Southeast’s Belt of Violence: Between Radicalisation and Deradicalisation

In the last few days, Nigeria’s military, through its Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA II, launched several airstrikes and ground clearance operations in various locations suspected to be camps of some non-state armed groups (NSAGs) operating across Nigeria’s Southeast region. Among the areas bombarded by the military are Orsumughu in the Nnewi South Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State and Aku Ihube in the Okigwe LGA of Imo State. These locations are part of the areas described by Nextier as ‘Southeast’s belt of violence’ based on insight drawn from an analysis of violence patterns in Nigeria’s Southeast region. The ‘Southeast’s belt of violence’ is a vast area consisting of about 20 interconnected LGAs spread across the five states of the Southeast. These areas are located on the boundaries of the states, but together, they form an unbroken forest line that runs through the five Southeast states.

Despite various interventions by state actors, the Southeast’s belt of violence remains an ungoverned space which serves as an operational base for violent NSAGs. This edition of Nextier Policy Weekly reflects on enablers of radicalisation in Southeast’s belt of violence and how state actors can better deradicalise the space to enhance security in the Southeast.

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