I have seen wealthy Nigerians joins BH ---- says Osibajo

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has said he has seen wealthy individuals who are being enlisted into terrorism.

He, however, did not name the individuals.

A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, on Tuesday, quoted the Vice President as saying this while receiving the United States’ Special Envoy on Counter-terrorism Communication, Rashad Hussain, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.

Osinbajo was quoted as saying that the development was a clear departure from the case of those who were lured into terrorism for money.

“I have seen people who are well-to-do being recruited into terrorism,” the statement quoted Osinbajo as saying.

He wondered why for some strange reasons, terrorist groups, made up of completely mindless and almost insane people, were not finding it difficult to recruit people.

He said it would have been understandable if the terrorists had been preaching better life, equity and such other lofty ideas.

The Vice President disclosed that a crisis communication centre that would be providing information countering violent extremist ideology especially in the North-East would be set up by the present administration.

He said the decision to set up the centre was taken because of the government’s resolve to define and disseminate positive narratives that would expose the evils of terrorism.

Osinbajo also disclosed that government would put up a campaign involving civil societies, young people and Non-Governmental Organisations, coming together and interacting to provide positive counter- narratives against those of violent groups such as the Boko Haram sect.