law-enforcement responses but also policies that reflect the lived realities of affected communities. They expressed optimism that the initiative would contribute to more inclusive, effective and sustainable approaches to countering terrorism and promoting everyday security.
Organisers say the findings and recommendations from the roundtable would help inform future policy discussions and support efforts to develop practical tools for practitioners working to address insecurity across Nigeria and the wider region.