By Umar Yusuf
Yola—No fewer than 200 Islamic clerics, comprising local Almajiri teachers from Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, have commenced training on how to counter radicalization message of the followers of the dreaded sect.
The training with the theme: De-Radicalization, counter Terrorism and migration in Northern Nigerian, is put together by the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, and sponsored by the Japanese government.
Speaking to newsmen at the training for some of the clerics in Adamawa weekend, the Project Coordinator, Mr Ikponmwosa Omoigiade, said the training, which is part of a bigger project on de-radicalization, counter-terrorism and migration in Northern Nigeria, had already been conducted for some of the clerics in Borno and Yobe states.
He said the clerics, who comprised imams, scholars and proprietors of Almajiri schools, were trained on how to identify and contain Boko Haram ideologies and extremism in their areas with the aid of manuals by clerics from Islamic Da’awah Centre and Arabic teachers from Ahmadu Bello University.
The coordinator lauded the commitment shown by the clerics, adding that the centre would do an assessment on the impact of the project in the affected states.
Some of the participants who spoke on the programme, described it as a welcome development that would assist in handling extremist and propagation of the peaceful nature of Islam.
They pointed out that Prophet Muhammad cherished peaceful coexistence among and between Muslims and non-muslims and viewed non-Muslims as people who should be attracted to Islam instead of being terrorized.
