Violent extremism, terrorism, biggest threat to ECOWAS subregion — Gen. Gyane

The Commandant, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Accra, Ghana, Maj.-Gen. Richard Gyane, says violent extremism and terrorism (VET) is the biggest threat to the ECOWAS subregion, Africa and humanity.
Gyane stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during a mobile training course on women, youth, and VET, organised by KAIPTC on Wednesday in Abuja.
The Commandant said that the security challenges in West Africa had informed KAIPTC’s decision to organise the capacity building for women and youth to build their resilience to tackle terrorism.
He said that the training, organized in collaboration with the Norwegian Government, would empower women and youth with the requisite knowledge about terrorists’ operations and build their resilience against VET threats.
“If you look at our subregion now, violent extremism is a big threat to us; If you look at the Sahel nations, most of these countries are virtually taken over by violent groups.
“If you look at Nigeria and the Boko Haram group, and the movement of these groups southwards, it is worrisome.
“Why are we particular about women and youth? They become vulnerable. These are the most vulnerable groups in our society, who are subject to radicalization by VETs.
“The aim is to engage these women and youth especially and let them understand the issues, the recruitment and all that about these groups who want to destroy our humanity within the subregion,” he said.
According to Gyane, KAIPTC engages and empowers women and youth through its training programs because when people are empowered, it becomes difficult for VET groups, whose aim is to radicalise the people and take over their countries, to do so.