The Radicalization, Counter Radicalization and Deradicalisation in Nigeria research was commissioned by the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Project (NSRP) and implemented by the development, Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), Kano. The Research team, which consist of high-level academics from home and abroad, was led by two Principal Researchers: Prof. AbdulRaufu Mustapha of the Nigeria Research Network (NRN), University of Oxford and Prof. Sani Umar of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
The study explored the various dimensions of radicalization and the counteracting actors, forces, and conditions as the appropriate framework of understanding the radical violence of groups who invoke religion to justify their tactical resort to violence. The study was conducted mainly in the FCT Abuja and some states in northern Nigeria such as Borno, Jigawa, Plateau, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and the FCT (Abuja). The scope of the research extended up to the Southern Niger Republic. The study interviewed wide range people such as Almajirai, Ulama, Civil Society Activists, Wives and relatives of JAS members, butchers and business men. The research produced 11 papers written by local and international researchers:
- An inquiry into possible factors contributing to radicalisation in childhood and youth in northern Nigeria – Prof Murray Last
- Youths, Almajirai and Radicalization – Dr. Yahaya Hashim and Dr. Judith-Ann Walker
- Interpreting Islamic Religious Texts: the Roles of the Ulama in Radicalization and Counter Radicalization – Prof. Sani Umar
- Life Histories: What can we learn from Micro Profiles? – Prof. Sani Umar & Dr. David Ehrhardt
- Why Borno? History, Geography and Society in Islamic Radicalization – Dr. Abubakar Kawu Monguno & Dr. Ibrahim Umara
- The Informal Economy and Islamic Radicalization in Northern Nigeria – Dr. Kate Meagher
- A Dormant Risk? Why there is only limited Radicalization in southern Niger Republic – Dr. Idrissa Abduramane
- Violent Radicalization: northern Nigeria in the light of the experience of southern Niger Republic – Prof. AbdulRaufu Mustpha
- The Effects of Security Measures on Youth Radicalisation – Julie Sanda
- Female Participation in Radical Movements in Northern Nigeria – Zainab Usman, Sherine El-Trablousi and Khadija Gambo Hawaja
- Looking Back to Look Forward: End Game Scenarios and the Nigerian context/ Evolution of JAS in comparative Perspective – Prof. Sani Umar & Dr. David Ehrhardt
The papers, were condensed into five policy briefs (1.violent radicalization in northern Nigeria: Economy & Society; 2. violent radicalization in northern Nigeria: The Macro Regional Context; 3. Understanding the complex causes and processes of radicalization; 4. Religious and Ideological dimensions of radicalization; and 5. Comparative perspective on the evolution of JAS insurgency and its future scenarios), were disseminated at forum organised by the NSRP in collaboration with the dRPC and chaired by Office of the National Security Adviser (Nigeria) on the 16th of March 2015 in Abuja. The briefs provided pragmatic approach to ending insurgencies in Nigeria.