The Truth Alliance, as part of their “Time to Tell the Truth” campaign, has conducted a community drama aimed at exposing the recruitment tactics used by terrorist groups in the Borno state.
The event, which took place from June 24th to 25th, took place across various communities that include Baga Road, Bolori, Bulumkutu, Gamboru, Hausari, and Showkari within Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State.
Drama has long served as a powerful medium to convey the truths about life and the challenges posed by it. While grand auditoria are often the venues for such performances, this particular drama was staged in more accessible, community-based locations such as Market places view centers and other strategic places within Maiduguri.
The play which was performed was a true life story of a victim, through a friend’s narration told the harrowing story of a woman who was deceived into the Boko Haram sect because of a dire need to sustain life and who was caught in a dire predicament between leaving the Boko Haram and facing poverty and stigma that she faced, or returning to a life of chaos within the sect.
According to the play, the woman, who got access to the inner workings of Boko Haram, had worked as member of the group before finding out that it was all lies. Her story is one of grief, survival, hopelessness, and ultimately, a new beginning as she escaped. However, the story portrays that the truth is hidden from people, and the lives of people are nothing to terrorist organizations.
The community response to the drama was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees expressing that the play enlightened them in both a playful and powerful way.
Kabiru Muhammad, a community stakeholder in Bolori, emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to expose these recruitment strategies to prevent future occurrences.
“This is a call to all of us to understand the deceiving strategy extremist groups use to recruit people to their ranks. I also call on all to use this story as an example and encourage the stakeholders to promote peace,” he said.
Ali Habib, a young resident from Showkari, urged his peers to be cautious when choosing friends, noting that bad influences can easily lead one astray, especially in the absence of employment opportunities.
“Choosing a friend determines what future you want to have for yourself because when you choose someone that is into something bad, he or she would introduce you to it, especially when you are jobless,” he stated.
A woman from the Hausari community who preferred to remain anonymous highlighted the importance of parental responsibility and community support. She blamed both the negligence of parents in fulfilling their responsibilities and community members who refuse to help the poor in times of need.
The drama was performed in both Hausa and Kanuri languages, ensuring it was accessible to a wide audience within the region. Truth Alliance is committed in implementing a more localize initiative for the benefits of community through their active engagement and education in combating extremist ideologies and fostering a culture of peace.
About Truth Alliance
The Truth Alliance is committed to unmasking the truth behind violent and extremist groups and empowering communities to resist tyranny and violence. Through education, outreach, and collaboration, the Truth Alliance strives to build a safer, more resilient society for all.
In a campaign tagged ‘Time to Tell the Truth’, the Truth Alliance has come together to expose the truth behind how violent extremist groups draw young people into their ranks. Their message is simple: These groups manipulate, they deceive, they Control, they kill, they kidnap, they destroy, and their movement as well as ideology is inherently weak.
Ahmad Jumare
Director of Programmes
Neem Foundation
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
● https://truthalliance.africa/reach-us/
● info@truthalliance.org.ng
ENDS
Press coverage
- Global Sentinel:
- TwentyOne:
https://twentyone.com.ng/21/2024/06/community-drama-series-exposes-terrorist-recruitment-tactics
- News Now:
- PRNigeria:
- Cityblog News:
https://www.cityblognews.com/2024/06/boko-haram-truth-alliance-takes-counter.html
- The Citizen NG:
- Daily Dispatch:
- News Nigeria:
- News Diary:
- News Express:
