Buhari: Extremist preachers aiding insurgents

President Muhammadu Buhari has said insurgents are able to attract members to their fold because of what he called the “insidious preaching” of extremist clerics.

Speaking in Jordan yesterday at a security meeting hosted by King Abdullah II, President Buhari called for an action plan to halt the trend.

President Buhari also urged leaders, especially from the Muslim world, to speak up against the hateful violence committed by deranged people in the name of Islam.

“All nations, irrespective of religion should partner effectively in implementing national, regional and global action plans to counter violent extremism,” the president said.

He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to playing a leading role in bringing together countries of the West African sub-region in a collective security arrangement.

He assured that with what Nigeria had gone through, it was ready to share the experiences with a view to fashioning out comprehensive action plans in tackling the scourge of violent extremism in the region.

President Buhari again called for a stronger and wellcoordinated collaboration against violent extremism.

He noted that the joint regional collaboration under the auspices of the Multinational Joint Task Force, combined with the efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces, had gone a long way to decimate the activities of extremists in the West African region.